How to Build a Porch for a Beautiful Addition to Your Home (2024)

Equipment / Tools

Materials

How to Build a Porch

1. Pour the Concrete Footers

   • Dig three holes at the footer depth based on information obtained from the permitting department. All of the holes need to be 6 feet away from the house. The two end holes should be 12 feet apart. The third hole should be positioned directly in the middle.
   • Disperse the two bags of gravel between the holes to create a gravel base that is about 6 inches deep.
   • Place the form tubes in the holes.
   • Mix and then pour the concrete.
   • Embed the metal column bases at the top of each form tube.

2. Attach Posts to Footers

   • Mark off three sections that correspond to the desired porch height on the piece of 6-by-6 lumber. These sections will attach to the column bases for the porch joists to rest on.
   • Subtract 9 1/4 inches from each section to account for the actual height of the 2-by-10 pieces of lumber that will form the porch joist base plus another 1 1/2 inch to account for the porch flooring.
   • Be sure to take into consideration the drop from the door threshold to the porch surface: between 1 1/2 inches to 3 inches.
   • Attach the three post sections to the footer bases.

   Warning

   Whenever you are cutting a piece of lumber with a saw, wear eye and hearing protection.

3. Attach the Ledger Board

   Affix the ledger board, which runs the width of the porch and attaches the porch to the house.

   • Remove siding, if necessary, in this section using a utility knife to help.
   • Strike a level line with the laser level.
   • Attach the ledger board at the desired height with the 1/2-inch lag screws, using the ratchet wrench.
   • Attach two of the double joist hangers at each end of the ledger board.

4. Create the Porch Outer Perimeter

   • Double up and attach two 12-foot-long pieces of 2-by-10 lumber to the metal footer bases to form the rim joist.
   • Attach the remaining two double joist hangers at each end of the rim joist.
   • Cut two pieces of 2-by-10 boards in half.
   • Run the resulting four 6-foot boards (doubled up) from the double joist hangers on the ledger board to the adjacent double hangers on the rim joist.

5. Attach the Porch Joists

   • Attach the single joist hangers every 16 inches on-center both to the ledger board and to the parallel 2-by-10 board.
   • Cut six of the 2-by-10 boards at 6 feet each.
   • Insert them in the single joist hangers.
   • Secure them by drilling fasteners.
     

   Tip

   Lumber yards sell a butyl rubber tape that is 1-5/8 inch wide. It sticks to the top of the joists before the decking is installed. The tape repels moisture on top of the joists where rotting most often occurs.

6. Install the Porch Flooring

   1. Use 12-foot-long appearance-grade pressure-treated boards in this 12-foot-wide porch for the flooring, running them the entire width without interruption.
   2. Face-nail the boards with a hammer onto the joists.
   3. If you choose rare hardwood such as ipe for the porch flooring, these boards attach with proprietary clips from underneath.
   4. Leave 1/8 inch of space between the boards.

   Tip

   For a smoother look without visible fasteners, consider purchasing a pocket jig tool such as the Kreg Pocket Hole System or even a tool designed specifically for deck boards, such as the Camo ProTec system.

7. Finish the Porch Flooring

   Finish the porch flooring at this point since the surface is still free of obstructing railing.

   If you choose pressure-treated 2-by-6 boards for your flooring, it is recommended that you use a solid color exterior acrylic-latex paint. For redwood, cedar, ipe, or other wood with a beautifully natural appearance, you may want to use a clear or lightly toned deck sealant or a penetrative oil.

8. Add the Railing (Optional)

   Attach a railing if necessary. A porch railing is not always required by code; it depends on the height of your porch. For instance, if your porch is 30 inches above the ground, you will need a railing. Note that balusters are vertical posts and balustrades are the horizontal rail pieces.

   • Prime your railing depending on the material.
   • Install the balusters (posts). They must be firmly secured to the supporting structure below the floorboards—not to the floorboards themselves. For a porch with a concrete foundation, this requires drilling a post-hole into the concrete before securing the post.
   • Measure distance between balustrades (horizontal pieces).
   • Secure the balustrades to the posts or columns with screws or brackets.

   Tip

   Install balustrades at a slight angle, not completely horizontal, as a way for water to run off the railings.

Building Your Own Front Porch vs. Hiring a Pro

When building your own porch, you will have total control over every aspect and may save a large amount of your budget. While a pro may be able to finish the job faster than a DIYer, their availability is not always guaranteed. The timeframe will be under your control if you build the porch on your own, which could allow you to complete it quickly or take your time—whichever you prefer.

According to HomeAdvisor, it costs between $4,600 to $22,000 to build a 200-square-foot porch. However, adding extras like a roof or building a screened-in porch can increase your costs significantly. If you want to build stairs, this can also increase costs.

Be sure to prioritize quality over value for something as important as your front porch.

Tips for Building a Porch

Below are some tips to help make building your own porch a bit easier:

• Cut costs by building the porch yourself. This helps you save on labor.
• Stick to a simple build. For example, a simple wood porch that is low to the ground without railings is a great option.
• Purchase a porch kit: If building yourself, this will make the process even easier. Porch kits will range in price, depending on the type of kit purchased. For example, on average, DIY screened-in porch kits cost around $1100.
• Schedule the right amount of time to build your porch. Make sure to factor this into your project's considerations. In general, it takes between three to four days to build a porch.
• Know the benefits of building a covered porch or a screened-in porch. Some great perks include keeping bugs out, giving any pets extra room to roam, protecting from the weather, and more.
• Stain and or paint your porch to seal it. You can use an oil-based stain or a water-based stain. For paint, opt for either a water-based or oil-based version, depending on the materials you used to build your porch.