Front porch and inner door advice.

3 years ago

Hi,

We have an old pvc porch and an outdated innerdoor. We are thinking about how best to update these at the moment, firstly we would like to tackle the inner door and glass and modernise that but with the consideration that we may look to do something to the porch next year, brick instead of pvc perhaps and composite door? We would appreciate any design and/or building advice around both issues, the flat roof of the porch connects to the garage roof so I'm not sure how easy it would be just to smash out the porch without it becoming even more costly.

Featured Answer

peggysue67

3 years ago

I would replace the inner door and make your main entrance feel much more solid and secure. You can then take your time to consider your porch. Do you use it much? I would’ve thought it’s useful to hang coats and store boots and shoes etc. You may like to try adding some patterned window film to the outer porch glass to make it look more attractive and improve privacy for now?

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Comments (22)

User
3 years ago
I had an inner door just like that with an enclosed upvc porch. But the porch was tiny with an outward opening door, so I got rid of it and replaced the inner door with a modern composite front door. I now have an open porch and a much more secure entrance.
User
3 years ago
Not finished yet though 🙄
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Honestly...... do you keep the porch doors shut like that? If so, it's going to affect how any door behind looks. You could have the most beautiful door, but with those porch doors closed over the front it's not going to look the same. A plain, all glass door would be best. If you do keep the porch doors closed then I think you need something with no design/lines etc on it as together with the porch it's all a bit much.
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Angelina
3 years ago
Anthony, how would you like to use the space? As an entrance hall? Here’s one that shows a clever use. https://www.houzz.co.uk/magazine/houzz-tour-smart-design-tricks-make-a-tiny-house-feel-bigger-stsetivw-vs~110788206
Sonia
3 years ago
These mini porches were all the rage at one time, but not very practical. I would remove the inner glass porch entirely to give you a much bigger space. Whether to do that now I’m not sure, maybe best to do the whole lot next year? A good builder will be able to advise you. It would look lovely with a pitched roof, but doesn’t have to be and flat roofs are so much better than they used to be. Not sure of the style of your home but below are pics of both modern and traditional porches.
Anthony Reen
Original Author
3 years ago
I think the cost could escalate with that approach, the porch isn't insulated or level and would need to be made like an extension. I'm not actually sure it's worth that amount of money being spent on it
Carol Richardson
3 years ago
Why not do away with the porch altogether and buy or take your time and look out on Freecycle for a timber door with glass panels and then commission a stained glass artist to make you something unique and beautiful , maybe incorporating your number. This is what we are in the process of doing.. You could pick one of the glass colours to paint the door. Our glass is 60x70cms and for a sunburst design we are paying just under £500.
Anthony Reen
Original Author
3 years ago
I think this might be the route we go down for now Peggy, we do use the porch for shoes and coats, with a more modern inner door and glass im sure it would look good.
Tim Baker
3 years ago
You may want to address the lower glass panel especially if you have children. Looks like it is not safety/toughened glass. A cheap fix is to apply Window Film. Depending on security I would simply remove inner door and side panel to get more space. If privacy is an issue add more Window Film.
Anthony Reen
Original Author
3 years ago
Hi Tim, the porch is a lower level to the house and is not properly insulated so I believe this would be a big job and require planning permission to integrate. Due to the upcoming energy grant we can look at some lesser improvements within that range.
lymingtonhome
3 years ago
What about a nice arch
Tim Baker
3 years ago
So in essence both doors are functional but neither attractive. Fixing the porch would make the inner door obsolete. So unless you plan on removing the porch I'd spend nothing until you are in a position to address the porch.
Lynn Mallon
3 years ago
The porch isn't attractive but a useful area for hanging coats, storing outdoor shoes etc. I would be reluctant to lose what is a useful extra space.

Thinking:

Around the door and porch finish the paving and step and if possible continue under front window

Paint the porch and and lower panels (It will have to be primed first) with either a stand out colour or a softer option

Use window film to give privacy and (in my world) hide the mess:)))
Anthony Reen
Original Author
3 years ago
thanks, would it be worth centralising the inner door and side window panels either side? it would line up exactly with the front door then but it would look better from the inside at least?
PRO
Day Building Services
3 years ago
Revamp the porch with brickwork and composite door, remove the inner door and frame gaining more space. But you'll need planning for this to happen.
Anthony Reen
Original Author
3 years ago
what sort of cost would that be including leveling the floor?
Sandi Robinson
3 years ago
Frenchic alfresco range is amazing paint on UPVC doors. Gently sand, clean with sugar soap and paint!
joannekildunne
3 years ago
Hi Anthony. We recently built a porch. I thought long and hard about whether to have an inner door or not. In the end we decided not have an inner door. I am delighted with the extra space in the hall. It feels so open. You could insulate the current porch. Replace outer door with Composite door & sides panels (2.5k €) and knock inner door. You will love the extra space. Best of luck. Enjoy
Lynn
3 years ago
I agree with Tim Baker above. We lived in a house with a similar inner door. My naked (bath time) daughter fell smashing the lower glass panel ending with head and shoulders in the porch and legs still in the hall. I don’t know how she wasn’t cut to ribbons. We boarded it up.
Lynn
3 years ago
I should add she was under 2 so not very big.
E D
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
I’m glad she was ok, but that proves having a bath in the porch is not a great idea. 😂
Lynn
3 years ago
Very true! She’s 26 now so doesn’t do the naked hall dancing anymore! At least not as far as I know 😂

Front porch and inner door advice.

peggysue67

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