There are many benefits of adding a new porch to your house – porches provide extra living space, protection from the elements, and can add curb appeal and value to your home. Plus, somewhere to shelter whilst you find your keys. However, there are also some issues to consider before porch construction begins. This article will explore the pros and cons of adding a porch to a house.
There are a few things to consider before adding a porch to your home. First, you will need to decide if you want a porch that is enclosed or open. Enclosed porches can provide additional privacy and protection from the elements, but they may be more expensive to build. Open porches are less expensive, but they may not offer as much protection from the weather.
What is a porch?
A porch is a structure, usually attached to the front of a house and can be made from a variety of materials, including uPVC, wood, brick, and aluminium. They can be either an open porch or an enclosed front porch and can be built as a standalone structure or as an extension of your existing home’s entrance.
Typically built as a single storey, a porch can be anything from an enclosed structure to an open-air space with sidewalls and a roof. They offer extra protection around the entrance of your home, for you and your property giving protection when coming or going inside.
Porches offer practical benefits such as extra space for the storage of wet coats, boots, and buggies as well as embellishing your home. And with so many styles available there’s no shortage of options – from grandiose entranceways to smaller simple designs so you know they’ll be a porch to suit your existing house.
The benefits of adding a new porch to a house
Added security from a porch
One of the main benefits of adding a new porch to your house is increased security. A new porch can be enclosed, which makes it more difficult for intruders to gain access to your home. In addition, porch extensions can act as an additional barrier between your home and would-be burglars. An enclosed porch will most likely have strong double glazed windows allowing a good view of any visitors and a secure uPVC door with an industry-standard security lock giving two doors between the outside and your home.
Additional space
Having somewhere to keep those muddy boots and shoes, not to mention kids’ toys, coats, umbrellas, etc – really anything that you don’t want in the house – is a real bonus. It keeps the wet and dirty items out of your hallway and with a tiled, or another hard floor is easy to clean. Although not a huge space, the benefit of keeping the outdoors out can be invaluable.
The energy efficiency of a new porch
With rising household bill costs, adding an extra layer of protection from the outside elements to prevent heat loss can be a welcome addition to your home and your bank account. Some front doors, especially older wooden doors on period properties, can be very draughty letting your expensive heat out and the unwelcome cold in. A porch acts as a barrier to help prevent this and by closing the porch door behind you before opening the front door your home will stay warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.
Added kerb appeal
Improving the look of a house is one of the main reasons people choose to add a porch to their home and whatever style of property you have, there’s a porch that will suit it. Whether it be a simple, practical smaller porch or an architectural feature, the property will be aesthetically improved as opposed to just having a front door. Visitors will admire the new appearance as well as appreciating the warmer welcome.
A brighter entrance
Most enclosed porches have large amounts of double glazing and a glazed door allowing plenty of natural light in. This in conjunction with a glazed front new door will really brighten up your home.
Added-value of a porch
This is a little subjective as it can come down to personal choice and the added value may not necessarily be in adding value to a sale price, although depending on the style, construction, and size of the porch this can be the case. Given that adding a porch to your home will increase the living space, make it more secure and add kerb appeal could go a long way to making the property more desirable and therefore sell that much quicker. Especially compared to a similar neighbour’s property that may not have a porch. So could be the difference between your home being on the market for a few weeks or a few months.
How to add a new porch extension to your house?
Firstly, it’s important to remember that a porch is a construction that needs to be built and building regulations and planning permission from the local planning authority that apply will need to be adhered to. Secondly, a porch is an addition to your property so build standard and materials need to be of high quality to maintain the integrity of the property and to avoid any future issues.
When choosing a porch company consider the range of porch styles available, the build and material quality and don’t forget to check out any reviews. GAP Home Improvements fulfills all these requirements and has an excellent reputation for supplying and fitting porches and front door canopies.
Can I build my own porch?
Whilst adding a porch to your home isn’t a huge construction project it’s not for the inexperienced DIYer. When it comes to building projects they are usually best left to the professionals – a poorly constructed porch could add more problems than benefits to your home and getting a professional in halfway through may well end up being more expensive than calling them in at the beginning.
Do I require planning permission to add a porch to my house?
What are the planning rules for adding a new porch to your home? Requiring planning permission is an ‘it depends’ question based on various factors such as the designated area, and the ground area. Generally speaking, you will not need to make a planning application or gain planning permission to add a porch to your house provided:
- the ground floor area (measured externally) would not exceed three square metres.
- no part would be more than three metres above ground level (height needs to be measured in the same way as for a house extension).
- no part of the porch would be within two metres of any boundary of the dwelling/house and the highway.
There may also be other restrictions and permitted development rules depending on the style and location of your house. Listed building consent and permitted development rights will need to checked.
You may not need building regulation approval from your local planning office, but building regulations for adding a porch to your house need to be considered before starting the project.
If in doubt, it may be worth contacting a planning consultant to check any planning permission rules or other restrictions from your local authority.
Final thoughts on adding a porch to your home
Adding a porch to your house can be a great way to improve the look of your property and give you some extra space. However, it’s important to remember that porches need to be built to a high standard in order to avoid any problems in the future and ensure the work complies with any planning rules. It’s also worth getting professional help when adding a porch to your house, as this can save you money and time in the long run.
For more information on how GAP Home Improvements can help you add a porch to your house get in touch and contact us today for a free quote. We have a team of experienced professionals waiting to work with you to help improve your home!
