Project Overview

Wichita Home Works completed this West Fontana Court patio update and exterior refresh in Wichita, Kansas for homeowners who wanted to make their covered outdoor living area more finished, more comfortable, and more usable through changing seasons.

The original patio already had a strong structure with brick columns and a covered ceiling. The update focused on turning that existing covered space into a more polished outdoor room. Wichita Home Works installed a tongue-and-groove cedar patio ceiling, cedar perimeter trim, an oversized indoor/outdoor ceiling fan, flush-mount infrared heaters, black LED puck lights, motorized retractable shades, drywall patching, texture blending, and clear coat finish on the cedar. The approved patio update contract was $46,263.88.

The project later expanded into additional exterior improvements, including a cedar ceiling on the front porch along with house and gutter painting. The homeowners described the final project as a patio refresh with a new cedar ceiling, fan, infrared heaters, motorized shades, front porch cedar ceiling, exterior paint, and gutters.

The finished project has a transitional outdoor living style with warm rustic-modern details. The cedar ceiling adds warmth and texture, while the black lighting, black heaters, large coal-colored fan, motorized shades, and exterior refresh give the patio a cleaner, more current feel.

The Homeowner’s Vision

The homeowners wanted the covered patio to feel less like a basic back porch and more like an intentional outdoor living space.

The goals were comfort, warmth, shade, lighting, and a more finished appearance. A cedar ceiling would soften the patio and add natural texture. The large outdoor ceiling fan would improve airflow. Infrared heaters would help extend the usefulness of the patio during cooler weather. Motorized shades would add sun control, privacy, and comfort between the brick columns. Updated puck lighting would make the space more functional in the evening.

The finished patio needed to support relaxing, entertaining, watching TV or gathering near the fireplace, and spending more time outdoors without the patio feeling unfinished.

As the project developed, the homeowners also chose to continue the cedar ceiling look at the front porch and refresh the exterior paint and gutters, helping the improvements feel connected across the home.

Scope of Work

Wichita Home Works coordinated the project from planning and trade scheduling through cedar ceiling installation, electrical work, shade installation, drywall patching, finish coating, exterior updates, testing, and closeout.

The project included:

Covered Patio Ceiling Update

The primary visual upgrade was the new tongue-and-groove cedar ceiling.

Cedar ceiling boards were installed across the entire patio ceiling, running horizontally to the house. The boards were cut and fitted around ceiling openings, including the ceiling fan, LED puck lights, and flush-mount heater locations. Cedar 1×2 perimeter trim was installed around the full ceiling perimeter to create a clean finished edge.

This ceiling detail immediately changed the feel of the patio. Instead of a plain exterior ceiling surface, the patio gained warmth, texture, and a more custom outdoor-room appearance.

Cedar Finish and Clear Coat

The cedar ceiling and perimeter trim were prepped for finish with sanding and surface cleaning.

A clear coat finish was applied to the tongue-and-groove cedar ceiling boards and cedar perimeter trim. Two coats were applied to achieve a consistent finished appearance. The proposal also noted that natural wood variations in color, grain, and absorption could create subtle differences in the final appearance, which is part of the character of real cedar.

The clear finish helps preserve the warmth of the cedar while keeping the patio ceiling natural and inviting.

Outdoor Ceiling Fan

The patio received a large Minka-Aire Xtreme H2O 84-inch indoor/outdoor ceiling fan in a coal finish with remote control.

The ceiling fan required wiring rough-in, support, mounting, and final testing. Its size and dark finish work well with the scale of the covered patio, brick columns, black lighting, and outdoor comfort features.

The fan helps move air through the patio, making the space more comfortable during warmer Kansas months.

Infrared Patio Heaters

The patio was upgraded with two black Infratech CD Series 6000W dual-element infrared heaters with flush-mount kits.

The work included wiring rough-in, heater mounting, support, dedicated circuits if required, switches and controls, final trim-out, testing, and verification.

These heaters help make the covered patio more usable beyond summer. For homeowners in Wichita, outdoor living spaces are often most enjoyable when they can handle cool mornings, fall evenings, and shoulder-season gatherings. The heaters give this patio more year-round flexibility.

LED Patio Lighting

Six black LED puck lights were installed in the patio ceiling.

The lights were connected to the existing switch and integrated into the cedar ceiling layout. The black trim keeps the fixtures visually consistent with the fan, heaters, shade hardware, and other exterior details.

The puck lights provide cleaner, more even illumination for evening use without overwhelming the natural cedar ceiling.

Motorized Retractable Shades

Motorized shade systems were installed at designated openings between the brick columns.

The shades were mounted to the brick and box header, facing inward toward the patio. Wichita Home Works coordinated the layout with the existing structure and openings, installed the brackets, tracks, shade assemblies, hardware, and remote control, then programmed and tested the shade operation.

The shades give the homeowners more control over sunlight, privacy, wind, and comfort. They also help the patio feel more like an outdoor room instead of only a covered slab.

Outdoor Fireplace and Mantel Planning

The proposal included a mantel scope for the existing patio fireplace wall.

The base scope included patching and repairing existing mantel mounting holes to blend with the surrounding surface where feasible. A new mantel was also listed as an optional path by change order if the homeowners chose to replace it.

This allowed the fireplace area to be considered as part of the overall patio refresh while keeping the primary project focused on the ceiling, electrical, heating, lighting, and shade features.

Electrical Coordination

The patio update required careful electrical planning.

Wiring was roughed in for the large outdoor fan, infrared heaters, LED puck lights, controls, switches, and motorized shades. The work included final trim-out, testing, and verification of the electrical components.

Project progress notes show the electrical phase included access cuts near the switches inside the house near the sliding door and a ceiling access area above the breaker panel, followed by insulation and drywall patching.

This behind-the-scenes coordination helped the finished patio look clean while supporting several new comfort features.

Drywall Patching and Texture Blending

Because the electrical work required access through finished areas, drywall patching was part of the project.

Drywall was patched as needed at ceiling and wall access locations disturbed during electrical work. The access path from the electrical panel to the work area was repaired, ceiling texture was blended at patched areas to match the existing texture as closely as possible, and patched wall areas were finished for paint.

This kept the interior access points from feeling like an afterthought after the exterior upgrades were complete.

Front Porch Cedar Ceiling Addition

The project expanded beyond the back patio when the homeowners chose to add a cedar ceiling to the front porch as well.

This was a strong design decision because it repeated the warmth of the backyard patio at the front of the home. The front porch cedar ceiling helped the exterior feel more cohesive from the street-facing entry to the backyard outdoor living space.

The homeowners specifically noted that they were happy enough with the patio work to extend the project to include the front porch cedar ceiling, house painting, and gutters.

Exterior Painting and Gutters

The project also included exterior paint and gutter work.

The house and gutters were refreshed after the primary patio work, helping the home’s exterior match the upgraded outdoor living spaces. This gave the project a broader exterior-refresh impact rather than limiting the transformation to the covered patio alone.

The final exterior photos associated with the project show the home’s refreshed exterior, patio area, garage side, front elevation, and finished outdoor improvements.

Final Testing and Closeout

At completion, the patio systems were tested and verified.

The lighting, fan, heaters, shades, and controls all had to work together in a way that felt easy for the homeowners to use. Final details included shade programming, electrical verification, finish review, cleanup, and closeout.

The homeowner review described Wichita Home Works as professional and dependable and specifically praised the finished patio, project communication, and project management.

Design and Finish Details

This project has a transitional outdoor living style with rustic-modern exterior details.

The cedar ceiling gives the patio warmth and natural texture. The black puck lights, black infrared heaters, coal ceiling fan, and motorized shade hardware create a clean, modern contrast. The brick columns and fireplace area keep the patio grounded in the existing architecture of the home.

The finished space does not feel overly rustic or overly contemporary. It fits best as a warm, updated outdoor living area with practical comfort upgrades.

The front porch cedar ceiling adds consistency, while the exterior paint and gutter refresh help the home feel more complete from both the front and back.

Construction Story

This project began with a clear outdoor-living goal: make the existing covered patio more comfortable, more attractive, and more usable.

The first steps focused on job start coordination, materials, and electrical rough-in. Because the patio was receiving several integrated systems, the ceiling layout had to account for the fan, puck lights, infrared heaters, and shade controls before the finish ceiling could come together.

The cedar ceiling then became the visual centerpiece of the patio. Each tongue-and-groove board had to be fitted around openings and finished with perimeter trim so the patio ceiling looked intentional from edge to edge.

The electrical work added function behind the scenes. Wiring, switches, controls, heater circuits, shade operation, and lighting all had to be coordinated without leaving the home feeling disrupted. Where access was needed, drywall was patched and texture was blended back into the surrounding surfaces.

Once the patio ceiling, fan, heaters, lights, and shades were complete, the project grew into a broader exterior refresh. The front porch received cedar ceiling treatment, and the home and gutters were painted so the upgraded outdoor spaces felt connected to the rest of the exterior.

The finished result is a much more inviting outdoor living environment with comfort, shade, lighting, warmth, and curb appeal all improved.

Project Coordination Highlights

Cedar Patio Ceiling

The tongue-and-groove cedar ceiling and cedar perimeter trim created a warm, finished outdoor-room feel.

Outdoor Comfort Features

The large indoor/outdoor ceiling fan and two infrared heaters help make the patio more comfortable across different seasons.

Motorized Shade Control

Motorized retractable shades between the brick columns give the homeowners more control over sun, privacy, and patio comfort.

Integrated Patio Lighting

Six black LED puck lights were installed into the ceiling layout for cleaner evening use.

Front and Back Exterior Continuity

The project expanded to include a front porch cedar ceiling, helping the home feel more cohesive from entry to backyard.

Exterior Refresh

House painting and gutter work gave the project a broader exterior impact beyond the covered patio itself.

The Finished Result

The finished West Fontana Court patio is now a more comfortable and more polished outdoor living area.

The cedar ceiling adds warmth overhead. The fan improves airflow. The infrared heaters support cooler-weather use. The motorized shades add comfort and privacy. The black puck lights create better evening lighting. The front porch cedar ceiling and exterior paint work help the rest of the home feel connected to the updated patio.

The result is an outdoor living upgrade that improves appearance, function, comfort, and everyday usability.

Why This Project Matters for Future Outdoor Living Clients

This project is a strong example of how an existing covered patio can be transformed without building a completely new structure.

A patio refresh can make a major difference by updating the ceiling material, adding lighting, improving airflow, adding heat, installing motorized shades, refreshing exterior finishes, and making the space easier to use throughout the year.

For homeowners near Wichita, west Wichita, Goddard, Maize, Andale, Bel Aire, Andover, Derby, and surrounding communities, this project shows how Wichita Home Works can coordinate outdoor living upgrades that improve both comfort and curb appeal.

Thinking About a Similar Patio Update?

If you are planning a patio refresh, covered porch update, cedar ceiling installation, outdoor fan, infrared patio heaters, motorized retractable shades, exterior lighting, front porch update, or exterior painting project near Wichita, Wichita Home Works can help you think through the full scope.

That includes ceiling materials, electrical planning, lighting layout, fan sizing, shade placement, heater placement, fireplace details, paint coordination, trim, stain, timeline expectations, and final closeout.

A covered patio update has many connected decisions. The right design-build team helps organize those decisions into a finished space that looks good and works well.

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