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The Old House Porches & Decks Design Dilemma

Porch or Portico Possible?

3 years ago

Do you think there’s anyway I can add a front porch and have it not take away from the facade or peaks? It’s my dream to have a front porch, so I’m hoping we can figure something out. At the very least, I want an overhang over the door for when it’s raining and a bench so we can watch the kids play out front.

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Comments (5)

PRO
Sabrina Alfin Interiors
3 years ago
I think if you did a slate or bluestone patio instead of concrete it could work. I would include the area in front of the entry, then wrap it around the corner of the house. You could edge the platforms like you would with a raised garden bed, e.g. stacked stones or railroad ties. Don't make it too large; you don't want to overwhelm the facade.

Something like these, perhaps:

Natural Waterfall & Swimming Pool · More Info

David and Terri's backyard · More Info

Exterior of family room addition · More Info
Dana Natale thanked Sabrina Alfin Interiors
PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Not unless you have the room to resize the second gable

Or get rid of the small gable entirely
Dana Natale thanked BeverlyFLADeziner
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Wonderful! But don't bless us until after the job has been declared a success! We're going to stick with our 5/4x4 recommendation. Historically porches are usually x4 as well. It is a little "busier", but two weeks after install you won't notice or think about it. (Along with the bathroom faucets, door knobs and everything else it's so easy to hyper focus on when building a new home... this comes from personal experience) All the following jobs Miami/Bahamas/Sarasota/Palm Springs were slapped down on grade and the customers (against recommendation) went with 5/4x6 and it worked out ok.... but those are your dice to roll. Spacers definitely aren't going to hurt anything. The more height you can squeeze out of it the better off you will be. The fascia board.... its both a drainage and ventilation issue. I would defer to a builder and code on this one, but intellectually here's the logic. If you bring up the stone right to the bottom edge of the deckboards then drill weep holes you're basically closing in the edge of the porch tight with little room for airflow with the exception of the weep holes. Instead, if you bring the stone up to the edge of the concrete then extend your porch and sleepers just a little beyond the edge of the concrete/stone then have a fascia board (like in the photo you posted from Dalrymple Sallis Architecture) the air will flow up behind the board then under the deck for the entire length of the face of the porch instead of just at the weep holes. Additionally, though probably not necessary, it would also afford you the opportunity to add vents into the fascia. Not very aesthetically pleasing, but if you're planning on adding landscaping in front like bushes/shrubs then they may end up hidden anyway......
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Comments (15)
Since you are in a HOA, drive around to locate the other houses that are the same model. Chances are good someone will have solved this problem already. You can use google streetview to "drive", too. Do you know how much coverage you need? 6 inches, 12 inches, more? A small overhang painted the same color as the house or in white matching the trim would be quite unobtrusive, but if it needs to be 18 or 24 inches or larger, then the HOA will probably take more notice when you put in your proposal for approval. BTW, inviting the HOA board members over when it rains may help your case. Or make a video next time it rains.
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roarah
3 years ago
I always wanted a front porch but years after buying my house I find the front vestibule preferable to a portico and to compromise I placed two Adirondack chairs on my front yard.
Dana Natale thanked roarah
PRO
Greta Interiors
3 years ago
This style house (Tudor revival) typically does not have a front porch. You see them with inset doors with cute little oddly shaped windows in the entry, but if you see them with a porch, its because someone added one later. I agree that enlarging the patio would give you more seating area. Does it have a back or side porch or hardscaping? You may want to concentrate on that as a seating area.

Many of my clients lament not having a front porch so they move heaven and earth to put one in, only to realize they rarely use it in favor of the gathering places at the back of the house. They don't like the lack of privacy. One lovely lady said she didn't want to have to put on her makeup "just to see the annoying neighbors I don't want to look at anyway" and had us redesign her entrance to add more plantings and privacy hedges around her porch.

Cute house btw!
Dana Natale thanked Greta Interiors
partim
3 years ago
Remove the large shrub and lay pavers between the walkway and the house. Bench under the window.

Add an awning over the front door, and another wider one across the right side of the house. to give some porch-like shelter over the bench area. The awnings could be something attention-getting like a striped fabric or very plain. https://www.front-porch-ideas-and-more.com/porch-awnings.html
Dana Natale thanked partim

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