What to Know About Adding a Porch
Find out which pros to work with, what materials to consider and how much a new porch costs
When the weather is good it can be nice to get outside, whether dining at an outdoor table or sipping a beverage on a comfy chair as you watch the sun go down. And what better place to enjoy activities like these than from the comfort of your own porch?
Here’s what to know about working with a pro to build a porch on your home — including what to look for in a contractor and how much the project might cost. While it’s probably too late to get your porch built in time to enjoy this summer, now is a great time to get started so your porch will be ready for next spring.
Here’s what to know about working with a pro to build a porch on your home — including what to look for in a contractor and how much the project might cost. While it’s probably too late to get your porch built in time to enjoy this summer, now is a great time to get started so your porch will be ready for next spring.
What to Consider Before You Build a Porch
- Is a porch allowed on my home? Check with your homeowners association, as not all neighborhood regulations allow porches to be built on existing homes. Associations may forbid adding porches to connected or disconnected townhomes, or other multifamily dwellings. “It’s also a good idea to check with your setbacks and deed restrictions,” says Doug Lynch of Exterior Additions in Indian Trail, North Carolina, who has built more than 1,000 porches. “We have a lot of properties in our area where you have a great big backyard, but you cannot legally put a porch on the home due to setbacks.”
- How much am I willing to spend? As with any project, your budget is really where you should start. How much money do you have set aside for your project, and how much of that money are you actually willing to spend? Homeowners are often surprised at the cost of renovation projects, so knowing your number before you start can be helpful for all involved. A reputable pro can help you determine if your budget is big enough to get the porch you want. If it isn’t, a pro can help you find ways to change your project scope and save. Ultimately, pros can help you determine whether it makes sense to move forward or wait and save more money so you can afford exactly what you want.
- How do I want to use the porch? Would you like to sit on a rocking chair, host family gatherings or watch the big game on your porch? A single-use porch won’t need to be as large as a multiuse porch and will likely cost less. But if you really want to host extended family meals or kick back with 20 people on outdoor sofas, you need to plan space for it.
- How do I want to use the porch across four seasons? In parts of the country where the weather changes dramatically throughout the seasons, think about how you’d like to use your porch throughout the year. Where Lynch of Exterior Additions lives in North Carolina, spring and fall are the best porch-sitting seasons. Summers are so unbearably hot and humid that no one wants to be out in the weather, and winters are cold. Lynch says he often installs heating on porches for clients who want to extend use into the winter season. Similarly, in muggy areas where you’d like to sit outside during bug season, you might want to consider a screened porch.
- How much upkeep do I want? Different floor and railing materials require different levels of upkeep.
Pressure-treated wood is less costly than composite boards, but this material requires more maintenance, including regular cleaning and resealing.
A species of lumber is a third option that works for your area. Redwood, mahogany and ipe are examples, but not all woods wear well in all areas. A porch building pro in your area can explain the various wood options and their costs, as well as the maintenance requirements for each. For instance, Brazilian ipe must be oiled at least once a year to maintain its rich color.
- What materials do I like? Not all porch floors are composed of wood or composite boards. Particularly for ground-level flat floors that are not raised, simple concrete, as shown in the previous photo, could work. Alternatively, concrete might be covered with decorative tile or stone, as is common in Houston, according to Rob Douglass of Texas Custom Patios, a company that has built some 1,500 porches in the Houston area since 2004.
Similarly, the possibilities for porch columns and fireplaces are also wide, ranging from wood to stone masonry to brick and more.
- Do I want luxury touches? These days many porches have heating, recessed lights, TVs, fireplaces, ceiling fans, outdoor kitchens and more. Consider whether you want to include these features early, as they affect project scope and cost.
How Much Does It Cost to Build a Porch?
A porch can cost anywhere from $15,000 to $200,000, but many average projects of 300 to 400 square feet fall into the $35,000 to $60,000 cost range. The cost will depend on its size, the features you include and the labor costs.
Whom Should You Hire?
Because a porch is technically an addition to your home, you should hire a licensed contractor to build it. Look for a company that specializes in building porches and has built a lot of them, as opposed to a remodeler specializing in kitchen renovations. You want a pro who is familiar with the variety of materials and design features possible. Check online reviews for your pro on Houzz or the Better Business Bureau to be sure the company is highly rated. Ideally your pro will create a rendered drawing of the porch design, with furniture included, so you understand exactly what you’re paying for before work starts. Finally, make sure your contractor is fully insured.
A porch can cost anywhere from $15,000 to $200,000, but many average projects of 300 to 400 square feet fall into the $35,000 to $60,000 cost range. The cost will depend on its size, the features you include and the labor costs.
Whom Should You Hire?
Because a porch is technically an addition to your home, you should hire a licensed contractor to build it. Look for a company that specializes in building porches and has built a lot of them, as opposed to a remodeler specializing in kitchen renovations. You want a pro who is familiar with the variety of materials and design features possible. Check online reviews for your pro on Houzz or the Better Business Bureau to be sure the company is highly rated. Ideally your pro will create a rendered drawing of the porch design, with furniture included, so you understand exactly what you’re paying for before work starts. Finally, make sure your contractor is fully insured.
How Long It Takes to Build a Porch
Actual construction of a porch can take anywhere from three to 16 weeks, depending on project complexity and the availability of the construction crews your porch pro works with. But the entire process, from design to permitting to final construction, can take up to six months, says Douglass of Texas Custom Patios. That’s because many contractors have a backlog of projects.
What Are the Steps In Building a Porch?
The first step in getting your porch built is choosing a pro to work with. Typically the pro will visit your home and then return to the office to create an initial porch design. The design may not be fully engineered until after you’ve agreed to work with the pro.
Once you’ve accepted the proposal and signed a contract, your pro will finalize the design. As mentioned previously, be sure the design shows furniture included to scale so you can get an idea of how your space will flow for the purposes you envision. After the design is finalized, your pro will work to get any necessary permits, as well as approval from your homeowners association, both of which can take some time. Some projects may require an engineer, which will also add time. You’ll also work with your pro to choose and order materials.
During construction you can expect materials to be staged on your property. A variety of tradespeople will come to pour the concrete footings or slab, frame the floor, build the walls and roof, add electrical and sometimes plumbing and apply any finishes like granite, masonry or stonework.
When Do You Need a Permit to Build a Porch?
In most parts of the country, you need a permit to build a porch. Check with your local municipality or county to find out the rules in your area.
Actual construction of a porch can take anywhere from three to 16 weeks, depending on project complexity and the availability of the construction crews your porch pro works with. But the entire process, from design to permitting to final construction, can take up to six months, says Douglass of Texas Custom Patios. That’s because many contractors have a backlog of projects.
What Are the Steps In Building a Porch?
The first step in getting your porch built is choosing a pro to work with. Typically the pro will visit your home and then return to the office to create an initial porch design. The design may not be fully engineered until after you’ve agreed to work with the pro.
Once you’ve accepted the proposal and signed a contract, your pro will finalize the design. As mentioned previously, be sure the design shows furniture included to scale so you can get an idea of how your space will flow for the purposes you envision. After the design is finalized, your pro will work to get any necessary permits, as well as approval from your homeowners association, both of which can take some time. Some projects may require an engineer, which will also add time. You’ll also work with your pro to choose and order materials.
During construction you can expect materials to be staged on your property. A variety of tradespeople will come to pour the concrete footings or slab, frame the floor, build the walls and roof, add electrical and sometimes plumbing and apply any finishes like granite, masonry or stonework.
When Do You Need a Permit to Build a Porch?
In most parts of the country, you need a permit to build a porch. Check with your local municipality or county to find out the rules in your area.
When Is a Porch Not a Good Idea?
For some homes, adding a porch would so disrupt the existing roofline — for example, requiring windows to be moved or removed — that adding a porch becomes more expensive than most homeowners are willing to pay. Your professional should be able to let you know if that would be the case for your home and should have a good idea during the initial visit if the roofline will need to be adjusted, Lynch says.
More
Elements of the Classic Southern Porch
The Right Dimensions for Your Porch
Get Your Porch Ready for Spring Sitting
Work with a pro to get the porch you want
For some homes, adding a porch would so disrupt the existing roofline — for example, requiring windows to be moved or removed — that adding a porch becomes more expensive than most homeowners are willing to pay. Your professional should be able to let you know if that would be the case for your home and should have a good idea during the initial visit if the roofline will need to be adjusted, Lynch says.
More
Elements of the Classic Southern Porch
The Right Dimensions for Your Porch
Get Your Porch Ready for Spring Sitting
Work with a pro to get the porch you want
A porch has a floor, a roof and some sort of supports that hold the roof up. The roof is what makes a porch different from a deck — and it’s actually a pretty important distinction because if improperly engineered or installed, a roof could eventually sag or even, under extreme weather circumstances, collapse.
“People think of [a porch] as a deck with a roof on it,” says Daren Langhorne of Core Outdoor Living, a company in Clifton, Virginia, that has built some 500 porches over 26 years. “We say, ‘No, this is not a deck with a roof on it. It’s an addition without windows and walls.’”
Though many people think of a porch as an elevated platform with stairs that lead up to it, a porch doesn’t need to be raised off the ground or have stairs. Porches can have a variety of flooring types. They can be attached to the front, side or back of a home. These days, porches are used for more than just sitting: People equip them with dining tables, fireplaces, ceiling fans and even TVs.