Installing a porch can prove to be a very handy addition to the front of a house. A simple canopy without a full enclosure will also provide a lot of shelter from the elements while you find your house keys!
A completely enclosed porch offers an extra layer of insulation, preventing heat loss from the interior of your home. A porch is also the perfect place for storing coats, jackets, football boots, wellies and all the other family outdoor wear that accumulates in the hallway. Here are some things to consider when you decide you want a porch:
If a porch isn’t bigger than 3 square metres and doesn’t sit within 2 metres of a boundary with a highway (such as a footpath) you won’t need planning permission for your porch. Exceptions include a structure that contains a toilet or a fuel store or will cover necessary ventilation between the inside and outside of the property.
There are different types of porch and which one is best for you depends a lot on the design of your front door. Recessed doors were popular with Victorian, Edwardian and 1930s housing and these are easy to simply fill in with wood, brickwork or glass to create an attractive porch. It’s important to ensure it’s in keeping with the rest of the property, to enhance it and not detract from it. For information on Timber Frame Manufacturers, contact https://merlintimberframe.co.uk
For those homes with a flat, plain frontage like terraced housing, a canopy is most likely your only option. These are small shelters mounted over the front door. See if there are any other examples in the same street and choose something that fits with the period of the housing.
