At the end of the 20th century, the front porches almost disappeared from the new homes, but our affection for them remains. The porch offers an elegant and functional transition from public to private – one can soak up the late summer sun here, visit neighbors, watch a thunderstorm pass, greet incoming guests, or simply shake off an umbrella and take off dirty shoes. In order for a porch to serve all these purposes, there are a few key dimensions and configurations that should be considered.
How Wide Should Your Porch Be?
The total width of the porch varies depending on the size of the house, budget, and the intended use of the porch. A goal should always be to maintain a clear, open area that helps frame and accentuate the entrance to the house.
Designed by Country Club Homes, this neo-shingle-style home features an entrance door that is 36 inches (91 cm) wide and 12 to 18 inches wide. (30 to 46 cm) side lights. The entrance is framed by double columns spaced 7 to 8 feet (2.1 to 2.4 m) apart, and the entrance is 5 to 6 feet (1.5 to 1.8 m) wide. The spacing of the other two starting columns is slightly less than the width of the center, thus completing the width of the portico.
How Deep Should Your Porch Be?
When considering the depth of the porch, 6 feet (1.8 m) is the ideal depth, but 8 feet (2.4 m) is the ideal depth. Many of the houses are shallow in depth. A 4 ft. There is a depth of 1.2 meters behind the pillars, which allows simple wooden rocking chairs and potted plants to face the street and plenty of space to pass through. To make the shallower depths work, use smaller sized furniture and fixtures to allow circulation and fit in with the building.
The Depth and Height of the Steps
In most cases, porches require steps to rise from the ground to the porch floor. While you can make them steeper, the 6-inch (15 cm) rise (riser) and 12-inch (30 cm) extension (tread) are perfect for most situations. Local regulations may dictate what is allowed in your area, so be sure to follow their rules.
Note the two elevated
barley Pfeiffer buildings in this artisan house. The steps on the right form the usual gentle slope leading to the main portico, while the stone steps in the landscape on the left maintain an ascending and less formal run. For a height of 36 inches (91 cm), consider that you need to run 5 feet (1.5 m) to climb 6 6-inch steps and 5 12-inch steps. Pedal.
When Do You Need a Railing?
According to most building codes, guardrails, also known as railings, are required for porches that are 30 inches (76 cm) above the ground. Even if the drop is less than 30 inches (76 cm), depending on the design and how the space is used, railings may be required.
Guardrails in many areas now require a height of 42 inches (107 cm). For many years, single-family homes had a railing height of 36 inches (91 cm), so your existing railing might be 36 inches (91 cm). Higher dimensions are only required if you are building a new building or replacing an existing building with a permit.
Another provision for the required guardrail is 4 inches. For safety reasons, the (10 cm) sphere must not pass through any openings in the railing.
Attention to Other Porches
Proportion of matters. You need to remember how to use space and plan furniture for porch activities, whether they are primarily for aesthetic or functional purposes. The portico is about 8 feet (2.1 m) deep and 12 feet (3.7 m) wide. It’s low enough off the ground that it doesn’t need a railing. You will notice that the brick piers and the pillars on them are small in size, while the stone piers and tapered columns in the artisan house example are much larger in appearance and require a larger portico size.
Details and materials. Small details can be important for the final look of the porch. The details should be in line with the proportions of the house and the porch itself. The floor of the porch uses wide planks to look different from concrete or tiles.
In this design, the ceiling can be finished with beadboards, which come in a variety of sizes. The plate can be as narrow as 2 inches and as wide as 8 inches, and the bead details also vary.
The architecture of the main structure should determine the type and details of the columns. Railings can also vary greatly and are made of several different types of materials. Wood is just one of them, but depending on the building, you’ll also find wrought iron, cables, and steel.
Relationship with the road. The final consideration for a porch is its relationship to the street. The closer you are to the street, the higher the porch will feel more private. Conversely, if you’re further from the street, it may be very comfortable to extend your porch directly onto the large lawn.
This large-scale design is a bit close to the road, but high enough to have a sense of closure that prevents injuries from passing vehicles.
Porch Design Concept
Traditional. Traditional-style houses, such as farmhouses, classical-style houses, artisan houses, feature porches as their designs.
Although the proper details of classical architecture deserve a lot of explanation, this theme cannot be ignored when considering the portico of a house in the traditional style. Proportion is key, and the classical order is based entirely on the relative proportions of the parts. The spacing between the columns, as well as the details of the column supports and the area where the columns transition to the roof, known as the column tops, require careful and professional consideration.
This portico is made up of Dalrymple | The Sallis Architecture measures about 7 feet (2.1 m) from the surface of the column to the walls of the house and wraps around the sides. Measuring about 8 inches (20 cm) square and 8 feet (2.4 m) high, the columns feature the base and column cap details of the classic reference. Notice how the title or lintel (the beam that spans the column and supports the roof rafters) is set in the center of the top of the column.
Contemporary. Modern houses don’t need porches. The way they do it is just different. Lloyd’s Architects maintains clean lines in this portico, including concrete steps, deck platform platforms, and wooden platform porches. The scale is appropriate for the house and effortlessly provides a public-to-private transition.
Wrap-around porch. Victorian houses are known for their elaborate porticoes, especially wrap-around porches, as shown in this example. These depths require at least 6 feet (2.1 m), but 8 feet (2.4 m) is more typical and functional. You’ll also need to be wide enough to make them look right.
Also note that the eaves line of the porch roof is lower than the top of the windows on the main floor of the house. Placing the porch roof too high can cause rainwater to enter and there is a lack of coverage to provide the area with the protection it needs.
This diagram shows the purpose of 22 feet. (6.7 m) long porch and 6 feet (1.8 m) deep. The steps leading to the portico are centered on the entrance door, with six columns forming five compartments. In such a symmetrical design, you need to leave an odd number of spaces between the columns, as the center acts as an entry point.