A couple in Fairview needed a private outdoor living space to unwind after work, but their backyard was too narrow and steep to be usable. Semper Fi understood their vision and saw the potential in the space, ultimately delivering a build that exceeded expectations. The completed project is a screened porch with a finished vaulted ceiling, a dedicated grilling area, gas line, recessed lighting, and TV hookup, all on a constrained lot that most contractors would have written off.
At a glance
A screened, covered porch built on a hillside lot with only 13 feet of usable depth before a steep drop-off. Engineered concrete footers anchored the structure and managed drainage. The finished space includes a vaulted ceiling, a dedicated grilling area with a gas line, recessed lighting, a ceiling fan, an outdoor outlet, and a TV hookup, all wrapped in siding and trim matched to the existing home.
Their Story
The family had a clear picture of what they wanted: a private place to decompress after long days. Somewhere to fire up the grill, pour a glass of wine, watch some TV, and feel like the rest of the world had disappeared.
The backyard offered only about 13 feet of flat ground before the grade dropped sharply away, with no deck, no porch, and no covered space of any kind, just a hillside standing between them and the outdoor living space they’d always wanted.
The Challenge
With barely 13 feet of usable depth and a significant drop-off beyond, the design had to account for drainage and structural stability from day one.
Building something here was possible. The harder question was whether it would feel like the retreat they’d envisioned.
A tight, sloped lot like this leaves no room for guesswork. Every footer, every drainage path, and every load point has to be right the first time.
Why They Chose Semper Fi
This family knew what they wanted and needed a team that could listen, problem-solve, and execute. Semper Fi’s direct communication style and track record with constrained outdoor builds made the fit clear early on. This is the kind of puzzle Semper Fi is built to solve, a real home with real constraints that needed a real solution.
How Semper Fi Built It
Engineered concrete footers anchored the structure into the hillside and handled drainage before a single post went up. From there the team framed a covered, screened deck with a vaulted ceiling, enough room for a full seating arrangement, two screen doors, and an open grilling section off the side.
Recessed lighting, a ceiling fan, and an outdoor outlet made the space functional after dark. New siding and trim were matched to the existing exterior so the finished build looks like it was always part of the home.
The Results
The family now has exactly what they envisioned, a private outdoor space built for real use: evenings on the deck, dinners off the grill, and a place to come home to.
“It addressed every pain, addressed every need, and now they finally feel like they have this private area to just come home and decompress.”
RJ Crai, Project Development Director, Semper Fi Custom Remodeling
Ready to Build Something Like This?
If your backyard doesn’t seem to offer much, a steep grade, a tight footprint, a layout that doesn’t cooperate, that’s exactly the kind of project we take on.
Proudly serving Asheville, NC / Western North Carolina + Greenville, South Carolina
(AVL / WNC) 828.279.6703 | (GVL) 864.990.5600
SFCustomRemodeling.com/Contact
info@SFCustomRemodeling.com