The porch is an integral part of any private home. In the southern regions, this is the easiest way to get into the building. In the northern regions, an open extension is installed in front of an insulated veranda or vestibule. In the article, we will talk about the types of structures, what functions the porch performs and how it should look in order to blend in harmoniously with the house.






What it is?
The porch is landing in front of the entrance door in conjunction with the stairs … In most cases, the structure is supplemented with a railings and a canopy. The porch solves two tasks at once - decorative and functional. A rare private house has an entrance door at ground level.



According to the laws of construction, the first floor is always raised above the ground, and in order to get inside the building, you need to climb the steps, and in the case of basement floors, the steps are also high. For convenience, the staircase does not lead directly to the front door, but comes to the site where you can put things, get the keys and open the door, without balancing on the steps.
It is even more comfortable if a canopy is installed over the site - it will protect the entrance from bad weather, and the area in front of the door will always be dry and clean.



The handrails that accompany the stairs provide safety, especially in winter, when the steps are freezing and slippery. For some owners, the high porch performs another practical function - it serves as a small utility room under the steps. It can store a watering hose, garden tools, basins and buckets.
Decorative functions for the porch are also important. An ill-conceived structure can ruin the appearance of the cottage. On the contrary, stylized as a general exterior, the porch not only complements the building, but often becomes its accent element.



Views
Thanks to the variety of porches, even boring houses of the same type acquire individuality. Extensions can be classified according to different criteria: shape, material, size, type of device, and the presence of a canopy.






All outdoor porches are divided into two large categories - built-in and attached … The first option refers to buildings erected together with the house, on the same foundation. The attached porch is completed later, after the cottage is handed over to the tenants.


Porches can also be divided into open, covered and closed
- Completely open the porch is equipped with a platform, steps, but it does not have a canopy.
- With a canopy the extension is most common. It has a landing, a staircase with railings and a canopy over the front door.
- Closed there is a porch with a vestibule, with a glazed covered extension.
- The large building is divided into two zones - completely open and glazed.
- Narrow visor at the front door it forms a single whole with the roof of the house, otherwise the porch can be considered open.
The variety of porches lies in the direction of the steps. They can be located in the center of the extension, diverge on two sides, and have an asymmetrical entrance. The corner porch is endowed with many faces, its steps, closing together, form an angle.






Consider examples of porches with different directions of steps
- Symmetrical front door building in classic style with a central entrance.
- Corner porch steps with a multifaceted platform.
- Attractive forged the structure contains stairs that diverge on two sides.
- Porch with one-sided side steps.
- The annex has central and side entrance.
- Stages of the structure with two-way entrance deployed to the front side.
- Another kind of swing staircase rising to the vestibule.
- Beautiful porch country style with side access to the terrace. The door to the house is on the side of the terrace.
- Graceful wrought iron staircase located diagonally from the front door.
- Porch with side ramp.
- Building in style provence … The staircase is without railings, while the platform, on the other hand, contains a protective fence.
You can also classify the porch by size.






High
High steps are attached to a house with a large plinth, since the front door is located at a distance from the ground. Even more large-scale extensions are found in cottages containing a basement floor. To get to the door, you need to go through several sites. On high stairs, it is important to take into account not only the lifting parameters, but also the optimal size of each step, especially if the elderly or small children live in the house.



Low
The lowest porches have no steps at all, they contain a platform in the form of a podium. At best, they can be equipped with a ramp.



Small
Miniature porches look narrow with a shallow landing. Their construction takes a little building material. But even such crumbs are subject to architectural rules:
- the front door must open completely;
- on the minimum area, two people must pass each other - entering and exiting.



Large
A large porch is considered due to the parameters of the site, regardless of the height at which it is located. A seating area or a dining group can be located on a large surface.


Materials (edit)
The porch is on the street, so the weather conditions of each region dictate their own conditions in the choice of material. For example, in places with a lot of rainfall, it is better to abandon wood and metal in favor of stone and brick. Slippery metal structures are not suitable for northern regions with long winters. It is not necessary to cover the steps of the KDP in such places, many consider them sliding.






On uneven territories, extensions are made on piles, metal frames are used. For a large stone porch, formwork is made and the foundation is poured. The device of a large-scale structure requires drawing up a diagram and correct calculations. Those who do not have the time and money to deal with the porch can purchase a modular product from wooden and metal elements in specialized construction firms. The frame is assembled easily and quickly, the cost of the porch is from 2.5 thousand rubles.
In addition to weather conditions and convenient use, the appearance of the building is taken into account when erecting a porch. The extension should not enter into dissonance with it. Materials are selected the same from which the house is built, or well combined with it.



You should not use many types of materials at the same time - they will not improve the appearance, only a designer can do such techniques. We offer an example of a porch assembled from slabs, stone, wood and plastic. For the construction of the extension, various materials are used - wood, concrete, metal, stone, brick. Let's dwell on them in more detail.






Wood
A concrete extension is not suitable for a log house, but a wooden porch will decorate a building made of any material. The product from a bar and boards looks beautiful. Not so impressive, but the porch made of pallets looks practical. A few used pallets are worthless, a porch for a country house assembled from them with your own hands will cost free. Wood is a favorite material for many, but besides the pros, it also has disadvantages, they should be taken into account when starting to build a porch.


The advantages of a wooden extension are as follows
- Attractive appearance.
- Environmentally friendly structure, does not emit hazardous substances, emits a pleasant aroma.
- Wood is in good harmony and can be easily combined with all building materials.
- Poor thermal conductivity of wood allows you to keep warm in a covered building, for example, if you build a porch with a vestibule.
- The tree can be painted, decorated with carvings, such an extension will be a great addition to the facade of the building. Wooden products are well suited for rural, historical, ethnic destinations and eco-style houses.



There are also disadvantages to wooden buildings:
- if the material is poorly processed, it reacts to moisture and begins to rot;
- the decay process is accompanied by the presence of mold and harmful microorganisms;
- besides, rodents love wood;
- everyone knows that it is poorly resistant to fire.
To build a porch, you will need a foundation, since contact with the soil has a bad effect on the wood. You can use the pile option or install an extension on concrete posts. All wooden elements of the porch are treated with an antiseptic and anti-fire compounds. Despite this, not every wood is capable of long-term use in outdoor conditions. Dense tree species are most suitable, they repel water and are not very susceptible to decay.



Consider the characteristics of some plants
- Linden … Refers to rocks of medium density. It does not allow moisture to pass through and has antiseptic properties, which means it will not become a haven for mold and microorganisms.
- Pine … The material is cheap, but the least suitable for building a porch, as it is soft, absorbs water and gives off resin.
- Cedar does not emit resinous substances, it contains phytoncides that resist fungus and bacteria.
- Aspen … Its antibacterial properties help resist mildew. However, at normal density, aspen still swells from moisture, so it is not suitable for a porch.
- Oak - the most respected material in construction, it is strong, has a beautiful and noble appearance, does not allow moisture to pass through, and is used for a long time. But, unfortunately, it is expensive.
- Larch … This is the most suitable material for the porch. Density competes with oak, and from time to time it only increases. After 20-30 years, the product will be so thick that the sharpest ax will bounce off it.
The upper platform of the wooden extension is not always covered with a board. It is often decorated with a wood-polymer composite, since it does not allow water to pass through and does not rot.



Metal
Metal in different versions can be involved in the construction of the porch. Most often it is a welded steel frame product, strong and reliable. Sometimes the steps are sheathed with sheets of metal, but more often other materials are used - board, WPC, tile. Forged items are incredibly beautiful, and despite the weight of the metal, they look light and airy.
Metal has its drawbacks - the steps slide in winter. In addition, the porch will have to be constantly monitored - in order not to miss the initial stages of corrosion, the damaged area should be cleaned and treated with special impregnations.






Concrete
With concrete, you can make a porch of any configuration. To do this, you need to make the formwork of the desired shape and pour the solution into it. When it dries, the tree should be removed.



The concrete structure looks beautiful even without cladding, but in order to protect the material from destruction or to stylize the porch to match the design of the house, it is covered with decorative stone, brick, and tiles. If, according to the designer's idea, a brutal entrance structure is needed, pressed concrete is used.
It contains plasticizers and reinforcing additives that make it hard as stone.



Brick
Brick for the construction of the porch is most often used if this material is already involved in the construction of the house. Such a structure looks reliable and presentable.






There are various arguments in favor of brick:
- reliability and strength of the structure;
- ease of installation;
- the masonry dries quickly;
- if you work carefully, you can save on cladding, since the brick itself is beautiful;
- impressive appearance of the finished porch.
The disadvantage of brickwork is considered to be slow construction, because you need to work with each brick.


A rock
Usually, the stone in the decoration of the porch is used the same as for the cladding of the house. It can be polished natural or artificial material, paving stones or wild stone.
Most often, cottage owners choose the following types of stone for their entrance group
- Granite - the strongest and most durable material, not afraid of weather fluctuations.
- Travertine - a relatively light stone due to its porous structure. It has good thermal conductivity. This property allows a heating system to be carried out under the porch, so that it always remains dry and clean.
- Marble - a capricious stone that requires annual care - cleaning, polishing. Absorbs dirt, can crack and chip, but looks like a king.






Blocks
The porch can be built from foam blocks, cinder block, expanded clay block, aerated concrete. The material is larger than brick, not heavy, so construction is faster and easier. The units have a long service life, are safe and inexpensive. But you have to spend money on cladding.

Canopy options
Shelter above the landing at the door is essential. The canopy protects the person entering the house from precipitation. On the spacious porch, you can hide in the shade of the visor and relax in a comfortable armchair. The canopy is built taking into account the material from which it is erected, and taking into account the load of the snow cap in the winter. To prevent precipitation from collecting, they try to make the visors with a slope or give them a streamlined shape. Be sure to install a drain system.
The material for the coating is very different - metal, profiled sheet, polycarbonate, soft tiles. The forms of the product are also varied. But the canopies are not always mounted on purpose - it happens that the continuation of the roof of the house or the balcony serves as a canopy.

Check out the examples
The round porch has 4 columns in support of the balcony, which also serves as a canopy

The beautiful petal shape of the visor is made of metal with forging and polycarbonate

The annex has a double roof with ventilation

Elegant ball-shaped awnings look beautiful

There are also flat visors, transparent options let in light

The fan-shaped awnings, decorated with lanterns, look spectacular

Railings
You can build a porch without handrails, but with them it will look more impressive. Railings are usually combined with a visor or home decoration. They can have marble balusters, carved wooden elements, graceful forging. Thanks to the beautiful design, the staircase railing transforms the entire porch in an amazing way.
Railings, in addition to decoration, also carry a functional load - they ensure the safety of people walking up the stairs. Handrails are especially relevant in homes where old people and small children live.
In winter, during icy conditions, all other family members can also appreciate their help.

Projects
Before you build a porch, you should draw up a project with calculations and drawings. For example, a wooden extension with dimensions of 150x150 cm should have a pile or columnar foundation. The drawing indicates the one and a half meter width and depth of the structure. You can immediately add the design of the adjacent territory to the project, indicate where it is planned to place the flower bed, bench, lampposts.
To make it clear, we will give several schemes as an example
Drawing of a compact porch on a metal frame with a depth of 1700 mm, a width of 1000 mm

A beautiful multifaceted porch with three steps, dimensions 2800x1300 mm

When designing an extension, one should pay attention to the architectural style of the building itself, then it becomes clear how to correctly develop a model of the porch and select the necessary material. We offer examples of porches built in the same style as the house.
Light positive Scandinavian the style is imbued with natural simplicity and comfort

Mountain house directions chalet contains a rough, but solid, solid porch made of natural stone and wood

Modern style high tech has simple and light graphics. The front door is sunk into the building. A similar architectural technique divides the extension into an open and closed area

Arrangement
The cottage is built, the porch is attached, it's time to bring beauty to the front door so that it would be pleasant to leave the house. In the style of Provence, shabby chic, country, flowers in pots are carried out on the porch - the more, the better … They exhibit vintage furniture, cozy sofas and swings, tables and wicker chairs that make you want to relax. The porch is decorated with beautiful canopies, railings with balusters. A shoe-shine grate is installed at the entrance, flowerbeds are laid out next to the extension, and beautiful paths lead to the house.
The adjacent territory is complemented with benches and lampposts. Some owners decorate the porch with statues, columns, beautiful arches, stone vases. On a large site, the recreation area is surrounded by curtains, creating a private coziness. Look at the photo how you can comfortably sit on the porch with friends around a live fire in an atmosphere of beautiful flowers and romantic lanterns.

Repairs
Repairing a wooden porch begins with removing the old paint. After that, the affected areas are clearly visible, the decayed areas are cleaned, they are treated with antimicrobial compounds. The resulting cracks are sealed with a mixture of sawdust and epoxy. The destroyed wooden elements are completely replaced. For example, instead of the old dilapidated kosour, a new one is cut out. If the condition is not so deplorable, you can simply strengthen the stairs with side boards.
Loose railings and supports are fixed with metal corners. Broken balusters are exchanged for whole ones. Sagging steps are also replaced using a wooden shield of strong tree species, at least 4-5 cm thick. If a gap appears between the canopy and the house, the visor is pulled to the wall and fixed with corners.
The finished porch should be treated with fire-fighting mixtures, primed and painted.

Beautiful examples
The front porch forms the face of the house. We suggest that you familiarize yourself with a selection of beautiful examples.
Delightful decoration of the porch with openwork wrought iron railings and a canopy

A low annex with a massive wooden canopy, made in a modern style

Porch with double-sided steps leading to a large terrace

Porch with access to the second floor terrace
