How to Add a Porch to a Home

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

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The home you purchased years ago may not reflect your current status or be large enough for your expanding family. As your family grows and your desire to have friends over regularly increases, you may wish to create new spaces in your home for relaxation. You can add a porch to your home to enjoy fresh air, sun and the company of friends.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

Building permit
Sketch of your future porch, including dimensions
Roof with same snow-load and drainage capabilities as primary roof
Weather-proof trim and molding
Gutters
Weather guard
Furnishings

Step1

Design the roof of your porch to match your home before you begin construction. Your porch needs to possess the same snow load capability, drainage and other characteristics as your home to ensure structural integrity.

Step2

Purchase trim and molding for your porch that can hold an exterior grade and can stand up to a variety of weather conditions. You should speak with an expert at your local home improvement store to find accents with the right colors for your design needs.

Step3

Choose between open-air and screened porches as you gather materials to construct your new addition. Many homeowners select screened porches to prevent infestation by insects while they enjoy the breeze from their favorite bench.

Step4

Install high-grade gutters on your porch that allow easy drainage during rainstorms. You should install new gutters on surrounding parts of your home to maintain consistent drainage.

Step5

Coat the steps and individual planks that form your porch with weather guard after you have applied a sufficient amount of paint. You should utilize weather coating on enclosed porches as well as open porches, since condensation can enter from an open front door.

Step6

Extend your electricity and lighting capabilities from your home to your porch. You should add lighting fixtures and run electrical lines out to your porch to create outlets for televisions, lamps and other appliances.

Step7

Search for benches, chairs and other furnishings that match the color of your new porch. You should look for woodworkers in your community who can assess your new porch and then create unique furniture capable of withstanding the outdoors.

Tips & Warnings

Study the types of porches you can add to your home to determine the best design for your needs. The extensive design of a wraparound porch should be seen as an investment and an additional room. You can utilize a portico-style porch if you need something simple to enjoy the outdoors in comfort.
File for a building permit with your municipality to complete your porch. You should develop a sketch of your porch and its measurements to be used in your permit application.