Porch for a private house: how to make your own hands +100 photos

A modern house in the country is not a luxury, but a place for living, working, relaxing. The building consists of walls, a roof, in order to get inside, to the doors, you will have to step onto a special platform. A porch for a private house is an important, integral part of its exterior design, a large decorative element created in accordance with the functions required by a particular family, and it does not conflict with the stylistic direction of the entire building, garden, landscape around it.

The main functions of the porch

The porch is a large or small platform adjacent to the entrance to the building, usually equipped with a canopy. It has two purposes: practical and aesthetic. The practical function is to protect the entrance to the house from various atmospheric phenomena - high humidity, low temperature, rain, snow, cold winds, hot sun. Private villas are often made basement, basement floor, because the door is high, to it leads a few steps. For convenience, safety, lifting and lowering, this design is equipped with handrails and a ramp, and under the bottom of the organized storage of garden equipment, equipment, or descent to the basement.

The decorativeness of the porch is expressed in accordance with the overall style of the residential building, an attractive appearance. This design is most often decorated with various decorations made of artificial, natural materials, a house, a cottage with it looks complete, harmonious.

Varieties of porch

Appearance, configuration, dimensions of this design are carried out in accordance with the rules:

security;
ergonomics;
comfort;
aesthetics;
practical qualities.

The porch consists of the platform, steps, a handrail, a canopy, is made various form:

round;
semicircular;
square;
rectangular;
in the form of a trapezoid;
U-shaped;
asymmetrical.

It is low - located almost at ground level, high - equipped with several steps or even large flight of stairs, almost a floor in height. The low porch is made of stone, brick or concrete, the railing is only needed as an ornament. The high is often combined with an extensive veranda - its construction will be quite expensive, but practical, aesthetic properties will be appropriate. It is important to equip the building with handrails (metal, wood, reinforced concrete, etc.), which will prevent a possible fall. The ramp will allow you to easily bring in a child or wheelchair, bicycle, scooter, large toy car.

There are several types of constructive properties:

being one with the building;
attached separately when the house is already there;
fully open;
closed on all sides;
angular.

A cozy porch, whose area is one to two square meters, serves only to enter the building. More spacious, up to several tens of meters, becomes a veranda, if the extension is temporary, summer - this is a terrace.

Materials used in construction

For the arrangement, decoration of the porch, usually the same materials are selected from which the house is built. These are many types of trees, including valuable, various types of bricks, concrete, aerated blocks and foam blocks, natural stone, some types of metals. When choosing the right type, take into account the strength, durability, cost, aesthetics of a particular material, labor during installation, compliance with a certain style.

The width, length, height of the platform depends on the size of the house - the larger it is, the larger the porch.

Tree

Most often, natural wood is used in country houses - log cabins or made of laminated veneer lumber. Without special treatment, the wood does not serve for long, therefore it is recommended that it be impregnated with compounds against rot, mildew, and fungal damage. Also wooden buildings covered with varnishes, at least - with colored paints. The horizontal surface is covered with flooring or decking, the railing is made of turned balusters, the visor is also made carved. The most commonly used for construction: pine, cedar, larch, spruce, aspen, oak, ash, birch, alder.

The wooden porch is usually made of skeleton, less often - entirely from oak, birch logs, semi-logs. The front door is also preferably made of wood.

Concrete

A concrete structure constructed with the necessary requirements of high quality material will last a long time without losing a good appearance. To make a formwork into which the concrete mix will be poured, only strong boards (not rotten, easily deformed), dry cement of high grades, filler in the form of gravel, bricks, river sand are taken. The construction made of foam concrete blocks is much easier, cheaper than cast entirely from concrete. On sale in the construction markets, in online stores, there are rounded blocks, suitable for products in the form of a semicircle, creating columns supporting the shed. Facing the concrete structure with natural stone, granite, paving tiles.

Reinforcing a low concrete porch is not necessary.

Brick

Brick structures are a little inferior in strength to stone, this is especially noticeable when a second-hand brick is used - the structure will freeze in the winter time, collapse due to water entering small cracks. The most suitable in this case would be a clinker brick - it is not afraid of frost, open fire, heavy loads, compression. The device of a brick porch in the best way will suit the house from a brick, but also about the buildings issued by a siding, it looks very effectively.

Accuracy of laying bricks is checked with the help of construction level, plumb.

A rock

Stone is the most reliable, durable, but expensive material. The construction of it necessarily requires a stable foundation - natural stone is very heavy. This design is perfect for luxury buildings "antique", especially imitating ancient castles, palaces. The entrance group is usually made of granite, marble, limestone, sandstone, rubble stone, pebbles. The porch can be completely made of stone or just revetted with it.

When creating a stone porch, it is desirable to arrange the base of the building with the same material - this is the easiest way to create a single composition.

Metal, iron

The entrance to the building, decorated with shiny or black wrought or leafy elements, looks gorgeous, expensive. This option is suitable for many designer styles, originally combined with brick, concrete, wooden buildings. But there are a number of drawbacks: the staircase comes out very slippery during the winter, the rain hitting it too loudly, the coating constantly needs a corrosion-resistant coating, which will have to be updated periodically.

Elements of the railing of the street stairs are connected to each other by welding.

Design, stylistic design of the porch

The design of the porch directly depends on the style of the house itself - the project of the first one is created in parallel with the second, observing the general architectural style. For the convenience of residents, the door is located in the three-six centimeters above the floor. The width of the main staircase is from one meter, for side or located in farm buildings - smaller parameters are acceptable. The optimal size of steps: height 15-25 centimeters, width - 30-35 cm.
The finishing materials used for decorating the entrance group are designed not only to create a cozy atmosphere, beautiful appearance, but also to protect the structure from destruction under the influence of atmospheric phenomena, to hide the minor flaws of the rough coating. Most commonly used:

plastic panels, stucco;
natural wood;
polycarbonate;
professional flooring;
laminate;
tile;
MDF;
porcelain stoneware.

If it is provided for by the stylistic design of the building, the ground in front of it is decorated with plants in flowerpots or flowerpots, LED strip or lamps, and sculptural compositions.

Open area

An open area to which at least two steps lead is a very popular design option for the entrance facade. The porch can be console, lean strongly on the base, screw piles. The shelter is usually not there at all, because the design arrangement will be a little cheaper, faster than other options.

Area with closed walls

The space located on a hill is equipped with glass, wooden, brick, forged handrails to prevent a fall from a height, especially if the porch is high enough. Such a fence has not only a practical, but also a decorative function.

Closed porch

Fully enclosed annexe usually has a glazing - it can be a simple single glass or double-glazed windows, interspersed with aluminum profiles, columns, concrete or brick walls. The design is a veranda or vestibule, protected by walls from all sides, which allows to keep the heat in the room.

Porch with a canopy

It is recommended to mount the canopy over any platform - it will protect it from the hot sun in summer, rain erosion, snow accumulation, ice in winter. The visor is made of wood, glass, sheet building carbonate, acrylic canvas, metal profile sheet, less often - is tiled, with ondulin. In shape, it can be straight, rounded, dvukhskatnym, undulating, etc. A small structure is made wall-mounted, larger, heavy - rests on poles, elegant columns.

The canopy is usually equipped with drain pipes so that rainwater does not flood the area.

With steps, handrails

Steps prevent flooding of the site during heavy rains, falling asleep with snow, railings - make it easier to climb the stairs, which is especially important for older people, young children. Railing makes sense to do if the porch is more than three steps. The standard height of the fence - 75-95 centimeters.

Railings are most often made of wood, plastic, metal - forged suitable for a brick house, from wood - for wood, from a profile sheet - for revetted siding.

In the form of a terrace

Playground terrace is used not only for entry and exit. In the summer, garden furniture is placed on it, using it for family dinners, tea drinking, and on the heated indoor furniture that you want to glaze - even in winter. The terrace usually has a rectangular shape, but may be angular, to encircle the entire building. Less commonly found structures of asymmetric, smooth configuration, as they are difficult to design, manufacture. The terrace is settled if the plot has noticeable height differences.

When arranging the terrace, the door is often not in the center, but in the corner.

Canopy, visor over the porch

A visor above the porch protects a person entering or leaving from rain, snow, wind, bright scorching sun, creating coziness and a beautiful accent, giving the building a finished look. Standing under the visor can conveniently get out of your pocket key to the house, car, have time to open the umbrella, without getting wet. The canopy is supported by columns, pillars made of wood, concrete, its ceiling is decorated with clapboard, waterproof plasterboard, made of plastic. Under the canopy mounted lamps, placed flowerpots with flowers, various decor.

Visors are made different in shape, its length is not less than 85-100 centimeters, the width should exceed the dimensions of the doorway by 40-60 cm. As an additional protection against weather phenomena, the design is equipped with side walls.

The visor above the platform is made with your own hands, bought ready-made, decorated in the appropriate style.

Entrance area lighting

The light near the entrance is a matter of convenience, safety of movement of residents. If there is sufficient light, entering the house will not stumble on the threshold, will not lose the keys. A platform of 100 by 150 centimeters, having up to three steps, is enough to have one light fixture - above the doors. If the steps are four to five, the lights are mounted on both sides to illuminate each section of the structure. For long stairs the number of fixtures increase.

Can be used:

street chandeliers;
wall sconces;
Spotlights;
fluorescent, halogen lamps;
spotlights;
landscape lights.

In order to significantly save electricity, lighting devices are equipped with sensors that react to light, sounds, movement.

DIY Concrete Casting

Self-repair, the creation of a cozy porch from scratch - a task that is easy to perform, following the instructions from the Internet, construction magazines. A suitable scheme is also taken from the relevant literature, developed by hand.

Often the entrance group is made entirely of wood or has a veneer of wood. This option is not very practical, since even in the presence of bioprotective impregnation requires repair every three to four years. Structures made of concrete, decorated with stone or tile, are repaired much less frequently, but the time of complete hardening of the composition is about four weeks - finishing can be done only after that. The labor costs for pouring are also great.

To cast porch, you will need:

broken brick;
fittings, metal rod;
river sand;
cement grade M-400 or higher;
flexible iron wire;
tare tavern or boards for formwork.

What should be considered when self-fabricating the input group:

convenience, safety of lifting for any family member, regardless of his height, physical condition. If there are small children in the family, additional railings are made for them;
the possibility, if necessary, to bring into the room large items;
the preferred number of steps is odd;
use better cement of high grades, as it is able to withstand heavy loads, which significantly affects the durability of the structure;
the size of the platform should correspond to the width of the doorway - the door should open freely outside without touching the person standing there. Usually it is about 150-170 cm in width.

How to build a concrete porch with your own hands step by step:

a detailed drawing with all the necessary dimensions;
the required amount of materials is calculated, depending on the size of the structure, the type of soil on which it will be installed;
after starting to cast vertical racks. To do this, dig holes up to a depth of 60 cm, put the formwork there from boards or linoleum, fastened with a stapler. Downward, the structure should expand slightly;
thick slurry is kneaded - to do this, take four parts of sand per one part of cement;
put in the middle of the armature, with which future racks will be attached to the porch;
there are at least four such supports;
a sand pillow is made, six to nine centimeters high, on which the porch will stand;
formwork is carried out - boards are fastened with screws; here it is important to accurately calculate the height of the steps;
after it is required to make a waterproofing - ordinary polyethylene is placed on the "pillow";
the base of the site is reinforced with metal rods that are attached to the bars of the uprights - they are fastened together with wire;
the inside of the lower rung is being poured - here, to save cement, it is permissible to use broken, whole bricks, pieces of dried concrete, other construction debris as a filler;
leveling steps produce a wide construction spatula;
in the same way all other steps are successively done;
After two or three weeks, the concrete finally grasps, you can remove the formwork, and then proceed to the finishing with tile, stone, any other material that fits well with the overall style of the building.

Conclusion

The porch of a typical house or having an individual design is made reliable, practical, functional, comfortable and beautiful. This is a kind of "face" of any structure in a city or village. The construction of a country house with a comfortable porch, with some building skills, is carried out independently. When the design requires a very large, complex, construction is entrusted to professionals. They will not only develop a unique design, depicting it in 3D format, taking into account the wishes of the customer, but also will do everything quickly, efficiently.