Exterior porch "missing" but would like to add one
Hello,
We are renovating our home and it has come down to the wire. I have to make a decision regarding our front porch or lack of one! It was built with a small concrete stoop and then the rest of it was filled in with gravel. Nothing grows there and it looks terrible.
The pictures are of what it looks like right now. Originally, we wanted to deck over all of it - including concrete- and put the vents under the deck. I was given an idea (from houzz) to purchase metal grates to put over the vented area - dryer vent, hot water heater and seldom used basement bathroom. The builder is concerned that the deck level will be too close to the door threshold and water (snow/ice) could become an issue. I was also offered the idea of putting patio pavers there and going over the existing concrete with the pavers. All would be same level but the patio would have to come off of the house approximately three inches so it would appear to be "floating." This would prevent moisture and debris from being trapped which could cause the sill to rot. It wouldn't be very obvious. Would you deck it or put a paver porch in? Two different levels such as a patio on the ground and then leave the stoop? I really don't know what to do. The other thing to consider is that with a wider porch the posts could increase in size and not look like two toothpicks holding up the roof. We would add a third post if we had an entire porch.
Anyone else been in such a conundrum?
Please share any photos for reference if you have them. Thank you so much for listening and helping.
Comments (12)
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Comments (2)How about a nice wood and slate roofed porch over the front door? It will add a bit of rustic charm, if that’s your scene. My brother recently did this with a rather plain 1950’s house he was working on. They changed all the windows to steely blue coloured frames and the front door to match. Looks lovely. I don’t have a picture, but this is an example of similar porches. If it’s too rustic for you, you could go for a more modern look....See MoreEmily Lindley
2 years ago
3onthetree
2 years agoThe position of the holes for your WH direct vent and dryer vent (which are bored through the rim joist) looks like it would interfere with the top surface of the existing stoop. And raising it with decking or pavers still looks awfully close for the PVC and hood for the dryer. And then you would need to continue the vents below a deck to the front fascia, or through the base infill of a paver porch to poke through it's kneewall (I don't think you can just let them discharge through a grate on the surface of a new porch floor, whatever height and material that winds up at).
So I can't envision how anything can be raised there next to the stoop, it probably needs to remain at grade. Here is a snapshot of some direct vent clearances:
Emily Lindley thanked 3onthetreeEmily Lindley
2 years ago
ci_lantro
2 years agolast modified: 2 years ago
PPF.