The design of the steps to the house, although important, is not the most complex. Making a porch on your own is not a very difficult and time-consuming job. If you choose a material with which you have sufficient general knowledge and skills in construction, then success will be guaranteed. For example, when using blocks as the main material, it is enough to have the skill of masonry operations and the ability to knead and use mortar. On the picture great example at home where .
Benefits of blocks
Why is it worth paying attention to this material when deciding what to make a porch from? The answer may be a list of advantages that blocks have:
- Light weight. This does not carry a functional load, but using a foam block reduces the labor intensity of the process;
- Easy to install. The foam block is larger in size than a brick and, accordingly, less of it is needed individually. This simplifies construction and all the work can be done without much experience;
- Speed. According to this indicator, foam block has few competitors. Pouring concrete formwork or laying a brick porch takes much more time;
- Durability. If the porch is not subjected to destructive loads during use, then it is impossible to accurately determine its service life. Some other elements of a house's structure deteriorate faster than foam blocks. naturally. The porch will last as long as the strongest, load-bearing part of the building;
- Price. Construction costs will not be a heavy burden on the owner, since both the block itself and its installation are perhaps the cheapest and affordable way building a porch with your own hands;
- Safety. The foam block does not contain harmful substances. By definition, he cannot single them out. A porch made from this material will be environmentally friendly, non-flammable and not fireproof.
Building with blocks is perfect for independent work, since no special skills are needed when laying. Almost any man can make a porch with his own hands and without help. The photo shows one of the stages of building a porch.
Important! Despite the relatively low weight, the structure will be massive, so the place is carefully prepared.
Compacted at good soil. If necessary, a screed is made or piles are installed.
Types and features of foam blocks
The following products are classified in this segment of materials, any of which is suitable if you need to build a porch:
- By size. A very wide choice, but when making a porch, preference is given to blocks that have a edge of no more than 200 mm. In this case, each layer will be equal to the height of the standard step. The recommended width of 300 mm will give optimal angle inclination of the staircase. A do-it-yourself porch will be convenient and safe to use;
- Material of manufacture. The substances included in the composition play a decisive role in the density of the product. This is not of decisive importance in the construction of the foundation for the porch, but it is much easier to work with lighter blocks. So, density standard brick from 2000 kg/m³. Concrete has an even greater volumetric weight. The density of foam blocks ranges from 400 -1300 kg/m³. An extension made from expanded clay concrete blocks will be 2 times lighter than one made from brick. Sand is not always or to a limited extent used as a filler. Best qualities noted when using expanded clay and other mineral additives and chemical additives. For example, in aerated concrete blocks a special foaming agent is used, which saturates the solution with air bubbles;
- Form. Foam blocks are offered with both flat and profiled surfaces for reliable fixation. There are also radial products if you plan to build an arched porch. It is better to purchase high-quality blocks with exact dimensions, as in the photo.
Project and construction costs
When planning a porch, you should determine its dimensions and finishing style. Appearance is as important as functionality, so special attention is paid to the combination of materials. The simplest solution is to make a porch from expanded clay concrete or similar blocks the same as the finishing of the house at this height. If the foundation is tiled, then the steps can be made of a similar material, with one caveat. The surface must be safe in wet weather and frost. Special floor, street and facade tiles with appropriate coating are suitable for this. The porch will meet the requirements. Structurally, the following recommendations must be observed:
- If the porch has a height of more than 800 mm, then it is recommended to reinforce it. A structure where the block has no more than 4 layers does not need to be strengthened.
A house made of expanded clay concrete blocks, as well as a porch to it from the same material, is made relatively easily, but without finishing it is used exclusively for household needs. Housing requires additional funds and time to achieve what you want appearance.The foam block has excellent heat and sound insulating characteristics, but requires additional operations by finishing. The photo shows the house and porch after installation.
To fix blocks together, you can use it like a traditional sand-cement mortar, and glue. The last option is preferable. The connecting layer will be thin and the foam block will retain heat better in this case. The porch will be stronger and more reliable. How to work with foam block and glue correctly is shown in the video presented.
A thin layer also reduces glue consumption, and the connection of the elements is guaranteed to be strong. The photo shows how glue is applied and the block is installed.
When choosing a shape, you can abandon traditional balusters. Their function will be performed by columns of foam blocks on which the railings are mounted. The porch will turn out to be massive, but this will also have its own plus. Feeling of reliability and practicality. It is recommended to lay the foam block at a temperature from +5° C to +25° C. If the air is cold, close to zero or below, the solution loses its quality. At temperatures above +25° C, moisture leaves the adhesive composition and enters the block too quickly. In this case, it is advisable to wet the surface with water. Depending on the facade of the house, the porch can be finished with both wood and metal. Technological blanks will help you finish the foam block with your own hands.
Having decided on the form and additional elements, you can begin to count the costs. The price of a foam block is usually indicated per piece. If it is necessary to purchase missing materials, then transportation costs will be added to the estimate. Comparing with similar projects, you can be sure that a porch where foam block is chosen as the main material is cheaper, is made faster and lasts longer than many other options. The process of building a house is recorded in the photo, where construction of a closed porch began on a specially prepared site.
The nuances of building a porch from blocks yourself
Following the project exactly and observing the dimensions of the structure, the master faces some inconveniences associated with large size, which has a block. It is not always reasonable to change the proportions, which were determined by a harmonious combination with other elements of the facade. The porch will have different dimensions, and the stylistic organicity will be disrupted. The foam block is easy to process, including sawing. Using a hacksaw on wood is impractical. It will not be possible to use it for its intended purpose, and after several cuts across the block, performance will noticeably deteriorate. There are special hacksaws for this type of work. If this cutting method is chosen, then it is better to make circular markings. You can use a square or accurately mark each edge from the base plane. It is also recommended to file in a circular manner to avoid the hacksaw blade being pulled away. The photo shows how the foam block is cut with a special saw.
It is better to do cutting before dilution adhesive composition, on which the block is laid, since its duration of action is limited, depending on the brand, from 15 minutes to 2 hours. It is easier to make the order of laying individual parts (if the porch is complex in shape and there are many parts) by marking each finished item. The foam block cut into pieces is marked. The layer and serial number are indicated. You can change the project as much as possible if it does not contradict the design idea. The formation of steps can be done by shifting each subsequent layer to the required width. The foam block is perfect for this job and this can be seen in the photo.
In terms of labor intensity, it is difficult to classify a porch as a complex and time-consuming operation, so you can saw off the block with an ordinary grinder. You can use standard cutting disc for metal, but it works slowly. A stone cutting tool with a diamond edge is much more effective at cutting. The disadvantage of this method is a large amount of dust, but the porch is made on the street, so there is nothing scary about it. Grinders with a small disc will not work. The foam block is too large an object for them and there will not be enough cutting depth when working. A disc with a minimum diameter of 250 mm is required. With such a tool, you can make any porch with your own hands using a foam block.
Important! Don't forget about safety precautions. Working with glue is done with gloves, and operations with an angle grinder wear glasses.
A porch made of lightweight material, which is a foam block, is reliable and durable, but the elements themselves are quite soft in structure. If subsequent finishing requires the construction of sheathing or installation of fasteners, then it is worth checking the reliability of their fixation. The foam block has a porous structure, so satisfactory results are not always achieved using plastic stoppers and dowel nails. Sometimes a positive result is achieved by using anchor bolts or embedded elements. A porch finished with tiled materials does not require additional reinforcement. As an example, the photo shows a porch in the construction of which a block was used, and decorative finishing made with paving stones.
Using foam blocks, you can not only make a porch with your own hands, but also build more serious buildings - summer kitchen, bathhouse, barn. Confidence in your qualifications will allow you to take on the construction of a residential building.
The porch is a part of the house that is subject to constant use due to increased traffic. Completed in harmonious combination with the material of the walls, it becomes a beautiful evidence of the owner’s well-being and his attentive attitude towards his home.
Several design options
First of all, you should decide on the options for the entrance group; several landscaping methods are described below.
Open entrance
A porch without a canopy is sometimes used for private houses. This type of entrance represents a platform open on all sides. Railings are not installed, since the height usually does not exceed several steps. The site is under influence atmospheric precipitation, since there is no roof or canopy over it.
Most often, an open area is created if there is a veranda behind it. Such open types are arranged in southern regions with a dry climate, and in damp areas with high rainfall open options not building.
With terrace
A covered area with a porch is the most effective solution, it is economical and practical to use. It is impossible to make a separate canopy in front of the entrance if the platform falls under the common extended edge of the roof or there is a balcony above it. Some canopy options involve expanding it to the roof of a parking lot or a small cozy terrace.
Buried option
This type involves fencing the site with walls made of wood. They can be solid and contain window openings in their design. The role of the roof is played by a separate canopy or a higher balcony above the entrance. Such a weather-protected room further expands usable area Houses.
Sometimes the area inside the closed entrance is made spacious and an additional kitchen is installed there. summer time for preparing food, in winter they put shelves for storing food. Can be combined closed type entrance with a spacious terrace for parties and receiving friends. If you make a solid and spacious closed entrance, then most often you need to build a foundation.
How to make a wooden porch with your own hands - step-by-step work
The construction of a wooden porch often does not require an additional foundation, which helps save money. When manufacturing the structure, attention is paid to massive steps and original railings.
Wood goes well with walls made of artificial and natural stone, brick, covered with siding or plastic. The canopy posts are made massive if the design concept requires it, or they are decorated with figures, light carvings, and balusters are installed. unusual shape. Wood can be easily painted in different colors, which makes it possible to develop design ideas.
Wood is a malleable material that can be easily processed and can be processed in complex ways. Steps and other wooden structures, treated with special impregnations against rotting and antiseptics against microbes, will last quite a long time long term, and will not only have a presentable appearance, but also delight the owners of the house with their grandeur and splendor.
The porch is divided according to the method of connection to the house:
- built-in type, located on a common base with the house and built together with it;
- attached, carried out in the process of finishing work.
Construction device
The construction is carried out on a natural straight or sloping site using a frame. A wooden or metal box is made, which serves as the basis for installing and fastening the steps. This a budget option and it can be implemented at any stage of construction or after the start of operation of the house.
A porch is built on a bowstring or reinforced stringer, in which a metal box-base is provided only in the lower part, and the upper part rests on the base of the house or floor slab. This method opens up opportunities for more options design solutions, as it has greater load-bearing capacity than the previous budget option.
Common mistakes
It’s better to learn from the mistakes of others, so we were able to identify several common deviations that beginners encounter:
- when designing, the materials of the house’s walls were not taken into account, and the porch stands out from the general style of the exterior;
- errors in the dimensions of the structure do not provide a proportional combination with the dimensions of the house;
- errors are made in measurements, the surrounding paths, flower beds, location and dimensions of the front door are not taken into account, which distorts the correctness of the design solution;
- excess consumption of material is allowed as a result of incorrect choice of design;
- the design strength of the structure is insufficient;
- not provided additional processing antiseptics and protective compounds for exposed parts and load-bearing structures in the ground, which leads to premature damage to wood and reduces its service life;
- the absence of a load-bearing foundation under a heavy, massive porch leads to sloughing of the soil and displacement of the structure;
- soil characteristics are not taken into account, in particular, subsidence and the possibility of heaving.
Choosing building material
When planning construction, you should first determine the type of wood most suitable for the structure. For outdoor buildings, coniferous wood, pine or larch are chosen. You can make parts from a whole log, which looks very colorful for large estates and mansions. Stringers can be made from logs laid on top of each other, and steps are provided from a trunk sawn along the length.
For the device you will need to prepare the following types of material:
- It is recommended to make the porch supports from 10 x 20 cm timber. This is a standard solution; the choice of section for each specific case depends on the load, the number of supports and other operating conditions;
- for the manufacture of a solid platform and steps, a board with a thickness of 2.5 to 5 cm, depending on the span, is optimal;
- you can install ready-made balusters and railings in the structure, or you can make them from slats or thin timber, the dimensions of which are determined depending on the project;
- provide protective solutions and compositions for impregnation of finished parts;
- concrete and metallic profile(if they are provided for by the design for the foundation).
We design
If you start construction without a project or diagram, then the difficulties that arise will put the craftsman in front of the need to change something during the construction of the structure. The presence of all diagrams and dimensions in a visual form on paper will make changes easier and simpler. The project must contain:
- drawing, drawing or photo of the appearance of the porch in front and side projection;
- the location, number and height of steps are indicated;
- height and placement of railings, frequency of balusters;
- size and shape of the visor;
- dimensions of the platform base;
- the dimensions of the side walls, their thickness, the presence of window and door openings.
There are patterns, defined by norms and rules, used for the rapid construction of structures:
- the platform is made at the level of the foundation or foundation of the house;
- the width of the area in front of the front door, taking into account the size of the first step, is usually taken to be 1.3–1.7 m;
- the width of the step should be within 30–40 cm, its standard height is 15–20 cm;
- the bottom of the visor is located 25–30 cm above the top of the entrance door;
- The minimum width of the passage on the porch for one person is taken to be within 70–80 cm; for two people to walk hand in hand, this passage is increased to 1.4–1.6 m.
- if the ascent to the platform is more than three steps, then the porch must be equipped with railings;
- Entrance door usually opens outwards, so the last finishing layer of the platform should not raise it more than 5 cm below the level of the opening line;
- The project includes waterproofing wooden walls from concrete base, if provided;
- the width of the platform is made taking into account the opening of a double or single leaf door;
- it is recommended to provide night lighting for the entrance area and the surrounding area;
- the extension of the canopy is made by 40–50 cm in length and width relative to the platform;
- It is recommended to include in the design an inclination angle of the steps and platform of about 2–3 degrees to avoid the accumulation of water and the formation of ice.
Making the foundation
A lightweight structure can be installed without a foundation, but its foundation will help avoid the structure’s dependence on seasonal shifts and swelling of the soil. To do this, you can choose a columnar foundation.
A solid slab-type foundation is located under the porch and platform and is made in the form of a foundation for massive large entrances combined with terraces and verandas. Strip foundation is the most economical, as it has sufficient tensile strength with reduced material costs.
It is better to take the depth of the foundation at the level of the foundation of the house. It is recommended to fasten these two foundations together using embedded parts made of reinforcement or strip metal.
During construction, a number of mandatory rules must be observed according to the instructions:
- the base of the stringer beam must rest in an area isolated from moisture, which is located on the foundation;
- it is better to make supports from coniferous wood, which works better in wet conditions of contact with the ground;
- It is imperative to treat all load-bearing and structural parts with an antiseptic to a height of up to 52 cm above the soil level; drying oil or used machine oil is used as impregnation;
- the supports are installed to a depth of at least 80 cm or at a distance equal to 1/3 of the length, the number of racks depends on the massiveness of the structure;
- after hardening concrete mortar adjust the height of the racks;
- for reliable laying of beams and joists in the upper part of the racks, quarters are chosen;
Installing the steps
The steps are installed from below and gradually move upward. They are attached to the beam with self-tapping screws or wooden pins. It is advisable to lubricate both of them with wood glue before use. The heads of the screws must be well sunk into the wood to avoid foot injuries.
Hello. I read a lot about building brick porches. The option is interesting, but very labor-intensive and expensive. In addition, it requires mandatory finishing. Is it possible to build a porch out of blocks with your own hands? In my opinion, they are stronger, and working with them is easier and faster. Do I need to cover them with something later, or is it enough to just unstitch the seams?
If possible, briefly describe the technology of constructing such a design, what you need to pay attention to when choosing and laying blocks.
Regards, Alexey.
Hello, Alexey. Of course, you can build a porch with your own hands from blocks, and this is easier to do than using bricks or constructing a monolithic concrete structure.
When choosing, you should pay attention to the composition of the blocks and their sizes.
- Cellular concrete- not the best the best option, as they absorb moisture well. Therefore, a porch to a house made of foam blocks or aerated concrete products will not last long, starting to collapse after the first winter.
Advice. If you still decide to make a porch from a foam block, then it must be placed on a solid foundation with waterproofing and be sure to be plastered on all sides.
- The most optimal dimensions for stairs are 600x300x200 mm. The height of 20 cm and width of 30 cm fit well into the parameters of riser height and tread depth recommended for steps.
How to do
Any front porch must rest on a foundation. It is arranged in the same way as for a brick porch (judging by your words, you have already studied this topic).
Method 1 – entirely from blocks
In this case, they begin to build a cinder block porch with their own hands from the lower platform, which is laid out according to the size of the structure in plan.
The next layer and all subsequent ones are laid, retreating from the outer edge exactly one block. And they continue like this until they reach the top platform.
Method 2 - with backfill
Although the price of the blocks is low, to construct the design described above you will need a lot of them, and the amount will be impressive. You can make it cheaper if you make a porch out of cinder block filled with construction waste - brick fragments, crushed stone, stone. But construction will take more time.
- First, side walls are built on the foundation from one row of solid blocks laid on a spoon.
- Then a cord is stretched between the walls and the first step is laid along it.
Advice. For steps, you can also take hollow blocks, laying them with your own hands with the voids down or to the side.
- The resulting structure needs to be allowed to strengthen, so it is left to dry for a day.
- Next, behind the first step, construction debris is laid on the base, compacted and the voids are filled with sand. The backfill layer should be flush with the first row of blocks.
- Place the second stage on the solution and leave it to dry again.
- So they continue to build for garden house porch until all steps are laid out.
- A platform of blocks is built on top of the last layer of backfill.
As for finishing, in the case of cinder blocks it is not necessary. If this is a porch for a utility block, it can be left in this form. If for a home, any cladding options are possible, as is the case with concrete or brick stairs.
Conclusion
The video in this article will tell you more about laying blocks.
But this process is unlikely to cause you any difficulties if you have already dealt with brick. To summarize what has been said: it is possible to make a porch from foam blocks to the house, but it is better to use materials that are more moisture-resistant.
The porch is the first thing guests see and can be considered the calling card of any home. The design of the porch creates an impression not only of the house, but also of its owner. And the neater and more attractive it looks, the better.
IN decorative purposes Sculptures, flowers, columns, and carved balusters are often used. But you need to take into account the general style. Let's say for a simple wooden house A chic stone porch will not work, and, on the contrary, for a huge brick structure a small porch made of wood will look ridiculous.
The main components of the structure are:
- Steps;
- Railing;
- Visor;
- Area.
Types of porches
There are many types of porches. They vary in size, materials from which they are made, additional elements and functionality.
First, let's look at the most common ones. It is suitable for small house or dachas. It's the easiest to build.
Brick porch will look organic next to a brick house. However, with proper decoration, this can be done for a wooden house and buildings sheathed with other materials.
Porch with columns Not suitable for every home. Firstly, because it is not easy to fit into the overall design. Secondly, not many materials are compatible in style with columns. The columns fit well into a building made of brick or stone.
Screened porch especially relevant for cold climates. It is more difficult to design than usual, but in its functionality this porch is superior to the main types.
Porch design
Before starting construction itself, it is necessary to at least have the entire construction plan in mind. But it’s better to draw it on paper and calculate all the dimensions, pay attention to all the nuances.
For the project it is important to provide:
- Location of adjacent parts (doors, walkways);
- Construction materials;
- Tools;
An example of a project is shown in the figure. This porch consists of:
- supporting part;
- steps;
- handrail;
- side part in the form of a flower bed;
- canopy
The porch, as a rule, is made so that it is on the same level with the 1st floor of the house, but you need to take into account the margin for the front door, which should be at least 5 cm from the porch area (since according to the technique fire safety The front door should open outwards).
When designing, you should take into account a canopy or a full roof for protection from precipitation. You definitely need to think about fencing, since winter period the steps often become icy. It will be dangerous to move along them without support at this time.
How to choose materials for a porch
When choosing materials for a porch, it is best to rely on what the main building is made of. As already mentioned, to wooden house wood is suitable, brick is suitable for brick. At the same time, it is possible to select compositions from different materials. But for this they need to be correctly assembled and adjusted. So, for example, a porch made from standard stair steps will fit harmoniously into a spacious stone house, and ceramic cladding will make such a structure original.
A wooden structure is the easiest to build, since it does not require much support, which means that you can do without a foundation. But this material also has obvious disadvantages - low strength.
How additional material Metal will do just fine. It is usually mounted on a concrete base.
Important! Do not forget about waterproofing; in humid and cold climates this plays a big role.
How to calculate the size of the porch
It would seem that you don’t have to worry too much about the size, but this is not so, because the porch must first of all be safe. And also convenient.
Door area. Let's start with an observation: to open a door, a person first approaches the door, turns, inserts the key, opens it, and then takes a step back. To do all these actions, you need a certain space to the left and right of the door, as well as in front of it.
Exist building codes, which regulate the dimensions of the porch. They differ depending on whether the door is single-leaf or double-leaf.
For the first, the depth should be at least one and a half meters, the width from one and a half to one meter and sixty centimeters. For the second, with the same depth, the width should be over two meters. Of course, one should not take these parameters as an ideal. It would be better if they were at least slightly exceeded. You should definitely take care of this if the porch is high.
Steps. Their width differs from structures inside buildings; external ones should be more comfortable and safe. It is recommended to make a tread of at least 30 centimeters.
Despite the fact that the number of steps is often small, their height, on the contrary, should be reduced compared to internal stairs. Good height V in this case is in the range from 14 to 17 centimeters.
Railings and fences. If the porch is more than 3 steps high, then it is necessary to install fences on it. The standard size of the railing is suitable - 80-90 centimeters.
Light . Lighting is important during the construction of a porch, since this is a place of particular risk of injury. The same rule of 3 steps applies here, that is, if the staircase has 4 or more steps, then one lamp is not enough. You need to hang at least two so that they illuminate the porch from different sides. This is due to the fact that the lighting fixture located above the door creates a large shadow, as a result of which the steps are not properly visible.
Visor. What is it for? The first answer that comes to mind is to hide from the rain. But, besides this, it is also designed to protect the steps from precipitation, which is especially important in winter. Therefore, the canopy should be made wider than the porch. It is recommended that it be at least 30 centimeters longer than the porch on all sides.
Such a large canopy reduces the amount of light, especially if there are windows underneath it. To solve this problem, you can use polycarbonate for the purpose of constructing such a roof.
We build a porch for a house with our own hands
Let's consider the option of building a porch, the price of which most closely matches the quality. To do this, it is necessary to make a base from a conventional foundation, strengthening it with reinforcement and several layers of cement filled with mortar.
This porch can be finished with tiles, stone or any other suitable material.
Preparatory work
The construction of a porch, like any other object, begins with clearing the area and marking it. This is done in order to save time in the future. All necessary tool and material (rebar, sand and cement).
Concrete foundation
It’s easy to guess that it all starts with creating a foundation, under which the first step is to dig a pit (the depth is equal to the size of the foundation of the house itself). Then, according to the rules, you should fill in a bed of gravel and sand, and then pour in the concrete, installing the formwork.
Rules and regulations should be followed so that the porch does not have to be restored in the next few years.
For the foundation you will need broken brick, on top of which a mesh of ribbed reinforcement is installed. This will strengthen the foundation and secure it to the foundation of the main building. Next, you need to remove the reinforcement from the foundation of the building; the future threshold will be poured over it. After you have a finished “floor” for the base, you need to drive more vertical pieces of reinforcement into it, which we fill on top with a good cement solution.
Porch base
After the foundation is poured, it is time to move on to forming the base of the porch. Backfill brick is suitable for this purpose. They should lay out the base of the structure, taking into account the required dimensions. At this stage, do not forget about waterproofing, since brick is sensitive to high humidity. Both horizontal and vertical types of waterproofing are needed - the base is cut off from the porch, the entire base is treated with aquazol or a double layer of roofing material.
Laying steps
The time has come to lay the steps. This will come in handy quality brick, it is not recommended to take a used one. In principle, almost any type of brick will do. It is placed on ordinary mortar in a way convenient for the builder. This stage should be approached with special care, because the steps are the main part of this structure.
Finishing and decoration
There is no big difference whether it is a wooden or brick porch, because the main thing is ease of use, high quality, reliability and durability. But the aesthetic component is also not in last place.
Therefore, it is necessary to decorate the porch of the house. To increase service life, it is worth trimming the edges of the steps with a metal corner.
For the integrity of the architectural ensemble, it is necessary to carry out coordinated color solutions. So, if the enclosing structures have forging elements, then it would be a good idea to use similar elements in the design of railings and pilasters for the canopy.
Various directions in porch decor
Examples beautiful design can be seen in the video
Classic. In this case, a gable canopy, turned railings and round balusters are required. Stone or tiles are suitable as cladding.
Castle style. Quite a massive structure, decorated natural stone. For decorative purposes, you can use torch lamps, grilles, and heavy furniture.
Old Russian era. In Rus', the front entrance of a traditional wooden house was made high, on large heavy supports, and it was quite spacious. It was customary to use patterns and carved elements in large quantities.
Porch-patio. This structure looks like open terrace, adjacent to the house. There are benches, tables, and chairs on it. However, not in all cases a roof is placed over the structure.
European style. This design is characterized by restrained lines and regular features. As a rule, such a porch is a low structure. For cladding they take ceramic tiles or a suitable type of stone.
French style. The special feature here is “ french window" Although in fact this is a door made with an openwork lattice design. Flowers are used to complement hanging planters, wicker and wooden furniture.
Whatever porch design is chosen, it is important to remember to comply with construction technologies and the quality of materials. If these requirements are met, the porch will last a long time. And finally, I would like to post photos various designs porch for wooden, brick and other houses.
A porch in a wooden house is a kind of business card that should attract attention and also serve reliable support for people as one of the most walkable areas of the house.
How to make a porch?
Wooden porch can be an extension for a private wooden or stone house. In any case, it will create a favorable picture. Thanks to a solid foundation, reliable materials, and original decoration, a wooden porch with your own hands can become a decoration for your home.
The porch can be either open or closed
But how to make a wooden porch with your own hands correctly? How to prepare a foundation for it, assemble it and preserve it for many years? To understand this, let's try to build the simplest porch from scratch for a house with our own hands, as, for example, in the photo.
For example, let's try to build a porch open type and build its base, not taking into account the presence of railings and a canopy, which can be installed according to at will, based on taste characteristics.
Before you make a wooden porch, the first thing you need to do is draw a diagram of the porch, calculate and measure everything required distance and, of course, prepare materials. The design of the porch should include features of the foundation, design, plan for connecting it to the house (whether it needs to be attached or not) and others. After this, you can begin to implement the plan step by step.
Foundation
Any structure, whether wooden or stone, including the addition of a porch to a wooden house, must have its own foundation. In our case for wooden structure It is best to choose a foundation on stilts, as it is reliable, but at the same time quick and easy to build.
The strength of the foundation under the porch is calculated based on the expected load on it.
At the design points where the piles should be, you need to dig holes. As a rule, piles are installed in the corners of the structure, and also at a distance of about 80 centimeters from each other, but no more. The depth of the pit also needs to be 80 centimeters.
Most a good option the depth that is below the winter freezing line of the soil is considered, because the foundation made from this line will be the most stable, like the entire porch structure.
It is best to use beams with sufficient load-bearing capacity as piles. It is important to treat the pile with antiseptics and impregnation before immersing the pile in the ground.
The lower end of the pile can be wrapped with roofing felt, after which it can be immersed in the hole. Next, you need to align the piles at an angle of 90 degrees to the horizon, after which you need to fix them with concrete, which is poured into the base of the pile. You can continue building the porch immediately after the concrete composition has completely hardened.
Lags
The pile heads (their upper part) must be aligned relative to each other and according to the porch construction scheme. To do this, some of them need to be cut down at a certain height.
The logs are cut out according to the markings and specified dimensions, and then laid out on piles in such a way that they occupy the entire height from the piles to the threshold of the house, but at the same time the front door should be slightly higher than the top of the logs. This difference should be about 50 millimeters.
Preparing for the installation of the porch.
When the logs are installed and leveled using a level and other devices, they can begin to be mounted, that is, fastened to the piles. And if they need to be connected to the house, then self-tapping screws, dowels are used for this, and if necessary, other materials can be used.
In a similar way, the stringers are restored in the same order. They are attached to the joists at the top of the stairs with self-tapping screws, and tongue-and-groove joints are used as fastening at the bottom.
A dry board 50 millimeters thick is ideal as the main material for stringers. The easiest way to cut stringers is with a jigsaw, but you can also use rougher tools, such as a hacksaw or saw.
Platform and wooden steps
If a large platform is planned for the porch of a wooden house, then first of all boards are nailed to the logs, and after that the site can already begin to be processed finishing, depending on taste or planned design.
At the same time, you can also attach risers and treads for a wooden porch. First of all, the lower step is attached to the stringers, p The fixation procedure step by step looks like this:
- first the riser is installed;
- the riser is attached;
- after this, a tread is laid on top;
- the tread is also fixed;
- the next steps for the porch are laid in the same way.
As a mount for wooden steps the same self-tapping screws or a tongue-and-groove connection can be used. The base of the porch is already ready with your own hands, all that remains is to make a railing and, possibly, a canopy so that the staircase can be closed view. It is recommended to use the same material for the railings as for the entire structure, but it is still better to process them using protective compounds and polish.
