You would need to dig a footer and install some support for the extension. You can't just cantilever it over the concrete decking with no support underneath and not fastened to any supporting members tied into the concrete. You will also have to deal with the height issue. The deck will need to be framed properly, and that will make the resultant height above the threshold of your front door which can create moisture infiltration issues as well as access issues. Perhaps contact a local high school that has a vocational program and explain your situation. If you would be able to pay for the materials, perhaps they would donate the labor. I've known many who took on projects of this type in order to gain trade experience and do community service all in one project.

The appraiser who came to our house told us that the railing is something the bank specifically looks for and stated that he needed to disclose this to the bank. He told us the bank required anything higher than 3 feet to have a railing and that we were at 3 1/2 feet. Funny because here you say 30" and he said 3 feet. Our mortgage broker called and said that we need to have a second "completion appraisal". Apparently the appraiser will come back out to the house and check it out and report back to the bank. I have left a message for the appraiser to see what he suggests we do. My husband and I thought at the very least we can just build up a half a foot of soil in front of the walkway. He also mentioned about taping it off with caution tape and not have it be used but I am afraid that won't "pass". Plus with it being Halloween soon it may just look like halloween decor. So my question here is if we do have to construct some sort of wood railing how would we go about doing so and have it be secure and can it be done without securing it to the house or porch? Thanks!

I would make a huge mulched bed and edge it with what you can afford. Primarily focus on pressure washing walkways and being sure everything looks crisp and clean. If you can put in some new landscape that helps. People like to see a clean, neat well cared for home that they can put their touches on. Best wishes!

We just added a screened-in porch off the back of our small house, which faces south. We added this as we were in the process of a remodel that opened up the back with lots of light... so I was pretty nervous about how it might feel with a roof limiting some of that light. Especially because we have only 8ft ceilings. It definitely reduces the bright sun but it still feels like we have plenty of light. The white roof and pillars help, as for the 3 skylights that are placed parallel with the doors. I would have loved a pergola both to preserve the light and because they’re charming, but in our area the bugs are too miserable to get much use out of an unscreened patio. This is the best before and after I can show - It’s definitely not gloomy but the bright spotlight of sun through each door is reduced.