Building a New Porch: How to Make it to Last

Building a new porch doesn't have to be as complicated as it might appear. With some decent basic carpentry skills and attention to important steps, it's fairly easy to build a porch that will last for decades. Here are some ideas to help make your project one that will last for decades.

Start with the foundation

If you get this one wrong, your entire project is in jeopardy. You can use a pier foundation or just pour a concrete slab, or if water might be an issue, go with a perimeter. For my porch, I used the pier method. Dig down deep enough to secure each pier with enough concrete so that it will remain stable, at least 12 inches, for ours, I went 18".

Porch columns, railings

Once the foundation was done and the floor joists secured, I laid a floor of 3/4" plywood. For railings, you will want to match the general architecture of your home and choose something that will add safety while being pleasing to the eye. Spacing is important. I went with spindles secured top and bottom and used a section of the railing for the gate.

For the columns, I went with the more simple Tuscan style. You just need to make sure they are strong enough for your roof and any potential snow, and sturdy enough to stand up over time. Columns provide an opportunity to express color as well.

The roof of the porch

Again, you will want to blend your porch into the home, with the same pitch, or at least close. Your overhang should match what you have on the rest of the house too. Cutting the rafters to fit was the hardest part of the project for me, and I had to commit a mistake or two to firewood. The rest of the roof was fairly straightforward. I used asphalt shingles to match our house.

Remember, if you want to have lights or a ceiling fan, you will want to wire them into the porch roof. Forget that, and you may be stuck with having to try to hide the wiring later.

Protecting against the weather

The biggest enemy your porch will face over the years will come from weather. Here in Western Oregon our primary concern is water. We took rain into consideration when it came to the roof, the slope of the ground beyond the porch, and the installation of gutters. Depending on where you live, you might have to protect more against sun and snow.

Tools

I used a Skil Saw, my electric drill, a couple of sawhorses, a claw hammer, a roofing hammer, and measuring tape. For the concrete, I mixed in a wheelbarrow. Fairly basic, and enough to get the job done. Good luck on your porch project, I hope my information was helpful!