Porches For Houses And Bungalows: The Ultimate Guide

Adding a porch is one of the best ways to create a lovely, relaxing outdoor space. A porch lets you enjoy the outdoors, protected from the sun and rain. Our comprehensive guide looks at all the different porch features and ideas for houses and bungalows, what types of houses they work with, and covers all the essential things to consider when choosing a design. We also look at where to start with a new porch design, how to build a new porch (with/without porch kits), and how to renovate an old one to create the ultimate welcoming entrance.

Related: What are Porches and Advantages of uPVC Porches?

Types of Porches for Houses and Bungalows

When planning a porch, there are a few types to choose from; porches don’t always have to be on the front of your house!

Front Porches

Most people picture the classic front porch style when they think of a porch. These porches make a welcoming entrance at the front of houses and bungalows with a new door and new windows changing the face of your property and providing protection with a sheltered spot to unwind outdoors in front of their property. Front porches also create valuable extra space to store outdoor items like cycles and firewood, protecting against the elements.

Back Porches

Back porches create an outdoor chill space in backyards and gardens. They are more private and casual since they are not located at your home’s entrance, remaining tucked away from sight. Features include side panels for privacy and protection from the weather.

Side Porches

Some houses have side doors or French doors leading out to a covered side porch. These side porches tend to be more compact than those at the front or back of a property but still make a functional outdoor area.

Wraparound Porches

Like their name suggests, wraparound porches wrap all the way around two or more sides of a house. They really maximise the outdoor area and make the most of a limited outside space, creating an area to relax and enjoy the garden.

Porches Defined by Architectural Style

Certain house styles have classic porch designs that fit their look perfectly. The trick is to choose the right type of porch to suit your home.

Farmhouse Porches

Farmhouse porches are constructed to sit across the whole front of the home’s exterior, with the front door at the centre. They have a casual style with exposed wood pillars and beams, which complements the rustic farmhouse look. The wide design gives plenty of porch sofa space and lots of room for storing coats and muddy shoes, which can be concealed.

Craftsman Porches

Craftsman porches often feature chunky columns and exposed rafters, so they’re not fully enclosed porches—think more like verandahs. This porch design can have many decorative elements and a practical function. It will not only improve your home’s appearance, add extra space, and upgrade the entrance to your home, but also increase its curb appeal.

Colonial Porches

Colonial house porches are a porch extension with decorative columns and a neat, symmetrical appearance. This porch idea works well on colonial-style houses and Victorian villas.

Bungalow Porches

Bungalow porches are often spacious, easily adding significant extra floor area to a small property. There are different styles, but bungalow porches have a broad overhanging roof supported by columns to allow for furniture and storage.

Front Bungalow Porches

Front bungalow porches are a porch extension with the object of increasing the house footprint without necessarily needing planning permission (although always check!). They provide a grand entrance and a usable space around the front door.

Back Bungalow Porches

Back bungalow porches create an additional living area. Back bungalow porch ideas tend to be simpler than the equivalent front porch, although they don’t have to be!

Design Considerations

There is a vast variety of porch ideas out there – just a quick online search will show you a massive range of options. However, whatever you choose, you should plan the layout to align with appearance and function. Consider the size, the type of materials that will complement your home’s entrance, and those essential and unique personal features. Depending on your design, your porch may not fall within ‘permitted development’, so you could require planning permission. Other special rules apply if your home is listed or located in a conservation area. Always check first with the local authority.

Here are the essentials you’ll need to consider.

Size and Layout

First, based on the shape of the outside area and the rooms you’ll access from them, determine the number of porches the house needs and where they should be attached.

Depth

Work out how far the porch should stick out from the house; this will depend on your intended use. Wide 8-12 foot depths allow for nice big porch seats and table setups, while narrow 4-6 foot depths mainly suit just foot traffic in and out with limited storage space.

Width

Size the porch width in line with the house wall you plan to attach it to. Ensure there’s room to move furniture and other large items in and out of the front door.

Height

The standard height for most porches is around 1-3 steps up from ground level, which also accounts for railings on the sides. The top step should match the house floor level so there are no trip hazards.

Materials

Choose quality building materials that either match or complement your house. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that a porch doesn’t require proper construction. It should comply with building regulations; if you need planning permission, there may be other requirements.

Here are some of the most popular materials.

Wood

Pressure-treated pine wood supports paired with cedar or redwood boards are hard to beat for standing up to the elements. The colours can match other trims or be painted or stained to achieve a universal look. Lighter woods suit rustic or period properties, but you must always choose a hardwood for an external structure.

Brick

Match existing brick walls by using the same bricks on porch columns and stepping stones. If you’re building a brick porch, you will require reinforced foundations.

Stone

Natural stones like granite make decorative solid bases for column supports and attractive steps that should last decades without crumbling.

Features

Fancy decorative features can turn porches for houses and bungalows into design statements as well as add extra living and storage space. Here are some ideas.

Railings

Ornate rails with vertical balusters or criss-cross lattice designs provide safety for elevated porches while tying in with architectural porch styles, like wrought iron on old-style Victorian homes or simple wood railings on craftsman-style bungalows.

Lighting

Good lighting creates an inviting space you can use after dark rather than just in the daytime, providing safety for visitors to your property. Wall sconces cast light across the steps while ceiling lights add an inviting ambient glow.

Furniture

Furnish porch spaces with seating arrangements that suit the porch size and style, perhaps chairs and small tables on narrower porches up to complete sofa sets, swings, planters, and standing lamps on bigger wraparound ones.

Building a New Porch

For permanent new porches on houses and bungalows, you may need planning permission, and construction must comply with building regulations.

Planning Permission

Check with your local authority and find out if your proposed porch requires planning permission or whether you can build it under permitted development rights. If your home is listed or in a conservation area, then extra rules may apply and affect even the smallest detail, including if you decide to have a new front door as part of the project.

Foundations

A solid porch foundation keeps the whole structure steady and is essential for brick or stone porches.

Framing

Strong wood framing starts with upright posts anchored to the foundation piers. Floor joists tie into a sturdy ledger board lag bolted securely to the house rim board. Finally, a pitched roof frame ties into the main house roof.

Roof

Common porch roofing choices are asphalt shingles, metal roofing, or shingles matching the main house roof style. Wide overhanging eaves filter the sun and keep rain off the outer walls. It’s vital to have a proper slope on the roof and add extra drainage so rainwater is directed away from the house.

Maintaining and Repairing an Existing Porch

Checking over old porches for houses and bungalows routinely is like taking care of the other maintenance on your home. It helps you stay up-to-date with repairs and avoid costly bills.

Inspecting for Damage

Catch minor porch issues before they get worse by checking for saggy spots, wood rot, peeling paint and stain, foundation cracks, pest boring holes, and any leaks twice a year on average or after bad storms. Take care of problems as they pop up rather than letting the porch structure deteriorate.

Repairing Wood

Repair any damaged or broken boards, loose rails and steps, posts with holes, and cracking supports as soon as possible. Consider partnering new matching wood or metal reinforcements to worn load-bearing elements that are starting to lean.

Repainting

Plan on repainting old porches every 4-7 years to keep the wood sealed and fresh. Take time to properly scrape, sand, patch, prime, and caulk before painting, as this avoids premature peeling and extends the lifespan of the paint.

Checking the Foundations

If the foundation shifts a little, the floor and roofline of porches for houses and bungalows can get thrown out of alignment, creating sticky doors that don’t open and close properly or large cracks opening up in the frame due to movement. You may need expert help to assess whether added bracing can stabilise the porch or if more extensive foundation work is needed to protect the building.

Conclusion

Building a lovely, usable porch on the exterior of your home is a worthwhile investment. It provides more usable living space outdoors that families can enjoy for years while boosting the kerb appeal of your property. Careful planning of porch layouts, sizes, materials, and extras to match the current architecture makes for a visually pleasing result, creating a versatile new space on the exterior of your home on both new houses and old bungalows.

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FAQs

What is a standard front porch size?

The typical front porch size ranges from about 8-12 feet deep, ideal to accommodate furniture, and 20-40 feet wide, depending on the house width, providing enough room for walkways around the seating area.

What kind of foundations work best for porches?

Concrete foundations provide the best support for a new porch. Always seek professional advice about the size and depth of the foundations, and remember that you’ll probably need additional drainage to drain rainwater away from the new roof.

How much does adding a new porch cost?

The average cost of building a porch in the UK is around £3,500, but so much depends on the size, materials used, and customisation features. Some small porches can be as low as £1,500, but if you want a luxury wraparound porch on a large property, then you can spend as much as £20,000. The split between labour and materials is usually around 50:50. Remember that any architect’s professional fees are additional and charges for a planning permission application.

Is it good to leave porch lights on at night?

Most homeowners keep their porch lights on from evening through to dawn to light the area for safety reasons and to help with home security against intruders. Using 60W bulbs or lower maximises energy efficiency, and you can also consider solar lighting, which has the added benefit of not requiring wiring or installing by an electrician.

How often should porches get a fresh coat of paint?

Every 4-7 years is ideal for maintaining the protective paint or stain layer on porch wood. Leave it any longer and your porch will become vulnerable to weathering, which could lead to rot or other damage.