How do I Build a Front Porch on an Old Farmhouse?

A farmhouse and a front porch go together like warm nights and fireflies.

An old farmhouse isn't an old farmhouse without a porch. It doesn't have to be a big porch, and it doesn't have to be elaborate, but it should be covered, and it should have enough room for a rocking chair or two. This plan will help you build a very basic eight foot by eight foot porch.

Things You'll Need

• 4 posts, 4 inches deep by 4 inches wide by 8 feet long
• Shovel
• Concrete
• String
• Plumb bob
• 48 boards, 2 inches deep by 4 inches wide by 8 feet long
• Stud finder
• Hammer
• Nails
• 2 plywood sheets, 1 inch deep by 4 feet wide by 8 feet long
• One roll roofing paper
• Shingles or tin roofing

Instructions

Building a basic porch

1. Decide where you want your porch. Dig four post holes, two feet deep, at each corner. Set the 4 inch deep by 4 inch wide by 8 foot long posts into the holes. Use the string and plumb bob to make sure the posts are at the same height.

2. Mix the concrete and pour it into the holes. Be careful to make sure the posts are steady. Let the concrete dry and cure, per the instructions on the bag. This will usually take a couple of days.

3. Hammer the 2 inch deep by 4 inch wide by 8 foot long boards horizontally to the top of the posts. Do the same at the bottom of the posts. Use a stud finder to discover 2 inch deep by 4 inch wide boards inside the house. Studs are boards that support the house frame; the stud finder detects nails, so you want to attach your lumber within about a half inch of the place where the stud finder points. Nail the boards closest to the house to the interior house boards containing those studs.

4. Nail in the rafters. They should consist of 2 inch deep by 4 inch wide by 8 foot long boards, tilted slightly downward from the house to the front of the top porch frame. Use your stud finder to locate an interior board for the top of the rafters; that will be the top of your porch roof. You will probably want to angle the nails slightly to make sure the rafters are properly attached to your porch frame and the interior studs. Place the rafters about a foot apart, with the narrow, 2 inch side facing up.

5. Connect floor supports at the bottom of the porch, using 2 inch deep by 4 inch wide by 8 foot long boards spaced about a foot apart. The narrow, 2 inch deep side of the boards should face up. These boards should extend from the lower front end of the porch to a stud in the house. Again, use your stud finder to detect these interior house frame boards, and angle your nails for the best possible support.

6. Use the remaining boards as flooring, nailing them to the supports with the wide, 4 inch side facing up. Place the planks as close together as possible. You can also substitute tongue-and-groove planks for the boards, but it will be much more expensive.

7. Nail the plywood sheeting to the rafters, using nails about every six inches along the rafters. Place the roofing paper over the plywood, and nail in the shingles or tin roof.

8. Stain or paint your porch to match the house. Add railings or a light screen, if you like. Furnish.

Tips & Warnings

• If your house is in an area that's prone to heavy snow or rain, you may want to elevate the porch and add stairs. For places with heavy snow, you may also want to consider making the porch roof a bit steeper to avoid a collapse.

References

• Front Porch Ideas and More: Building a Porch
• HGTV: How To: Build a Front Porch
• This Old House: Create a Farmhouse Porch