One of the important components of the exterior of the house is the porch. It must be durable and reliable, as well as in harmony with the decoration of the facade and the design of the site. If you wish, you can build a porch with your own hands. To do this, you will need to consider different projects of this design, as well as take into account the recommendations of specialists. How to properly build a porch will be discussed later.
Design Features
To build a porch with your own hands (photo below), you need to consider the main varieties of such structures. Before starting construction work, you need to create a project. Schematically represent the view of the porch, indicate its dimensions. At this stage, you will also need to choose the right building materials. Their number can also be calculated based on the created plan.
The porch should be not only durable and functional, but also beautiful. It must be in harmony with the facade. Considering,what materials the house was built from, you can choose the right type of construction.
It is important to pay attention to the correct decoration of the porch. For this, statues, columns are used, flower arrangements are created. Carved and forged balusters look spectacular. The design must be in the same style. Almost always a canopy or canopy is created over the porch. With your own hands, you can decorate it in accordance with the general appearance of the building.
It is necessary to choose materials for the construction of the porch in accordance with the type of facade. If it is made of wood, a concrete structure will look out of place. For a brick house, it is recommended to create a porch from the same material. The metal construction will also look spectacular. For summer cottages, polycarbonate can be used during construction.
The porch necessarily consists of several parts. These include: steps, platform, railing and visor. For any type of porch, you will need to equip the foundation. Its type is chosen in accordance with the material, weight of the structure, as well as other parameters.
How to make a porch with your own hands? First of all, you need to choose the type of structure. It can be one of three types. There is a porch attached, built-in and simple. The last of the listed options consists of one or more steps, a platform and a visor.
The built-in porch is designed at the construction stage of the house. It is built along with the main structure. This is a capital building, which is strong and durable.
The attached porch is being set upafter the completion of the house. It may also be an improved design. If it is necessary to rebuild an existing old porch, this type of structure is created.
Materials
Before starting construction work, you need to consider existing porch designs. With your own hands, you can develop a drawing according to existing schemes, which will indicate the dimensions and configuration of the structure. At the stage of creating your own project, you will need to determine what materials and how much will be used in the construction process.
The easiest way is to create your own wooden porch. This material is easy to process. This results in a fairly lightweight design. It does not require a strong foundation. Even a novice master can build a wooden porch with his own hands. This option is suitable for a small house or cottage. If the house is built of wood, the same material is recommended for the construction of the porch. This allows you to create a harmonious image.
For a brick house, a porch made of the same material is more suitable. In this case, a fundamental, solid structure will be obtained. This material is stronger and more durable than wood. However, when building such a structure, you need to have the skills to create masonry. It must be perfectly flat. The construction process will take longer. In some cases, such a porch can be attached to a house finished with other materials.
You can build a metal porch with your ownhands. This material can be combined with wood or concrete. However, there are structures made entirely of metal. The material must be highly resistant to adverse environmental factors. Forged balusters look beautiful on such a porch. The visor can also be decorated with this material.
Often the owners of private houses equip concrete porches. This type of construction is quite heavy. It requires a strong foundation. The result is a strong, beautiful porch. It has a long service life. It can be supplemented with metal balusters.
In the northern regions, a closed porch is being built. This is a veranda that can be glazed. Recently, polycarbonate porch decoration has become popular. It is not difficult to mount it with your own hands. At the same time, the cost of this material is low. It is worth considering that polycarbonate is not mounted on the south side of the house. In this case, it can only be used to create a visor.
Design
Before you start construction work, you need to create one or more porch projects. It will be much easier to attach it to the house with your own hands, if you take into account all the nuances at the planning stage.
On the drawing you need to indicate the location of the building. The plan should include: an indication of the paths on the site, the features and dimensions of the front door of the house. Next, a drawing of the porch itself is created. On the diagram you need to indicate what materials it is planned from.erect, as well as the type and design features. The required dimensions of the building should be determined.
After calculating the weight of the structure, you can choose the type of foundation. At the same time, they take into account the peculiarities of the climate, the level of groundwater, the type of soil, etc. You also need to think about the decorative design of the porch. Particular attention is paid to the visor above the porch. With your own hands above the extension, you can create a beautiful and at the same time functional canopy. It will protect people who come to the house from bad weather. If the porch is glazed, thermal insulation must be provided.
Each element of the building is carefully thought out. In this case, several nuances must be taken into account. It is taken into account at what height is the entrance to the house. The upper platform should be on the same level as the first floor. At the same time, a margin is provided for the possibility of opening the front door. It should not touch the surface of the porch. The margin is at least 5 cm. The front door must open outwards (according to fire safety rules).
If there are several steps, you need to provide for the presence of railings. When driving, additional support can prevent falls and injury. This is especially true in winter and during rain.
The canopy over the porch should differ in certain dimensions. With your own hands, you can create its different configuration. However, its width and length must be sufficient to protect the upper platform in front of the door from precipitation. Also, the visor must be installed at such a height that it does not interferedoors when opening.
Dimensions
Do-it-yourself porch made of wood, brick, concrete or other materials is quite simple to build. To do this, you need to pay great attention to the process of planning and designing the building. The dimensions of each element of the porch must comply with certain standards. In this case, its operation will be comfortable and safe.
When designing, you need to correctly choose the dimensions of the site in front of the front door. A person must, standing on it, open the door. Nothing should interfere with this movement. If the size of the area in front of the entrance is insufficient, the owners will need to go down to the bottom step. This causes some discomfort. Therefore, the landing space must be larger than the width of the doorway.
When calculating the site, take into account the type of door. For single-leaf varieties, it is necessary to create a platform with a length of at least 1.5 m. At the same time, its width should be in the range of 1.5-1.6 m. In the presence of double-wing doors, the length of the platform is also 1.5 m. Its width must be at least 2 m. This is especially important if the porch is high.
If the porch has steps, they should be wide enough for an adult's foot to fit completely on their surface. The tread must be at least 30 cm wide. The length of the steps (the width of the stairs) should be at least 80 cm. When attaching the porch to the house with your own hands, you need to ensure the correct angle of inclination of the stairs. It should be between 30º and 50º. The coolerlifting, the less materials will need to be spent on construction. However, stairs that are too steep are unsafe and uncomfortable.
Step height should be small. It is only 14-17 cm. This is required by safety rules. If you need to make a lot of steps (the entrance to the house is on the second floor), you need to equip special platforms between the spans. This greatly reduces the chance of injury from a fall.
Wishing to build a private porch with your own hands, you must also pay attention to the fences for steps. The railing should be at a height of about 85 cm. Balusters should be located on each step. If there are small children in the house, it is better to install two supports for each tread.
Foundation
There are a number of building rules and regulations on how to make a porch with your own hands. The structure must have a foundation. It is created according to the same principle as for the main part of the house. In this case, the weight of the materials must be taken into account. If the porch will be built of concrete, brick, then the foundation can be tape or solid. Wooden or metal structures can be built on a pile or column foundation.
First you need to markup. This work is carried out in accordance with the previously developed plan. It is necessary to install pegs in the corners. Next, a rope is pulled between them. Deepen the pit. You need to dig a hole the same depth as the main foundation of the house. The width of the pit should be 25 cm more than the porch. If it will be equippedcement, brick type of construction, the foundation will need to be reinforced. Moreover, steel bars need to be driven into the old foundation of the house.
Separately, you need to create recesses for creating supports, if you plan to make a canopy over the porch. It will be possible to create a fairly powerful, heavy visor over it with your own hands. For supports, pits are dug separately.
The bottom of the pit must be well tamped. After that, a layer of sand is poured here. It is being leveled. Next, a layer of rubble is poured. Each of them must be at least 10 cm. Next, formwork is created. It is best to use pine boards for these purposes. Then a layer of waterproofing is laid in the pit. It should cover the bottom and walls of the recess.
Bricks are laid on the bottom. They need to lay out a reinforcing mesh. The rods must fit in length and width. At the intersections they are tied with wire. After that, you can pour the cement mortar. It can be filled in several layers. Each of them must be rammed in order to avoid the appearance of voids in the concrete structure. Next, the surface is covered with a film. Periodically, concrete is poured with water so that it gains the required strength.
Do-it-yourself porch made of wood is easier to build. For this, a columnar foundation is being equipped. You need to do markup. Posts will be installed at the corners of the porch. The distance between them should be no more than 2.5 m. This type of foundation is not tied to the old foundation of the house. Pits are made in the right places with a depth of 70 cm. The length and width of the recess should be 60 × 60 cm at the surface, and 50 × 50 cm at the bottom.
The bottom is being rammed. Thena pillow of sand and gravel falls asleep. Inside, waterproofing (roofing material) is covered. The top is poured with a layer of cement 5 cm. Next, 2 bricks are laid on the cement. They are covered with cement and 2 more bricks are laid across. Work continues until the supports of the desired height are created. They will be equipped with a wooden porch.
Concrete porch
To build a porch with your own hands from concrete, you will need to create a formwork. The upper platform of the base must be covered with two layers of roofing material. After that, you can start creating formwork. To do this, in accordance with the created drawings, you need to create an appropriate design from the boards. It should have two side walls. The ends have the shape of future steps. Partitions for risers should also be created. Each part must match the design configuration of the drawing. Formwork boards should be carefully sanded if finishing is not planned.
Each step must have reinforcement. To do this, create a grid of metal rods. You can create future steps from them. However, it is easier to create partitions from boards and for risers. The boards are connected using metal corners or wooden bars. The sides need additional support. Otherwise, when concrete is poured into the mold, it may not withstand. In this case, all the work will need to be done again.
When creating a porch with a canopy with your own hands, you can make supports from wood or metal. They can cut directly into the concrete base. Forto do this, it is necessary to provide for the presence of recesses in the corresponding places.
The formwork needs to be oiled. In this case, its dismantling in the future will not cause any difficulties. Cement needs to be prepared so much that it is enough to fill the step. It is made from the same materials as the foundation. You can purchase the finished mixture in a specialized store. If the porch is large, ready-made cement is ordered at the factory.
To attach the porch to the house with your own hands, you will need to pour concrete into the prepared form. Start from the bottom step. She must dry out. Only after that create the second stage. Each time the cement surface must be carefully leveled. The material is covered with plastic wrap. The cement will also need to be moistened. Gradually pour the entire structure. It should dry well. Only after that the formwork is removed. The first to remove the boards for the risers of the bottom row. If the concrete is dry, you can move on. Not earlier than a month later, the side parts of the formwork are removed.
Concrete porch finishing
When creating a porch for a private house with your own hands, you need to finish it properly. If the surface turned out to be perfectly flat, you can leave the building as it is. To do this, you need to treat the surface with a grinder with a special circle. This will remove even small bumps.
You can use different materials to decorate such a porch. For example, it can be a tile. It should have a textured surface. It is also recommended to stuff special rubber strips on the edges of the steps. This will avoid falling in ice or rain.
The porch decoration made of porcelain stoneware looks spectacular. The materials used in this case must be resistant to temperature extremes, frost and other adverse weather conditions. This requirement also applies to the materials with which the plates will be mounted on the surface. To decorate the porch with your own hands, you can use different tiles designed for outdoor installation.
The railing can be made of metal. This is a spectacular combination that allows you to give the porch a different look. Supports for a canopy are also made of metal. Openwork weaving of forged balusters will look spectacular in combination with concrete steps.
If the canopy will be mounted over all steps, supports will need to be installed at the bottom and top of the stairs. In this case, the visor will adjoin the wall of the house. It connects to it using a special profile. The visor can be straight or convex. Metal structural elements will need to be primed and coated with 2 layers of special varnish or paint.
In some cases, a canopy is mounted over a polycarbonate porch. This material is durable, transmits sunlight and is not afraid of temperature changes. It can be bent, creating not just a ceiling, but a dome. So the canopy will look more aesthetic.
In some cases, supports are not used. The peak is mounted only above the top platform. In this case, it is supported by supports that are fixed onfacade wall. They are also made from metal. You can choose decorative supports for mounting the canopy. They must match the material from which the railing is made.
Wooden porch
Even a novice master can attach a wooden porch to the house with his own hands. To do this, lay logs on the prepared supports. For them, a durable timber with a cross section of 10 × 15 cm is used. It must first be treated with an antiseptic and fire-fighting composition.
Logs are fixed with special dowels and metal corners. It is necessary to attach them to the wall of the house at such a distance that the upper platform is 5 cm below the threshold.
After that, the sidewalls of the stairs (kosoura) are made. This will require long, strong boards. Their thickness should be at least 5 cm. They are first marked for steps. For this, drawing data is used. According to the markup, the stringers are cut out with the help of an electric jigsaw. This is painstaking work that requires accuracy.
Next, the kosour needs to be mounted on logs. For this, a tongue-and-groove connection is used. The boards are fixed with a beam using self-tapping screws or dowels. Sidewalls can be subsequently trimmed with different decorative materials.
The wooden porch to the house with your own hands must be firmly fixed. Parts must not wobble. All materials from which the structure will be built must be processed before installation. For this, antiseptics and flame retardants are used. Start assembling the steps from the bottom. First install the riser. A tread is mounted on it. Applyself-tapping screws, dowels.
Wood must be sanded. For this, a grinder with an appropriate nozzle is used. After that, you can cover the surface with several layers of varnish. The wood is rarely stained. A colored or clear lacquer will help bring out the natural beauty of the material.
The railing can be made from wood. They are also covered with a layer of varnish. Balusters are best purchased at a specialized store. They will be shaped. This will enhance the beauty of the porch. They are installed at each stage. Balusters provide additional support for the railing. The surface of the handrails must be perfectly smooth. It is unacceptable that there are bumps or hooks on it. All wooden structural elements are varnished.
Wooden porch railings can also be made from metal. This gives the design lightness and sophistication. When choosing materials, the design style of the building and the site is taken into account. In some cases, metal railings and supports violate the overall style. Therefore, every detail must be carefully considered before construction.
Metal porch
Unlike a wooden porch, creating a metal structure with your own hands is somewhat more difficult. However, this work does not cause difficulties for a master who knows how to handle welding. In this case, it will be possible to create a solid, reliable design. With proper processing, such a porch will last for several decades.
To create such a design, you will need to purchase all the necessary materials. First of all, you will need 2 metal channels. Themmust be welded to the supports installed in the foundation. They need to be mounted at the stage of foundation construction.
The string for steps will be welded onto these channels. It is made from several metal pipes. After attaching the rental to the bowstring, you need to prepare corners with equal shelves. These elements must be cut in accordance with the length of the steps. You also need to make a margin for the weld.
A metal corner is welded along the contour. Next, the second piece of material is welded. They need to be connected using the same corner. Its length must correspond to the width of the steps (including the weld). The result should be a rectangle of equal-shelf corners. This will be the surface of the steps.
This procedure is performed for all steps. The weld must be strong and free of defects. If the master does not have practical skills in using the inverter, he should practice on an unnecessary piece of metal. When the seam is correct, you can get to work.
Step space can be filled with different materials. It can be metal, wood or concrete. The first option would be appropriate for creating a porch of an economic or technical building. To make the steps look more beautiful, you need to install inside each metal form from the corners of the board. Their thickness should correspond to the height of the frame shelf. They are screwed on with self-tapping screws. To do this, in the appropriate places, you need to make holes with a puncher with a drill for metal.
You can also pour concrete steps. It is necessary to cover the bottom of the steps with a board. A layer of waterproofing is laid on it. Reinforcement is placed inside each step. Next, the steps are poured. Their surface must be carefully leveled. The material is moistened so that it does not crack during the drying process. After a month, you can sand the concrete surface.
Metal Porch Finish
To complete the construction of the porch with your own hands, you need to equip the frame for the canopy. It is also made from a metal profile. Supports are equipped at the stage of creating the foundation. Therefore, in the process of finishing, you will need to install transverse bars. They are also welded to metal supports.
Flooring from the profile for the visor will also need to be installed on the poles prepared in advance. It is better to make the flooring on a slope. This will allow snow and rain to quickly run off the surface of the visor.
When the frame is created, all metal elements need to be primed. The crossbars and supports are covered with two layers of paint. After that, you can lay polycarbonate or other material on the visor. It is fixed to the frame with self-tapping screws.
In the process of finishing a metal or other porch, it is necessary to provide for the presence of lighting under the visor. It can be one lamp installed above the door. If the style allows, you can mount wall lights on one or both sides of the door. The lighting should be bright enough so that the owners of the house can clearly see the keyhole at night.
Lighting also plays a decorative role in the design of the porch. It can be used to emphasize the generalexterior styling.
Knowing how to build a porch with your own hands from different materials, you can create a strong and durable structure. Having thought it through to the smallest detail, you can not be afraid of difficulties in the process of doing the work.
