How To Build A Porch

In today’s modern buildings, it is indeed wonderful to see a subtle touch of some old and youthful architecture. Creative thinking is what it calls for to make your house look more welcoming, relaxing and comfortable. Do you have a house that is surrounded by a beautiful lawn or open garden space? If you do, consider yourself lucky, because not all people have this luxury. Not only can you enjoy the space, but you can also further augment it by building yourself a porch. The porch is that part of the building that is usually located at the entrance of the building. It is that part of the building that separates the main floor of the house from the outside. A porch suits houses built over elevated platforms and is constructed at the same level of the house. You can place some furniture on the porch to accommodate your guests on a beautiful evening, or to enjoy a barbeque. Knowing how to build a porch is quite advantageous since it provides you with ample choices when it comes to the structure, design and placement of the porch. The sections that follows will provide you with some essential porch building tips. Read on to learn more.

Porch Building Tips

Material And Tools Required

Cement
4x4 post stock pressure-treated
Sand
Decking board
Water
Footing clamps
Foundation tubes
Nails
Screws
Hammer
Drill with bits
Circular saw
Chalk line
Measuring tape
Shovel
Gloves
Wheelbarrow
Stakes
Pencil/paper

Instructions

Inspect and decide the place where you want the porch to be placed. Start experimenting by placing the stakes at the corners and even near the stairs. Check which place best suits the porch. If you are planning to attach it to a structure, you might need a building permit from the local authorities.
If you are planning to attach the porch to a structure with a sliding door, you will have to locate the ledger board first. The ledger board will serve as the main reference point for the deck. The ledger board should be a 2x10 inch board that will have to be nailed into the sill of the structure.
Make sure that you lock and fasten the corners of the sill plate to the concrete floor before you start to put up the porch. Using the concrete anchors for weight, drill into the concrete and insert the plastic anchors. Once the anchors are into the concrete, secure the sill plate by tightening the lag bolts into the plastic anchors. Secure a layer of wood to the top of the sill plate for security purposes and then fit the porch into the set location.
Once you have attached the porch to the structure, add a footing that will keep the porch attached to the ground. Dig footing holes about a foot deep below the frost line. Mix the cement well to provide a firm finish. Once mixed, shovel the cement into the foundation tube that is there in the hole to reach 3 inches below the surface and then place the post anchors into the footing.
Once your foundations are set and in line with the ledger board, lay out the decking and joists. If you are planning to fix a large porch, you can divide your work into sections. Lay out the exterior porch boards first and then attach the joist hangers at 16 inches from the centre.
The decking can be installed even before the joists are fixed, it need not wait for the joists to be set. Cut and lay down the decking as per your need and then use the nails to space out the boards. There are a few pre-made rails available in the market which can be used. You will have to nail the railing to the deck and then install the railing support posts.

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