Coming to the dacha just to garden is a thing of the past. The dacha plot has long become a favorite vacation spot. It's so nice to take a steam bath warm bath, and then sit on a cozy porch, enjoying the beauty of the village landscape.
Peculiarities
The porch can be built together with country house or attach it after completion of construction work. But they must build it, because it leads to interior spaces, protecting them from snow in winter, and from dirt in the off-season.
The porch is constantly subjected to heavy loads, so it must meet high strength requirements. As a rule, it becomes an organic addition to the house, making the entire structure unique.
Appearance The porch also depends on your financial capabilities, the area of your summer cottage, materials and, of course, on your wishes.
Kinds
By type they distinguish between open and open extensions. closed type. The first ones are equipped only with fencing and handrails, and the staircase has no more than three steps. This simple porch can be permanent or attached so that it can be removed indoors for the winter.
If the porch is protected from precipitation from above and on all sides, it is classified as a closed type. As a rule, it is a continuation of the glazed terrace or veranda. This porch expands the space, allowing you to place the necessary things. This perfect option for those who come to their country cottage area all year round.
Regardless of the type of porch, consider constructing an awning or canopy for protection from the elements and bright sunlight. The first one is supported by support pillars, and the second one is supported by brackets or protruding ceilings. To ensure a reliable and durable design, consider a few important tips:
- The most durable options for canopies and canopies are made from steel sheets or metal tiles. They will withstand heavy hail, layers of snow, and ice on the roof.
- Polycarbonate structures are gaining popularity: they are light, durable, and easy to maintain. The transparency of this material is 88%, so bright sunlight turns into soft diffused lighting.
- Pay attention to single- and double-pitch wooden structures: they are durable and especially suitable for wooden house. But you shouldn’t take glass or plastic: brittle material may simply not survive until next season.
- The slope of canopies and canopies should be directed away from the steps so that rainwater or melted snow does not flow onto them.
Materials
The house and porch should look like a single whole. Therefore, it is important to choose materials so that they are in harmony with each other and fit organically into the overall design. Otherwise, the entire structure will look tasteless.
Metal, concrete, wood and brick are popular materials for DIY porch construction. You will determine which one is suitable for your design by considering their pros and cons. Thus, a metal porch is reliable and durable. Anti-corrosion varnish will protect the material from rust, so the extension will remain attractive for a long time appearance.
Often, it does not require installing a foundation, and it is possible to assemble the porch yourself within three days. A metal porch quickly heats up in the sun and freezes in the cold, so it is not suitable for closed options.
For installation metal porch there is the following instruction:
- Install pipe supports, angles and profiles, make the frame of the porch platform, then prepare a string from a channel or metal corner. The latter is also used for making steps.
- The result is a frame to which the racks are welded, and the upper edge of the bowstring to the resulting structure. Edged board screwed to the corner, and the final step is the application of anti-corrosion varnish, as well as protective or decorative paint.
Wood is an affordable, practical and durable material. It is easy to remake a building from it, and the wooden structure will equally decorate the facade of both a small house and a grandiose building. Wooden structures periodically require repair and replacement individual elements. To extend the life of the porch, treat it with a special rodent repellent, paint or varnish. You can actually install a wooden structure yourself, but to make you happy with the result, take into account the following recommendations:
- Prepare holes 50 cm deep in advance and install supports in them. Then make a platform for the porch, prepare bowstrings or stringers.
- Attach the steps with bolts and nuts and only then proceed to install the railings: first install the balusters, and then attach the handrails to them. The installation of a wooden porch, as a rule, ends with the installation of a canopy.
Concrete structures are not afraid of either heat or frost. It's easy to do it yourself:
- Reinforcement is installed on a wooden frame, and then concrete mixture and poured into formwork. Before adding a porch, it must first be connected to the foundation of the house.
- If the house is already shrinking, drill holes in the foundation and install metal pins in them to connect the house to the porch. If the house has just been built, before work begins, a spacer of roofing felt-wrapped boards is installed between the foundation and the porch.
- After installing the porch, the boards are removed and the resulting gap is filled polyurethane foam. Initially concrete porch It doesn’t look very aesthetically pleasing, but finishing it with siding will improve the situation.
Bright, durable brick porches are still popular. Near small house such a porch will look bulky, but for a good-quality brick or stone building fits perfectly. To make the porch an organic addition to your home, listen to the following recommendations:
- The brick porch is mounted on a solid foundation, which is filled with concrete mortar. When the concrete has dried, its surface is laid out with backfill bricks. For waterproofing, roofing felt is laid between the porch and the wall of the house.
- Then they begin to make the steps: the backing brick is laid in the middle, and the facing brick is finished on the outer part. After installing the steps, they begin installing the railings, canopy and finishing the entire structure.
When choosing material, give preference ceramic brick as the most durable and never use used material. After all, the constant load and weather will lead to the destruction of the brick, and the entire structure will look very untidy.
How to build?
Any event requires a specific plan of action, and the construction of a country porch is no exception. First of all, you need to design the future structure. This can be done both on paper and in a special 3D program to look at the porch from all sides, assessing its advantages and disadvantages.
Design the number and height of steps, the height of the railings and the frequency of balusters, the dimensions of the canopy or canopy and their shape. The design needs to reflect the size of the site’s base, the thickness of the side walls, as well as the presence of window and door openings.
There are rules and regulations that need to be taken into account when building a porch:
- The site is built at the foundation level, the width of the area in front of the front door is 1.3-1.7 meters, the width of the steps is 30-40 cm, the height is 15-20 cm. At the entrance, a switch should be placed on the porch, because you will go outside and at night.
- The bottom of the canopy or canopy is placed 25-30 cm above the front door, the minimum width of the passage is 70-80 cm. If the dimensions of the house allow, the passage can be increased to 1.4-1.6 meters. The minimum width of the passage is 70-80 cm, but if dimensions allow, the passage can be increased to 1.4-1.6 meters. If you are planning more than three steps, the porch should be equipped with railings.
- The width of the site is designed taking into account one- or double door, and if the base is concrete, they plan waterproofing wooden walls. Steps and platforms are designed at a slight angle (2-3 degrees) to avoid the accumulation of rainwater and winter ice. The front door is made external, so the porch platform is installed 5-7 cm lower.
After a detailed review of the project, proceed directly to construction work. Mark the desired area, marking it with pegs driven around the perimeter. Then you need to dig a pit, the dimensions equal to the depth of the main foundation.
The bottom of the hole is covered with crushed stone approximately 5-10 cm, lightly compacted, and then proceeds to the final stage: prepare a solution of cement, crushed stone, water and sand and fill the hole so that it is level with the ground, and then level the surface with a lath and bubble level . This concrete pad is ideal for simple wooden and metal structures.
A columnar foundation is a simpler option, when the stairs of a wooden porch rest on a concrete, monolithic or brick pillar driven into the ground.
If you plan to build a porch into the veranda, arrange strip foundation.
To do this, a trench is dug along the perimeter of the veranda, the bottom is covered with sand and formwork is installed. After this, a support is made from wooden bars for the reinforcement in the pit, which is installed in the formwork and filled with concrete. After a day, the formwork is removed, and after two to three weeks the veranda itself is installed. Concrete or brick buildings placed on a slab foundation. It is mounted similarly to a concrete pad, and the depth of the ditch is at least 50-70 cm.
Despite the fact that all the work with the foundation seems long and tedious, there are a number of nuances that cannot be ignored:
- the foundation is not replaced concrete slabs, since they can be damaged by heavy precipitation in the form of rain and snow;
- Without a foundation, your porch will not live long, because as the soil thaws in the spring, it will either move or simply become askew.
After completing the foundation work, choose any porch option to suit your taste and budget and begin installing a new summer cottage structure. The installation of stair steps begins from the bottom up, attaching them to the beams with self-tapping screws or wooden pins. Both carved wooden handrails and forged railings are suitable for fencing.
All that remains is to make a landing, which is equipped either with a dense flooring of boards with slight slope, or install boards with a distance of 5 mm so that the moisture goes into the floor itself.
Since you have decided to do it yourself new extension, you probably want it to become not just another element of the dacha, but nice addition the entire area. Therefore, you should listen to the advice of professionals and decide how to decorate your porch.
The gable canopy and turned railings, steps and porch platform, finished with tiles or stone, are fully consistent classic style. An elegant addition will be lighting and pots with fresh flowers.
A wooden structure with a pronounced wood pattern is simply created for country style, and clear lines and laconic forms are the most striking features of the European style.
The country porch will turn into a piece of paradise if you equip it as a Latin American or Mediterranean patio. Give preference corner solutions: They will protect your patio from the elements and allow you to move around your home freely. The walls will be decorated with climbing clematis, ivy, lemongrass or virgin grapes, and place tubs with cypress in the corners of the site.
Wicker furniture, wooden benches and picturesque pergolas will highlight the beauty and help in arranging a rural style. Bamboo decor, stone flooring and bonsai will transport you to the land of warlike samurai. Modest wooden base with white elements and bright colors will create a Mediterranean atmosphere, and colorful mosaics will not leave fans of the Moorish style indifferent.
The fashion for non-standard architectural forms is returning. And every home owner wants to give his mansion unusualness and originality. This can be done by building a porch. This architectural element will add elegance to the entrance group of the house, enliven the overall appearance of the building, and also serve as protection from snow and rain.
But what type of extension should you choose so that it fits harmoniously into the exterior of the mansion? We will look at what size, shape, configuration, type and style a porch can be in this article. And the most worthy porch options country house Photos from our gallery will be demonstrated clearly.
The design and purpose of the porch
The veranda for the home has become such a common household item that few people think about its role. The main purpose of the extension is to make visiting the home more comfortable for a person.
Since the porch is the center of the building’s facade, it needs to be made as attractive as possible. It is often erected after the construction of the house, so care should be taken to ensure that it matches the style of the mansion. For this purpose, a project for the porch of a country house is being drawn up.
On a note: The more harmonious the overall picture is, the more worthy the veranda itself will look.
Photo of the front porch of a private house - classic design
Types of extensions
Modern types of porches for the house - elegant and comfortable designs, built from modern building materials, which decorate the entrance to the home, making it original and functional. Extensions can be classified into several categories.
Size
The first thing to consider when drawing up a porch project for country and village houses, cottages, small dachas- their size. It is determined by the dimensions of the mansion, as well as building regulations (minimum width is 150 cm, length - 180 cm). For small house a small porch of a simple configuration that matches it in style and proportions is suitable.
Small extension with neat semicircular steps
TO standard house a medium-sized concrete structure is suitable. Its height is selected individually, based on the dimensions of the mansion.
Openwork metal forged porch
A luxurious mansion has a large porch. It can be low (with a staircase of only 1-3 steps) and located along the entire length of the wall of the house.
A large terrace for a wooden house is a great place to relax
Advice: Having calculated the optimal dimensions of the extension, they are included in the construction plan.If the building is located on uneven terrain, for a convenient approach to it, build a porch of the house with high base. Since the platform is located at a certain height, a staircase with big amount steps equipped with railings for safe descent along them.
High entrance porch private house, photo
On a high porch, rounded columns will not be out of place. These will serve as supports to support the canopy over the outer door.
Advice: with help design techniques columns can be turned into decorative elements that decorate the front entrance of the house, giving it style and respectability.
High front porch made of concrete with columns
Form
If we evaluate this design from an aesthetic point of view, then it is almost impossible to find two identical porches. Today you can find verandas of various shapes:
- rectangular;
- square;
- trapezoidal;
- semicircular;
- round;
- asymmetrical.
Rectangular and square views of the porch of a private house, photo
The semicircular porch looks unusual and unique. With this simple technique, a mansion can be made more original. The photo below shows a semicircular porch to a brick house.
On a note: It is not at all necessary that the entire structure has the shape of a circle - a rounded canopy or steps with rounded edges is enough.
Add spice to the architecture of the cottage by adding a semicircular porch, photo
A non-standard solution would also be corner design. A round porch located on the corner of a rectangular house looks very impressive.
Lateral round design focuses attention on the exterior of the building
A corner street extension can be not only round, but also trapezoidal or triangular in shape. The complex geometry of the structure should not be dissonant with the main structure, but create a single concept with it.
An example of an original corner porch of a private house, photo
Placement in relation to the house
Porches can be located differently in relation to the mansion. This way you can build an attached structure - a horizontal platform with steps located in front of the entrance to the house.
Attached design for a summer house with a semicircular canopy
The built-in porch looks elegant, having common roof with the house. Such a combined extension should create a single architectural ensemble with the mansion and the adjacent plot.
Cozy internal veranda can be used as a place to relax
Materials
When developing a porch design, you can choose any materials that match the style of the house, from traditional ones (wood and natural stone) to more modern ones (concrete, metal, brick).
Type
In construction, there are several structural types of porches. An open structure is an extension with a small platform, not equipped with a canopy or railings. This design is used in places that are used mainly in the summer (for example, in the country).
Advice: Open-type structures should not be built in areas where precipitation occurs frequently.
Open porch with semicircular granite steps
A structure equipped with a roof or canopy is a covered structure. It has no walls, only railings that protect the extension from the street.
Outdoor covered structure
A structure with walls or glass panels and a canopy is called enclosed. The room is a full-fledged veranda, can have lighting and heating and be used as a gazebo.
Original glass enclosed porch brick house, photo
Variety closed extension is a porch with a vestibule. This is a design small area, which provides a comfortable microclimate of the home.
On a note: vestibule - a transition zone on the border with the street, protecting housing from the cold.
Photo of a closed porch to a house like a vestibule
A popular type of extension is a porch-veranda. It is a place for leisure and recreation, and can be closed or open.
Enclosed polycarbonate porch - modern design
A harmonious addition to a cottage made of natural wood there will be a wooden veranda. And if the extension is closed, it will only improve the thermal insulation of the mansion.
Small enclosed porch wooden house, photo
If the mansion has more than one floor, then you can connect the porch to the balcony. In this case, the connecting element can be columns. In the same way, you can combine the platform with a bay window - the protruding part of the second floor.
Porch with bay window under the balcony
A spacious porch-terrace can be used as a place to relax. The large area can accommodate a table, chairs and even sun loungers.
An open terrace with a porch is located under a common roof with the house
An option for a non-traditional design design is a mini gazebo on the terrace. With the help of plants and comfortable furniture the building can be made more comfortable.
Round porch-gazebo
Extensions may differ not only in purpose and design, but also in the design of the staircase. A staircase with one flight is considered standard, but there are other varieties.
Staircase with flight on two sides
Exit to the site can even be organized from three sides, and the staircase itself can be semicircular or complex geometric in shape.
Note: the canopy and railings not only perform practical functions, but also serve as decoration and design elements entrance group mansion.
Beautiful staircase built in a semicircle
Stylistics
In order for the extension to harmonize with the house, it is better to think through its design in advance. Thus, a stone structure can be designed in the style of a medieval fortress. For its design, facing stone and forging can be used.
Play with contrasts - decorate the stone structure with fresh flowers
Adherents of strict lines and symmetry will like the classic design of the extension in the European style. Its components are glass door, openwork lattice, many colors.
An extension created in the best European traditions
How to make a veranda for a wooden Finnish house? Project of a porch of a wooden house in Scandinavian style provides a symmetrical facade with a porch of simple design (with a canopy and stairs). And when designing and finishing it, they try to preserve the texture of natural wood.
Neat extension in Finnish style
Porch village house made of wood can also be decorated in the Russian style. For this, logs and carved parts are used.
Russian style - types of porch of a wooden house, photo
How to build a porch and what design to choose
The main parameter by which the type and configuration of the extension is chosen is its combination with the mansion. Everything needs to be planned out at the design stage. To prevent the structure from sagging, it must be built on a strong and solid foundation(according to all SNIP standards). A canopy is erected for protection from bad weather. Thus, the porch of a mansion is not only an important architectural element, but also a relaxation and comfort area.
Bottom line
The porch, like a business card of the house, can be of any configuration and size. The most important thing is that the structure protects the mansion from cold and bad weather, and also creates an overall harmonious architectural ensemble with it.
Atmospheric precipitation, wind and sun are three factors that negatively affect the condition of any building structures. Of course, you have to take protective measures all the time to extend their service life. But there is one element in the design of a house that often fails if it is not covered with something. We are talking about the porch. Open porch often found in private housing construction. This is especially true for small houses and cottages. But many developers, even at the design stage of their home, try to make sure that their porch is under reliable protection.
Some people build a canopy over it, others build a whole canopy. By the way, such a complex is called a covered porch. It is protected from above, but open along the entire perimeter, so it still cannot be saved from moisture. Therefore, we recommend that those who are planning to build a private house think about a structure that is protected from all sides. This is the so-called closed porch. Essentially this is finished room or vestibule, which can be heated or not, all at the discretion of the customer. Both options are pictured below.
The interior of the closed porch is also chosen according to the wishes of the owner of the house, taking into account the recommendations of the designers. And here outer side The extension has its own characteristics, both structural and design.
Features of the roof structure of a closed porch
We need to start talking about a closed porch with the roof. Why?
- Firstly, this is the protective part of the structure, which is responsible for preventing natural loads from penetrating into the premises.
- Secondly, this is, in fact, a continuation of the roof of the house itself. Therefore, the requirements for the porch roof are quite strict.
- Thirdly, as with all building structures, there are strength requirements for the porch roof.
Based on the first position, we can say this. There are a huge number of roofing materials that are used today in the construction of roofs, large and small. But since the closed porch of a house is a small room, it is possible to use lightweight materials to cover it. For example, flexible tiles.
For the second position. Designers believe that the (closed) porch must be covered with the same roofing material as the main building itself. As practice shows, this is not always applied in practice. Look at the photo below, where the house is covered with tiles and the porch roof is clear polycarbonate. It looks very original and airy.
Position number three. Snow and rain loads greatly affect the design of the porch roof. But in modern world, especially in the field of construction, there is no need to use any complex and heavy materials to make the roof, and indeed the entire structure, durable. There are a large number modern lungs materials and products that can withstand fairly decent loads. For example, aluminum profiles.
Attention! A closed vestibule is a full-fledged room, albeit small, but a room with walls, a ceiling, a floor and a roof.
Therefore, pay attention to the photo below, which shows such a vestibule in the form of a small house attached to the main building. The entrance to the house is completely closed, but the vestibule itself is equipped with windows and an entrance door. To build it, in addition to the porch itself, it was necessary to build walls, install a door at the entrance and windows on the sides. At the same time, the walls are raised to a certain level.
But the most important thing is that the roof of the closed porch is connected only to the main building, that is, it is fixed to the wall of the house. In fact, this is a separately hanging element that is not connected in any way to the walls of the porch itself. Windows in in this case They are not a support, they just simply close the opening between the roof and the walls. Therefore, when constructing such a vestibule, you must first take care of securing the roof. There are many options here, some complex, some simple. One option is to install consoles on the facade of the house itself.
Since it has already been said that today lightweight materials can be used to build a closed porch, I would like to focus on glazing systems. Again, we draw your attention to the photo below, where you can see very nice option, glazed on all sides. This is a lightweight structure, transparent, so during the day there is no need for light on the porch.
This photo also shows the glass roof. This is one option though this element can be constructed from different materials. The main thing is to carry out the installation and fastening correctly. Such a vestibule has one drawback - the glass will have to be cleaned and washed all the time.
As for the northern regions, it is better to build a vestibule in the form of a completely indoors Of course, the entrance is equipped with a door. It is important to use materials during construction that can withstand low temperatures. Again, we draw your attention to the photo below, where a closed vestibule made of brick was erected. By the way, not in Color tone facade of the house, as recommended by designers. Small windows beautiful door- that's all that is needed.
By the way, this version of a closed porch is very easy to build with your own hands.
How to build a covered porch with your own hands
Let's look at how to build a closed vestibule from brick, which is shown in the photo above. We will not delve into all the intricacies of construction; we will be interested in the sequence and some nuances.
- As with any structure, you will have to build a foundation for a closed porch. The best option- slab. That is, a pit is dug to a depth of half a meter to suit the size of the object, which is covered with a layer of crushed stone up to 20 cm, and sand on top with a layer of up to 10-15 cm. This pillow is compacted layer by layer.
- A reinforcing frame is installed on top in the form of a lattice made of metal reinforcement with a diameter of 10-12 mm.
- Poured concrete mortar to the edges of the pit. Concrete must be compacted using a vibrator.
Attention! The foundation must be dried for 28 days. During this period, the concrete will reach its brand strength.
Now you can build the porch itself with steps. The simplest option is brick or blocks, which, after the construction of the entire closed structure, will be faced (see photo above). If you decide to make a porch from concrete, then you can immediately pour concrete mortar onto the backfilled cushion, laying the reinforced frame and installing the formwork. That is, in this case you can do without a foundation.
So, everything is ready to build brick walls. First of all, it is necessary to apply waterproofing under the masonry. Do not neglect protective operations; a closed vestibule is the first protective barrier on the way precipitation. The construction itself brick walls It is produced using standard technology, which is based on a sling of blocks. Openings for windows and the entrance door must be left with the installation of lintels or frames. The entrance is determined based on the width of the porch.
Attention! The walls of the closed porch must be attached to the walls of the building.
Therefore, every five rows of bricks you need to drive metal pins from reinforcement into the facade of the house. The pin must be at least 30 cm long and must be located between the bricks.
The matter remains under the roof. As mentioned above, it must be attached to the facade of the main building. But since our porch is built of bricks (very reliable wall material), then it can be installed directly on the walls of a closed porch. Most often this wooden structure, consisting of a supporting tier of beams that are mounted around the perimeter of the room. By the way, the beam located at the entrance to the house is attached specifically to the wall. The rest are to the walls of the extension.
If it is being built pitched roof above the porch, then another such wooden element is hung and secured above the support beam near the facade. The rafters are installed on which the roofing material is laid. Final stage- finishing internal space. Everything here is at the discretion of the customer, although projects in this regard may be very original. By the way, don’t forget to hem the ceiling, although you can do without it if the porch is unheated. Before finishing, windows and a door to the entrance are installed, lighting is provided.
As mentioned above, private developers are increasingly using latest materials. Polycarbonate is one of them. It is durable, transparent and easy to process (cut, bend), so it is very easy to make a closed porch from it with your own hands. The only thing is that you need to build a wooden or metal structure. The second option is stronger, but more expensive.
What is a porch, why does it exist and what functions does it perform?
The porch is an extension to the house, which, through steps, makes it easier to enter/exit the doors. Since the porch usually has a canopy, this provides additional protection for the doorway from the sun, rain and snow.
In addition, the porch acts as decorative element, which makes the exterior of the house complete and its operation convenient.
As a rule, the parameters of the porch are thought out at the stage of building a house, cottage or cottage. But often a porch is attached to an existing structure.
Traditionally, to build a porch in front of a house, the same material from which it is built is used (for example, a wooden or brick house). The porch can be made of wood, concrete, metal, brick. It is important that the selected material (for steps, cladding, porch finishing) is in harmony with the overall design of the house.
Due to the fact that wood is the most popular, as well as affordable and inexpensive material, most often the porch is built of wood. Therefore, we will consider in detail (step by step) how to organize the construction of a wooden porch. Another argument in favor of lumber is the ease of working with wood, which makes it possible to make wooden porch with your own hands.
Wooden porch for a private house - project
Construction begins with the development of a project that takes into account:
Types of porch
Porch design
- built-in porch - built together with the house, has a common foundation with it;
- attached (attached porch) - completed during the operation of the house.
Material for porches in a private house
- tree;
- concrete;
- metal (forging, steel, iron);
- brick (stone).
Methods for constructing a wooden porch
Possible implementation in two versions:
This method is simpler and consists in installing wooden box(or porch frame from metal profile), on which the steps are installed.
This option is also more budget-friendly; it can be implemented at any stage of construction or operation of the house. A closed wooden porch makes it possible to hide all the flaws that arise during the construction stage;
The peculiarity of this method is that the base frame is prepared only for the lower part of the stringer/string, and the upper one rests on beams or a floor slab. This method of building a porch provides more opportunities for implementing original solutions.
How to make a wooden porch with your own hands without mistakes
Before we tell you how to build a wooden porch, we will describe the main mistakes that novice craftsmen may encounter.
- stylistic errors. The dimensions, appearance, and material of the porch must be in harmony with general view buildings (house design);
- errors in the dimensions of the porch. The porch should be proportional to the main building;
- errors in measurements. Each parameter is measured several times and plotted on the diagram;>
Note. Professionals advise putting on the diagram not only the dimensions of the porch and wooden frame, but also other parameters: the size of the doorway, the distance from the porch to the plants or protruding decorative elements. This information will be useful if necessary to correct the porch drawing.
- excess material consumption. Eliminated through careful planning.
- ignoring the requirements for structural strength. The porch is the most used part of the building. In addition, it is exposed to external factors, which means the material must be selected with a margin of safety and taking into account the dimensions of the porch;
- provide additional protection to a wooden porch. Untreated wood gradually loses its properties, so it needs protection and constant care;
Note. Both open parts of the structure and load-bearing parts need protection, i.e. those that are placed in the ground or rest on a foundation.
- separation of the foundations of the house and the porch (on different (separate) foundations) will lead to uneven shrinkage of the porch and the appearance of a crack between the elements. This can be avoided by a threshold installed at the junction of the porch and the house. Or installing a threshold without a march, with the first step 150-170 mm below the threshold. But this is fraught with injury, since when leaving the door, the user is forced to go down;
- the absence of a foundation leads to the fact that the porch “floats” under the influence of soil displacement (shear);
- jamming of doors (blocking, jamming). Occurs due to geological changes (frozen soil can raise the porch a couple of centimeters).
How to properly build a porch for a house
Material for making a porch
To make a beautiful wooden porch you will need building materials:
- For supports, a beam with a cross section of 100x200 mm is suitable. The size depends on the type of porch, the expected load, the number of supports, etc. When choosing wood for supports, it is better to give preference to larch or pine, due to the presence of resins, they can withstand all-season operating conditions well;
- for the entrance platform from the steps you can use a board 30-50 mm thick;
- ready-made balusters and railings. Or timber and lath for their manufacture. The dimensions of the lumber depend on the parameters of the future product.
- solutions, compositions and impregnations for wood protection;
- cement mortar (concrete);
Note. Using 50 mm boards for both supports and steps will allow you to avoid errors in calculations, reduce waste and, in general, use lumber more efficiently.
Drawing of a wooden porch
Even a simple (standard) drawing, drawn independently, will help to avoid difficulties during its construction.
The porch drawing must contain the following information:
- appearance of the porch. Makes it possible to visualize the final appearance of the structure;
- the width of the porch should be one and a half times wider than the doorway (you can calculate how wide the porch should be this way: 1.5 times the width of the door, this will be the minimum allowable width). This width will allow you to open the door while on the porch area;
- width of the stairs to the porch ( flight of stairs) - must be at least 700 mm. Otherwise, difficulties will arise when moving people and objects along the steps;
- location of the porch platform (flooring). The porch floor should be 30-50 mm below the threshold (doorway). A lowered porch platform will prevent the doors from blocking due to snow or lifting of the porch structure;
- porch angle;
Note. Professionals advise sloping the porch area and steps by 2-3° to avoid water accumulation. An alternative would be to install deck boards with a gap of 2-3 mm.
- foundation. Types, depth, characteristics of the soil underneath;
- number and size of porch steps. The standard recommends adhering to the following dimensions of steps: height - 170-180 mm, step depth (tread) - 300-350 mm. It is desirable that the number of steps be odd. These dimensions will make movement along the steps comfortable;
- presence and installation location of fencing (balusters and railings).
Note. In construction practice, there are no norms and rules regulating the parameters of the porch. The recommendations concern only the parameters of the steps.
Drawing of a wooden porch, as an illustrative example:
Scheme of a wooden porch
It is convenient in work when the diagram of a wooden porch is made on large sheet paper and is always in front of your eyes.
A good alternative would be a life-size cardboard template. A paper template is indispensable when making a flight of stairs on a bowstring.
Foundation for the porch of a house
A correctly selected and poured foundation for a wooden porch is the key to its strength and durability.
A wooden staircase to the porch can be installed without a foundation. But filling it will prevent the porch from moving due to seasonal soil movement.
When building a porch, you can choose one of the following types of foundation:
Columnar. Good for lightweight design. Quantity support pillars depends on the size of the porch.
Slab. Structurally represents monolithic slab made of concrete. Designed for heavy (massive) structures. Slab foundation in most cases it does not need to be tied to the foundation of the main structure (house).
Tape. It has a significant margin of safety, but requires less costs according to the material. Connection to the foundation of the house is required.
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What kind of foundation is best to pour under the porch?
Some users recommend installing a strip foundation for the porch. In this case, the likelihood of a discrepancy between the porch and the house, as when using a columnar one, is eliminated. It also reduces material consumption compared to slab. The difficulty in arranging this type of foundation is that it needs to be tied to the house.
How to tie (connect) the foundation of the porch and the house?
First of all, adjacent foundations of the porch and house must have the same depth.
It is better not to immediately fill the place where the foundations are attached (fastened, connected), but leave a technical gap (a gap of 20-30 cm), in which there will be connecting elements (studs, reinforcement).
In the old foundation of the house, holes are drilled at a distance of 50-60 mm and studs with expansion anchors are driven in. From the new porch foundation, make a rebar outlet to these studs. Simply fitted (do not twist or weld).
After the new foundation has “settled” (stands) for a year (or at least a winter), preferably under load, the reinforcement can be connected (tied, twisted, welded). Fill the bond with concrete mortar.
The diagram below shows how to make a porch out of wood with the foundation tied to the house.
What is the depth of the foundation for the porch
The depth of the foundation for the porch must correspond to the depth of the foundation of the house and is located below.
Strip foundation, of course, perfect solution for the construction of a porch. However, not everyone needs a massive structure. After all, most porch staircases are built using stringers or bowstrings. In this case, it is not necessary to pour a strip foundation, but give preference to a pile or columnar foundation. When laying out such a foundation, you need to make concrete “pillows” for the supports and the base of the stringer/string.
The method for constructing a concrete pad is shown in the diagram.
How to build a wooden porch for a house
Let's consider the technology of constructing porches on pillars (piles, supports, beams) made of wood.
The construction of a porch on a foundation in the form of a support cushion for pillars (support pedestals) will be justified only if a number of rules are followed:
- the base of the stringer must rest against the waterproofing laid between the foundation and the wood of the stringer;
- It is better to use wood for supports coniferous species, it is preferable in conditions of high humidity;
Advice. When choosing lumber for a support, it is better to give preference not to a 100x100 mm beam, but to two 50x100 boards fastened together.
- the wood of the supports should be treated with an antiseptic;
Note. The support should be processed to a height of 150-200 mm from the soil level. In this case, it is undesirable to use roofing felt. It prevents the flow of air, and the process of wood rotting begins from the inside. It is better to use drying oil or used machine oil.
- installation depth of supports is at least 800 mm;
- the wider and more massive the structure, the more supports there should be;
- After the concrete used to fill the supports has dried, you need to check their height. Adjust the height difference;
Note. When making a porch from wood, it is necessary to consider waterproofing and drainage system. This will avoid distortion of the porch structure.
It is worth noting that the fundamental difference is in how to build a porch wooden house or brick, no. It is important to make an informed choice of the type of foundation and, if necessary, correctly link it to the foundation of the house.
Flooring the porch landing and installing steps
Users' opinions differ on this issue. Some advise fitting the flooring boards as closely as possible to each other in order to prevent the appearance of cracks typical of dry wood, and also making a slope of 1.5-2° to allow water to flow smoothly from the flooring.
Others recommend leaving a gap of 2-3 mm so that water flows down unhindered. At the same time, they claim that these gaps do not entail the risk of injury when walking on the flooring (except for high-heeled shoes). Wooden steps for the porch - you can buy them ready-made or make them yourself. If the latter option is selected, a detailed description is provided below.
How to make steps for a porch out of wood
The steps are installed starting from the lower edge of the stringer/string. Fastening is carried out using self-tapping screws, which must be sunk into the wood to avoid injury.
First, the riser is installed, then the step. This is due to the fact that it is easier to maintain the dimensions.
When constructing a staircase on a stringer, the steps are attached to it. Options for attaching the steps to the string are shown in the diagram.
Wooden porch fencing
It is important to note that if a flight of stairs has more than 3 steps, it is advisable to equip it with a fence. The fence for the porch can be metal (forged, from of stainless steel), wood, brick, stone (or concrete). Wooden railings for the porch can become not only a guarantee of safety of movement, but also an additional decoration.
Recommendation. Provide safety elements - anti-slip coating on the steps of the porch (non-slip, anti-slip, rubber, rubber coating, tiles, mat). After all, frozen moisture (icing) makes movement on them dangerous.
We have sorted out the question of how to make a wooden porch; now it is important to study how to extend its service life.
How to protect a wooden porch - care
A canopy over the porch will protect wooden steps and the structure as a whole from exposure to external factors (sun, snow and rain). It will look especially good wooden canopy over the porch of a wooden house. For buildings made of other materials (for example, for a stone house), polycarbonate, corrugated sheets, tiles or others are suitable roofing materials. The visor can be made with or without stands. The main thing is that the visor supports do not interfere with movement.
Wood processing is divided into pre-operational and operational. The first involves applying special compounds before construction of the porch begins. The composition of the solutions will reduce the tendency of wood to rot, deform, dry out, etc. And the second will make it possible to preserve the original appearance of the structure. Such processing may include painting, waxing or varnishing.
Painting a wooden porch
- pine wood needs to be exposed (coated) with paint in several layers and the layer periodically renewed;
- before applying paint, you need to open (treat, impregnate) the wood with a primer;
Advice. The primer will preserve the properties of wood, but the surface will need to be painted every 3-6 years. Without impregnation, the paint will last up to 10 years, but the properties of the wood will deteriorate significantly.
- It is not recommended to coat pine with transparent compounds. Sand and dirt are pressed into the soft rock;
- larch or deciduous wood can be opened with transparent compounds. Vermeister Deck.Oil impregnation oil has proven itself to be excellent;
- When choosing what to paint a wooden porch on the street, you need to know that the compositions for coating the wood outside and inside the house may differ. To paint a wooden porch from the street (outside), use the following paints and enamels:
- oil (due to strong smell are gradually losing popularity);
- water-based (need constant updating);
- alkyd (resistant to moisture and mechanical abrasion);
- polyurethane (used mainly in industrial environments);
- reactive (consist of two components; their distribution is limited by high cost and short time for application after mixing the components).
- Each renewal of the coating on wood is carried out only after stripping the surface of the previous layer of old paint.
How to attach a wooden porch - video
Following the steps listed above will allow you to create a beautiful, reliable and functional wooden porch with your own hands.
The arrangement of a private house falls entirely on the shoulders of its owner, and therefore the question of how to build a porch with your own hands still remains relevant. This element of the structure is mandatory, as it allows you to refine the entrance to the room, provides convenient access to it, and also performs many other useful functions. So, let's take a closer look at how to build a porch.
Selection of location and materials
Building a porch in front of the entrance to a house with your own hands is one of the stages of construction of almost any building. It can sometimes be very difficult to do without this element. The porch is a platform in front of the front door, most often with steps. It can be completely open, completely or partially covered with a canopy.
Main functions of the porch:
- protects the room from water ingress during significant precipitation;
- provides convenient access to the front door, especially if we're talking about about a house with a high foundation;
- is part of the building’s exterior and plays an important aesthetic role;
- can serve as a place for dining area or rest, storage, etc.
Before you decide to build a porch for a wooden or brick house, you need to determine its size, configuration and location. Basically, it is built in such a way that there is enough space not only for swinging the door open, but also for arranging a summer area. It may have a rectangular shape, contain curves and protrusions. The door can be located either strictly in the center or away from the stairs.
The porch can be located not only from the main entrance. A platform with steps is also necessary for an alternative exit to the backyard, if there is one.
A variety of materials for the construction of the porch of a private house
The following materials are most often used for the construction of a porch:
- Wood. Aesthetic and easy to process material. Only hard rocks are used, since the structure is subject to a large load and influence of the external environment.
- Concrete. Durable and durable material, allows you to display any configuration for the porch. It is important to use high-quality raw materials and reinforce individual areas when pouring concrete.
- Brick. An alternative to concrete. It has a more noble appearance and is convenient to work with. Nevertheless, the main elements are made of concrete and iron reinforcement.
- Metal. Mainly used to strengthen poured platforms and steps, as well as in the construction of external stairs and fences.
Calculations
Before building a porch at the entrance to the house, you should at least roughly outline the area and scale of the work. To do this, you need to identify the basic parameters of the porch. First of all, we are talking about its area. Optimal value It is difficult to determine, because everything depends on the area of land available for construction. In general, the porch should have at least enough space to enter the house. Therefore, you need to take the distance from the opening to the fence as a basis.
