Who will be building the porch?

We have family with plenty of experience in framing houses. I’ll be helping them while learning along the way.

Drafting up the plans to present to the building inspector was left up to me.

Have you sketched a design -- not how it will be built, but how it will look?

There are many decisions that need to be made and many are interrelated.

Simple things like which direction the decking will run will change the way the framing is done.

This is not a project that lends itself to internet engineering.

Maybe one of your family framers could spend an hour going over how they would build the porch, you ask questions and take notes that you then turn into plans.

Out of curiosity; how much would a an Architect charge for a project like this?

That is one thing to ask the local architects when you meet with them. Costs vary geographically and among architects.

Is there anyway to stretch the porch to 8ft? It's a standard length for material

I think 8’ would be a bit too much. I know it will lead to material waste, but when we did our deck, we were able to use extra boards for skirting (instead of using lattice) (the deck was 20’ wide to take advantage of 20’ long PVC planks, but I added a stairway on a corner, instead of on one of the ends)

Sorry PPF: I missed your reply too.

I have been sketching up ideas and playing around with online tools and calculators also. A neighbor in one of our sister-homes (cookie cutter neighborhood development here), let me Measure her porch, but she’s only at 4’ wide, which is a bit too tight (I’ve heard 6’ is a better place to be at minimum). Hers was also added when the house was built... our building inspector loves footings, so I’m sure i can’t use her design in our final... and using online deck design tools for a reference won’t take into account the added weight of a roof.

Decking will most likely run parallel to the house. I understand some say perpendicular is more pleasing to the eye, but I haven’t decided on PVC or IPE for the decking.... PVC likes 12” on center structure, which will certainly be a pain for blocking...

To keep things simple, we make sure the roof posts are directly over the deck posts. You could have the roof and deck posts offset, but that's going to require engineering to figure out how.

You can cantilever the porch past the beam, but you still need a solid connection between the beam and the post. Setting the post on the decking ain't gonna fly.

I personally wouldn't build a 6 ft porch if I could build an 8 ft porch. Ours is 6, and it's stupid.

I agree w/ PPF, talk it out with the family member who will be framing it. I'd still look into having it designed and drawn up by someone who knows local regs and conditions.

This is not a DIY project.

My last house had a 6’ x 19’ porch on the rear of the house. 6’ is very shallow, especially with yours being so long. Very hard to arrange furniture. My favorite porch was 16’x16’... can you post photos of the house?

I appreciate all the insight/information.

The question around sitting the posts on the decking stems from seeing how others have constructed their porches: it seems common place to set the posts right on top of the decking, provided there’s appropriate structure below.

I appreciate the suggestions to use an architect, and I’ll consult with some today to see if I can get some pricing.

My concerns with 8’ projection (vs 6’) come from having too little pitch on the roof: we live in an area with decent snow fall.

I’m curious what part of this project is not DIY? I understand the roof adds added complexity, but if I’m able to draft up plans that are approved by the building inspector... utilize family with plenty of construction experience.... and have a permit (requiring inspection at every stage of the project, from footing, to framing, to decking....) I would think I would be fine?

I’ve hired plenty of “professionals” with plenty of reviews and have certainly been let down. Many of the companies around here have a face who comes with their construction belt on, clipboard in hand, promising you that their years of experience are the reason their cost is so high...and then a half dozen less-than-skilled laborers show up to do the work as quick as they can, while your guy is out gallivanting around.

I’d rather do the work myself (properly), and use the money saved on better materials... then I’ll know exactly what I have under my feet and above my head. If that requires learning some new things, then so be it!

I‘m at work; but here’s one of the sister-houses (only difference is we have sidelights on our door, and the chimney is on the opposite side, not through the garage)

For the front porch I‘m just looking for some rocking chairs/Adirondack chairs to face towards the street. Just looking for a place to hide from the sun/enjoy a rain storm.

We have a large deck on the back of our house that we use for entertaining. (Honestly, this project started from me wanting an awning for the deck, but not finding one that the wife agreed on)

Perhaps you should start a new post with pictures of the deck and we can help you find a shade solution you and your wife both like. I don’t think a porch will look appropriate on the front of that lovely New England home

Without seeing a plan and elevation of your house, here are some general thoughts:

--A 6' deep porch is insufficient to place usable furniture and have adequate circulation space. Eight feet is the minimum;

--Simplest framing scheme is to provide a footing under each post location. Post spacing should not exceed about 8-12' OC to look proper. If simple lumber is to be used for posts, min size for posts should be 6 X 6. A 4 X 4 post will appear too skinny.

--You can sit each post above each footing, directly on the decking, if you fasten the post bottom using a galvanized post base which will elevate the base slightly, allowing drying and avoiding rot.

--Strive for minimum roof slope of 3/12 or more if shingles will be used for roofing. A minimum head clearance of 7'-6" is required.

There are many other ways to design and frame a porch, but this is about the most straight forward. Good luck!

This was the porch on our last house and was 8’ wide. I would never go any narrower than that. EVER. It’s one of those things that is better to have too much than not enough. 10’ would be very nice. As you can see, even at 8’, there’s not a ton of room for furniture, especially a sofa, that can be arranged in a conversational manner.

Here’s a neighbor’s Porch. I actually think the home looks quite nice: I’d just want a hip-top roof over the porch for aesthetics.

Virgil: that‘s Helpful! Thank you.

Shead: thats a nice porch! I would be very happy with a setup just like that. I understand your point of view, but I think a few chairs side by side would be perfect.

It was nice and works for a front porch. But again, that porch was 8’ wide so 6’ would be very narrow and claustrophobic, imho.

I don't know what a farmer's porch is, but 6' is not deep enough. If someone is sitting in a rocking chair, there is not enough room for another person to step in front of them to get to the other end of the porch. 8' is better; 10' is ideal.

If the top of your porch roof beam is at the top of the door, and there is 6 feet between the house and post, using 2x6 rafters and 4 on 12 slope, you only get a few inches to flash under the windows which is not enough. 4 on 12 is minimum slope for a shingle roof in your climate.

Depending on type of underlayment, 3/12 will work fine.

Seabornman: it’s actually 36” from the top of the door frame to the bottom of the window. I used 34” to give me At least 2 inches to flash under the window onto the new roof. (What would be a comfortable amount to flash from the window to the roof?)

IMHO if you haven’t already, get a list of the building dept requirements for permit documents. Everywhere is different, locally there is not really a distinction between building a porch or a complex addition, a complete set of construction drawings is required anyway.

I do not think a hip roof is going to work there and I agree if you want some enjoyable space 8’ is the min. please post the pictures of your deck and see what ideas come for a solution for that is a much better space that what you are planning. What was it your wife had issues with for an awning ?

Myrica4: I have a meeting with the building inspector in 2 weeks: I’ll see what they say.

Patricia: What part of the Hip Roof is the problem? The complexity or the way it will look? I’ll try and snap a photo of another house with the Hip Roof.

The issue I have with the standard roof (as shown in that last photo), is the sides: they’re just finished with the same vinyl siding as the house: and it just looks half-baked....

As far as the awning: she doesn’t like the appearance. Plus they need to be retracted in stormy weather (one of the appeals of the farmer’s porch.

Here’s our deck (please ignore the trash buckets/construction materials off to the side!). Our neighbors have a Gazebo set up: but that’s not a suitable option either (too much maintenance each winter to take down and find storage)

Usually the town/county/wherever has a published checklist on their website or packet from their office of what is required for a permit, something like this example is typical:

http://www.newtonma.gov/gov/inspsvcs/bldperm.asp

I had a six-foot deep porch with rockers. It drove me crazy. It was too far to rest feet up on the railing (yes, we live a relaxed lifestyle, lol) and too shallow for ottomans, foot stools, etc. The main dialogue was " 'Scuse me, 'scuse me, 'scuse me" as we edged past one another. And if you hang ferns, and they get big, you will bonk your head on the ferns as you go by.

First world problems, I realize, but that extra 2' gained by making it an 8' porch means a 33% increase in depth, and that really increases its usability. I used to banish kids to our long front porch, letting them run up and down, roller skate, build forts, etc.

I guess if the main object was appearance plus shading from afternoon sun for the front downstairs rooms, 6' would work, but it sure wouldn't feel very welcoming, at least to me.

I do like how it improves the front of the house. It doesn't appear so stark as the porchless variant.

edit to add: re the hip roof, if your house roof is a regular gable roof, I'd do the same for the porch. Not a hip roof, in other words.

I imagine you have more than 36" between your door and the window above.

This entry door is I hope 36" wide.

This shows 36" from the top of the door trim to the bottom of the window trim.

6' deep porch and 3/12 pitch. Columns are 90". Porch floor is even with the floor inside.

Since your house roof is a gable, chances are a gable porch roof will be more consistent and appropriate.

Not sure you can roof properly above the window sill on second floor. have you considered a lower slope, using metal roofing?

If it was my project, I'd keep the porch decking an inch or more below the front door threshold.

Here’s our actual house:

from the very bottom of the window trim to the very top of the door trim, its about 39.5”.

From the top of the door trim to the bottom Of that first piece of siding, it’s about 36”

I understand the mis-match of roof styles may be an issue, but all of the gable style farmers porches I have seen really don’t have a pleasing look on the sides of the roof... the hip-top just looks more complete from the side

You will need a vertical wall dimension of approx 6" above the top of the roofing for wall flashing. Thus your roof slope is going to be rather minimal, necessitating a roofing material for low slope.

A clear height above porch decking of 7'-6" min is also needed.

this is another sister-house for example: the side of the gable roof leaves a lot to be desired in my opinion.

But it’s also a good example of a mid-matched roof!

Also; of note, I believe those pieces are about 4’ deep.

Usually you see the hipped porch roofs when they wrap around the corner like on the right (yours would look like the left side). Love the metal roof used here + it isn’t restricted to 3:12 pitch.

There are a variety of ways that space may be detailed.

Shallow porch @6’ deep, hip roof

Your roof should overhang your porch floor.

From personal experience, unless you are pouring a concrete/cement porch floor, you really do want treated deck boards (thicker 1x6 w/rounded edges) used for your porch floor. You will want the ends of each board against your house and the other end at the front edge of the porch.

You do not want board flooring running parallel to and beginning against the house because rain will, inevitably, blow onto the porch. Leaving a tiny bit of space between the boards of the floor (and having the ground beneath the floor sloped away from the house) will enable water to drain off a level porch floor more quickly not only making the porch last longer but also decreasing the slip/fall hazard of a wet porch.

.If you are using wood boards, pay attention to which way any board may be trying to cup as water that lands on a deck and/or blows onto a porch can end up standing in a board if it is lower in the middle than on each side. That also makes it more difficult to clean.

Using 8' deck boards usually being more space for dollar cost effective (less labor than cutting a twelve foot board in half) is only one reason why a porch should have an 8' floor. The more important reason is that if you really want your family to be able to sit on the porch and enjoy doing so, you need room for people to be able to easily walk the full length of the porch with chairs on it and you don't want everyone sitting in a chair with its back against the wall awkwardly lined up like a shooting gallery. Some people will want to create conversation areas and that will require chairs be across from one another with room to walk between them --unless you intend for your porch rail to be a bench seat.

If you've already definitely decided on a only 6' porch, one thing you might consider is creating a "gazebo" at the corner -- an octagon shaped conversation area where you can create a circle conversation area or even set a table with chairs for outdoor dining or table top games.

https://www.google.com/search?q=images+gazebo+as+corner+of+wrap+around+front/side+porch&tbm=isch&source=hp&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjJx5yCj5rkAhVhkeAKHVr6CQcQsAR6BAgBEAE&biw=1344&bih=620#imgrc=bNrMN32ZP6Xj0M:&spf=1566601944817

https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.pinimg.com%2Foriginals%2Fd7%2Fe1%2F89%2Fd7e189a1e49f02e5f6362f34d1a30889.jpg&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinterest.com%2Fpin%2F129337820521972296%2F&docid=N5qHqDYvfwD4HM&tbnid=bNrMN32ZP6Xj0M%3A&vet=10ahUKEwiT0emDj5rkAhUpwVkKHelwCJwQMwhPKAkwCQ..i&w=516&h=387&bih=620&biw=1344&q=images%20gazebo%20as%20corner%20of%20wrap%20around%20front%2Fside%20porch&ved=0ahUKEwiT0emDj5rkAhUpwVkKHelwCJwQMwhPKAkwCQ&iact=mrc&uact=8#spf=1566601972684

would your wife consider a retractable awning for the side deck?

No; that’s what I was looking at.

But, they’re awfully pricey for something that doesn‘t last too long.