Construction of a porch and entrance staircase: original, high-quality, durable. Structural features of arranging a wooden porch, its design and projects. A small covered porch to the house

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Atmospheric precipitation, wind and sun are three factors that negatively affect the condition of any building structures. Of course, you have to take protective measures all the time to extend their service life. But there is one element in the design of a house that often fails if it is not covered with something. It's about about the porch. An open porch is often found in private housing construction. This is especially true for small houses and cottages. But many developers, even at the design stage of their home, try to make sure that their porch is under reliable protection.

Some people build a canopy over it, others build a whole canopy. By the way, such a complex is called a covered porch. It is protected from above, but open along the entire perimeter, so it still cannot be saved from moisture. Therefore, we recommend that those who are planning to build a private house think about a structure that is protected from all sides. This is the so-called closed porch. Essentially, this is a finished room or vestibule, which can be heated or not, all at the discretion of the customer. Both options are pictured below.

The interior of the closed porch is also chosen according to the wishes of the owner of the house, taking into account the recommendations of the designers. And here outer side The extension has its own characteristics, both structural and design.

Features of the roof structure of a closed porch

We need to start talking about a closed porch with the roof. Why?

  • Firstly, this is the protective part of the structure, which is responsible for preventing natural loads from penetrating into the premises.
  • Secondly, this is, in fact, a continuation of the roof of the house itself. Therefore, the requirements for the porch roof are quite strict.
  • Thirdly, as with all building structures, there are strength requirements for the porch roof.

Based on the first position, we can say this. There are a huge number of roofing materials that are used today in the construction of roofs, large and small. But since the closed porch of the house is small room, that is, it is possible to use lightweight materials to cover it. For example, flexible tiles.

For the second position. Designers believe that the (closed) porch must be covered with the same roofing material as the main building itself. As practice shows, this is not always applied in practice. Look at the photo below, where the house is covered with tiles and the porch roof is clear polycarbonate. It looks very original and airy.

Position number three. Snow and rain loads greatly affect the design of the porch roof. But in modern world, especially in the field of construction, there is no need to use any complex and heavy materials to make the roof, and indeed the entire structure, durable. There are a large number of modern lightweight materials and products that can withstand fairly decent loads. For example, aluminum profiles.

Attention! A closed vestibule is a full-fledged room, albeit small, but a room with walls, a ceiling, a floor and a roof.

Therefore, pay attention to the photo below, which shows such a vestibule in the form of a small house attached to the main building. The entrance to the house is completely closed, but the vestibule itself is equipped with windows and an entrance door. To build it, in addition to the porch itself, it was necessary to build walls, install a door at the entrance and windows on the sides. At the same time, the walls are raised to a certain level.

But the most important thing is that the roof of the closed porch is connected only to the main building, that is, it is fixed to the wall of the house. In fact, this is a separately hanging element that is not connected in any way to the walls of the porch itself. The windows in this case are not a support; they just simply close the opening between the roof and the walls. Therefore, when constructing such a vestibule, you must first take care of securing the roof. There are many options here, some complex, some simple. One option is to install consoles on the facade of the house itself.

Since it has already been said that today lightweight materials can be used to build a closed porch, I would like to focus on glazing systems. Again, we draw your attention to the photo below, where you can see very nice option, glazed on all sides. This is a lightweight structure, transparent, so during the day there is no need for light on the porch.

This photo also shows the glass roof. This is one option, although this element can be constructed from different materials. The main thing is to carry out the installation and fastening correctly. Such a vestibule has one drawback - the glass will have to be cleaned and washed all the time.

As for the northern regions, it is better to build a vestibule here in the form of a completely enclosed room; of course, the entrance is equipped with a door. It is important to use materials during construction that can withstand low temperatures. Again, we draw your attention to the photo below, where a closed vestibule made of brick was erected. By the way, not in Color tone facade of the house, as recommended by designers. Small windows beautiful door- that's all that is needed.

By the way, this version of a closed porch is very easy to build with your own hands.

How to build a covered porch with your own hands

Let's look at how to build a closed vestibule from brick, which is shown in the photo above. We will not delve into all the intricacies of construction; we will be interested in the sequence and some nuances.

  • As with any structure, you will have to build a foundation for a closed porch. The best option is slab. That is, a pit is dug to a depth of half a meter to suit the size of the object, which is covered with a layer of crushed stone up to 20 cm, and sand on top with a layer of up to 10-15 cm. This pillow is compacted layer by layer.
  • A reinforcing frame is installed on top in the form of a lattice made of metal reinforcement with a diameter of 10-12 mm.
  • Concrete solution is poured to the edges of the pit. Concrete must be compacted using a vibrator.

Attention! The foundation must be dried for 28 days. During this period, the concrete will reach its brand strength.

Now you can build the porch itself with steps. The simplest option is brick or blocks, which, after the construction of the entire closed structure, will be faced (see photo above). If you decide to make a porch from concrete, then you can immediately pour concrete mortar onto the backfilled cushion, laying the reinforced frame and installing the formwork. That is, in this case you can do without a foundation.

So, everything is ready to build brick walls. First of all, it is necessary to apply waterproofing under the masonry. Do not neglect protective operations, vestibule closed type- this is the first protective barrier against precipitation. The construction itself brick walls produced according to standard technology, where the basis is a bandage of blocks. Openings for windows and the entrance door must be left with the installation of lintels or frames. The entrance is determined based on the width of the porch.

Attention! The walls of the closed porch must be attached to the walls of the building.

Therefore, every five rows of bricks you need to drive metal pins from reinforcement into the facade of the house. The pin must be at least 30 cm long and must be located between the bricks.

The matter remains under the roof. As mentioned above, it must be attached to the facade of the main building. But since our porch is built of bricks (a very reliable wall material), it can be installed directly on the walls of a closed porch. Most often this is a wooden structure, consisting of a supporting tier of beams that are mounted around the perimeter of the room. By the way, the beam located at the entrance to the house is attached specifically to the wall. The rest are to the walls of the extension.

If it is being built pitched roof above the porch, then another such wooden element is hung and secured above the support beam near the facade. The rafters are installed on which the roofing material is laid. Final stage- finishing of the interior space. Everything here is at the discretion of the customer, although projects in this regard may be very original. By the way, don’t forget to hem the ceiling, although you can do without it if the porch is unheated. Before finishing, windows and a door to the entrance are installed, lighting is installed.

As mentioned above, private developers are increasingly using the latest materials in the construction of their homes. Polycarbonate is one of them. It is durable, transparent and easy to process (cut, bend), so it is very easy to make a closed porch from it with your own hands. The only thing is that you need to build a wooden or metal structure under it. The second option is stronger, but more expensive.

The porch of a house is not only a decorative element of the facade, but also good protection from rain, snow and wind all year round. A wooden porch is characterized by ease of assembly, reliable construction and natural beauty. Having become familiar with all the intricacies of constructing a wooden porch in advance, you can complete such work yourself quickly and without much difficulty.

Preparatory work

It is possible to build a wooden porch with high quality and quickly, observing certain requirements for preparing a future project:

  1. We create a drawing. The plan diagram includes a general view of the structure and the dimensions of all structural elements.
  2. We determine the type of wood for construction ( best option- hard wood).
  3. We calculate the area of ​​the landing that is sufficient for the smooth opening and closing of doors.
  4. Let's calculate.
  5. Before you start building a wooden porch with your own hands, it is important to think about the general appearance of the structure and its design style. It is important that the design is in harmony with the facade of the building, being included in a single composition.

Wooden porch project

When attaching a wooden porch to a house, the following parameters are calculated:

  • Height of the stairs. Define this indicator easy, to do this, measure the distance from the ground surface to the threshold of the doorway, subtracting 5-10 cm of indentation (taking into account seasonal fluctuations in the soil and changes in the thickness of the tree under the influence of precipitation).

Attention: if the height of the porch requires arrangement large quantity steps, experts recommend erecting a corner frame made of wood, in which one of the flights is placed along the facade of the building.

  • Length of stringer (string). The supporting beam of a staircase with a comb along the top line on which the steps are fixed is called a stringer. Bowstring is a structural element onto which steps are fixed using the groove method.

  • Width and height, number of steps. The calculation of these indicators is based on the width of a person’s step. On average, the height of a step is 18 cm, width (depth) -26 cm. You can determine the required number of steps using the formula K = i/d, where: K is the number of steps; i is the distance from the porch to starting point staircase bases; d is the length of the step.

Choosing a wood species

When planning construction, it is important to choose the right material for the job. The most durable, high-quality wooden staircase to the porch will be made from larch or pine. The log houses for a wooden house made of rounded logs look very colorful.

Before purchasing lumber, you need to pay attention to the following points:

  • dryness of the wood (the cut of the wood is smooth, without wet spots);
  • no traces of mold, knots, or bark beetle nests.

Design features

A wooden porch for a private house is a small extension to the facade of the building.

Device options:

  • open area with steps - simple design without railings (ideal for a small one-story country house);

  • partially enclosed area with low railings;

  • closed porch - a structure consisting of a staircase, a platform, railings and a canopy. An enclosed porch helps keep the house quiet and increases the level of thermal insulation.

The advantages of a wooden porch

An undeniable advantage of wooden structures is the ease of processing lumber. It is also worth noting a number of positive points:

  • a large selection of models of wooden structures;
  • low thermal conductivity (wood canopies help increase the thermal insulation of a building);
  • wood does not require additional decorative finishing;
  • simplicity and speed of construction (no need for a reinforced foundation);
  • If repairs are necessary, there is no need to dismantle the entire structure; only a separate part of it can be replaced.

Cons of a wooden porch

Wood like natural material susceptible to destruction under the influence of moisture, fungus or mold. The surface of wooden steps wears out very quickly and dries out when exposed to direct sunlight. It is especially worth noting the high degree of combustion of structures made of timber and boards.

All of the above shortcomings are easily corrected. To do this, you need to regularly soak wooden surfaces special protective and antipyretic compounds.

How to build a foundation

When constructing a wooden porch, you can use the following types of foundations:

  1. Columnar - an ideal base option for lightweight design made of wood. The number of support pillars depends on the total area of ​​the porch.
  2. Slab - a base made of a concrete monolithic slab, as a rule, is used for very heavy structures.

Let us consider in more detail the process of constructing the simplest pile (columnar) foundation.

Algorithm of actions:

  • According to a pre-calculated pattern, holes are dug in the ground.
  • A small layer of sand and gravel is poured into the bottom of the hole. It is necessary for high-quality moisture absorption and preservation of the pillars from premature rotting.
  • The support is installed in the prepared hole and filled with concrete solution. Important: the depth of the supports is 20 cm from the freezing level of the soil.
  • After waiting the required time for leveling and hardening of the concrete, check the height of all support pillars. If necessary, the required areas are trimmed. Important: in order to increase the strength of the structure, the outer supports are attached to the facade of the building with self-tapping screws.

How to build a wooden porch

Having determined the dimensions, type of design, purchasing necessary materials, you can begin construction.

When constructing a porch made of wood, you must adhere to certain rules and procedure:

  • as supports most suitable material pine logs will become;
  • an additional waterproofing layer must be laid between the wood of the stringer and the base of the foundation;
  • support pillars must be processed protective compounds;
  • support pillars are dug into the ground no more than 80 cm.

How to make a wooden porch with your own hands

A clear algorithm of actions has been developed, following which you can easily and quickly build a wooden porch with your own hands:

  1. We are designing a plan for the future structure. We calculate the dimensions of all structural elements and the amount of material required.
  2. We are laying out the foundation.
  3. We build a staircase to the porch made of wood with our own hands.
  4. We arrange a canopy and railings.
  5. We cover the entire structure with protective compounds.

We arrange the flooring, steps and fencing

There are several ways to lay deck boards and steps:

  1. A wooden beam or board is tightly fitted to each other and attached to the base with self-tapping screws. Important: in this case, the slope of the site is at least 2°C.
  2. The boards are laid with some gap (no more than 3 mm).

Installation of steps must begin from the bottom of the string. First of all, risers are installed, and then steps.

The final stage is the installation of the railings. There must be a fence if the height of the stairs exceeds three steps.

Installation of a wooden porch floor platform

The site is built from durable thick boards that can withstand the daily movement of a large number of people. A small gap (gap) is left between the flooring boards, which is necessary for the free flow of rainwater and the unhindered movement of air.

Important: the boards for the site must be laid out at a slight angle of inclination.

Care and protection of a wooden porch

A canopy will help protect your wooden porch. Visors made of wooden beams above the porch frame.

Extend service life wooden structure You can, by adhering to certain rules and requirements:

  1. Wood requires periodic treatment with protective compounds. The wood is processed for the first time before construction begins, then protective layer applied during the operation of the structure.
  2. Give more decorative look During construction, painting or finishing with varnish will help to reveal the beauty of the wood. It is necessary to apply paints and varnishes in several layers.

Important: do not coat pine wood with transparent varnishes. For soft woods, water-based, alkyd or polyurethane paints are most preferred.

Step-by-step instructions on how to make a wooden porch yourself

When building a wooden porch with your own hands, it is important to follow a clear sequence of actions:

  1. Project development and calculations required quantity materials. The quality of the work performed, reliability and durability of the erected structure largely depend on the accuracy of the calculations.
  2. Construction of the foundation. For a wooden structure, it is enough to build a foundation from a pile. This easy-to-install base ensures the porch is reliable and durable for many years.
  3. Construction of a wooden porch frame - forming a bowstring.

It is easy to assemble a single structure; all elements are connected to each other using the tongue-and-groove method. Metal staples will help strengthen the frame.

  1. Arrangement of the platform, steps, railings. The easiest way to arrange a wooden porch area is to cover it with boards. The elements of the risers and feet are fixed to the frame using self-tapping screws. Installation of steps begins from the bottom of the bowstring. First of all, risers are installed, and then steps.

Wooden or metal railings ensure safe movement on stairs.

It’s possible to make a beautiful wooden porch with your own hands, the main thing is to familiarize yourself with the intricacies of the process in advance and strictly follow all stages of construction.

The porch and staircase at the entrance to the cottage are integral elements of any country house. Moreover, the correct arrangement of the entrance area significantly affects the overall perception of the “picture” of the building. Despite all the beauty of the facade and roofing, the “wrong” entrance to the house will destroy all harmony and will look like an alien element. During construction entrance group special requirements are placed on its design and choice of materials. After all, the porch and external staircase are subject to increased exposure to adverse weather conditions.

No homeowner wants to deal with the annual repair of a porch that has moved away from the house, or climb an uncomfortable staircase with tiles flying off the steps. Therefore, in this article, based on the practical experience of FORUMHOUSE users, we will answer the following questions:

  • How to avoid mistakes when building a foundation for a porch.
  • How to repair a crumbling porch and is it worth it?
  • How to calculate the optimal width of the porch.
  • How to make a comfortable entrance staircase.
  • How to do beautiful porch from burnt timber.

Foundation: mistakes and solutions

The most important mistake of any novice developer when constructing a porch is to treat the choice of foundation type as something simple and frivolous, guided by the principle “it will do.” As a result, the entrance area turns into a real headache. As soon as prolonged downpours pass, or spring arrives, the following picture can be observed in the villages - homeowners begin repairs.

Depending on the severity and neglect of the “disease”, treatment consists of either cosmetic procedures - covering up cracks, gluing “shot” tiles, or more serious “operations”. A porch that has “moved away” from the house or is sagging is jacked up, the problematic foundation is dismantled and they are racking their brains over how to make sure this does not happen again in the future.

An improperly made porch can drag you down facade finishing, roof (if the supports of the rafter system rest on it), will lead to deformation of the roofing covering, etc. Conclusion: do everything right at once, even at the stage of building a house, and not hope for chance.

Potainoi FORUMHOUSE Member

I conceived the idea of ​​building a small cottage from aerated concrete. The foundation has already been poured - a regular strip 1.2 m high, without a porch, because... At first, the foundation was built for another project. Now I’m thinking about how to “tie” the open porch to the house and avoid mistakes. The problem is that part of the roof will rest on the porch through the pillars - the so-called. "cuckoo".

Let us add that the soil on the user’s site is as follows:

  • chernozem - 0.7 m;
  • then loam - 0.3 m;
  • further clay - 1-1.3 m.

Moreover, the clay is of such density that, according to Potainoi, You can only chop it with an axe. Level groundwater short. Over the past few winters, the soil has frozen to no more than 0.6 m, although the actual freezing depth in the area of ​​residence is greater. Important: when calculating the depth of the foundation, one must rely on tabular data climate zone(depth of soil freezing in a harsh winter with little snow, which can happen once every 15-20 years). Based on these figures, the user suggested discussing the following solutions for foundation construction on the portal:

  • Dig a trench and fill strip foundation under the entrance group to the freezing depth.
  • Pour concrete piles with a “heel” below the freezing depth and support the “cuckoo” on these pillars.
  • Screw in the screw piles.
  • Support the “cuckoo” on diagonal beams, resting them against the wall or base, and “untie” the porch from the roof and the house.

The following advice followed.

Roger40 FORUMHOUSE Member

I would pour the foundation under the porch to the same depth as the main one, and tie them together with a series of expansion joints, which will provide them with some movement. I encountered a similar problem several years ago - the columnar foundation (poured below the freezing depth) along with the porch “moved away” from the house, and the overall roof was torn.

A separate foundation poured below the freezing depth is not a panacea for porch construction. After all. it is subject to tangential forces of frost heaving, which cannot be balanced by the load/weight from the overlying lightweight structure.

The foundation for a porch (as well as for a house) must be calculated based on the type of soil, its bearing capacity, susceptibility to heaving and groundwater level. Therefore, ideally this the foundation is erected as a single/common structure with the main foundation for the house. Or if it construction was left “for later”, the foundation under the porch must be “untied” with a foundation for a cottage.

In the case described above, the matter was complicated by the fact that the porch takes on the load from the rafter system. With some movement of the untied foundations, the roof may tear.

Vit1959 Moderator FORUMHOUSE

Two different foundations will live their own “life”. How different it is is difficult to say. What will happen to them and to the roof of the house cannot be guaranteed. I think it's better for Potainoi to make a "cuckoo" on external cantilever beams (the next beam is longer than the previous one), so that the roof is on its own, and the foundation of the porch is on its own.

Potainoi

I will think about how to make outrigger beams. You just need to calculate all the fastening points and figure out the design.

The foundation for the porch should be considered as a whole, as a single system working in conjunction with the house.

Repair or break

Sometimes a problematic porch can be inherited. And then the homeowner, in addition to the purchased house, receives a “time bomb”, which entails a number of problems. This is exactly the situation faced by a portal user with the nickname dvauha2, when I bought a ready-made cottage.

dvauha2 FORUMHOUSE Member

I bought a house. The cottage has an open stone porch without a canopy. It is not connected to the foundation of the house. The problem is that it is gradually being destroyed. Water flows into the foamed seam between the porch and the house and runs under the foundation. The top step is falling apart. Now I am limited in finances, and I would not like to deal with radical alterations. I’m thinking of making a canopy to prevent water from getting onto the problem unit and sealing the gap. Or does the stingy person pay twice, and everything has to be demolished and the porch rebuilt?

Users of the portal actively participated in the discussion of the situation and suggested different solutions. Portal member with nickname Detonator, According to him, he encountered a similar problem. The porch of his house had no canopy. Over time, the wooden railings rotted. Then the tiles on the steps flew off. They did not redo the foundation. They erected a canopy and repaired the steps.

Two years later, the two lower steps of the porch “left”. Then they decided to apply a radical “treatment” of the foundation - they laid a steel screed on both sides below (a channel or corner, screwing it to the concrete, the alteration took place without the participation of Detonator) and covered everything with tiles.

Detonator FORUMHOUSE Member

The winter passed without problems, let's see what happens next.

It’s cheaper to just make a normal porch right away than to deal with expensive alterations.

Returning to the situation dvauh2. On the advice of users, he slightly disassembled the porch from above from one corner to understand its design. It turned out the following: under the screed - the upper part of the slab, it is filled uncompacted sand, which gradually pours into the gap between the porch and the house.

The bottom of the step is covered asphalt chips and now represents a monolithic base for the second stage.

There is no insulated blind area. As a result, the porch “walks” and the gap widens.

dvauha2

I’m racking my brains about how to properly connect the house and the porch, and how best to seal this gap.

Dgusepe Moderator FORUMHOUSE

I think the gap should not be foamed, because... any filling can act like a wedge, and when the soil heaves, the porch will “float away” again. The gap can simply be covered with a decorative cover.

As a result dvauha2 I decided not to constantly repair the problematic porch, but to demolish it and build a new one of high quality. Moreover, it turned out that the brick at the steps was cracked, and the sand that was poured inside the entire structure was not compacted at all. Under the vestibule slab, the sand was also not compacted, and after the structure was broken, it began to spill out, and the slab ended up hanging in the air.

dvauha2

So far I have made a temporary staircase to the house from a board with a section of 5x15 cm. I decided that I would make a normal porch with a small vestibule.

How to calculate the entrance staircase, the optimal width of the porch and avoid “shooting” decorative tiles

When erecting an open porch, you should remember that even if there is a canopy, it is still susceptible to negative influence snow, rain and wind. This speeds up its wear. Therefore, when choosing materials for construction, you need to give preference to those that have a long service life. But sometimes, having chosen high-quality ceramic tiles or stone for cladding the steps and landing, the developer is faced with an unpleasant phenomenon - the so-called. "shooting". The tiles are constantly falling off or cracking.

Most often, this is blamed on bad glue, weather, finishers, etc., forgetting about one possible reason. The following happens - a porch and stairs are erected (we are talking about a stone porch and concrete stairs). The tiles are glued to the steps, but... the builders “forgot” to make waterproofing that would cut off the wet soil from concrete base; moisture coming from the ground gradually saturates the concrete. Because ceramic tile steam and waterproof, moisture has nowhere to escape. It accumulates at the base-tile interface. At subzero temperatures, water freezes, increases in volume, and the finishing coating flies off from the base.

To prevent this from happening, reliable waterproofing is done at the border between the prepared and compacted base and the concrete porch/staircase.

In addition to a competent design, do not forget about the ease of use. One of the most frequently asked questions: what size to make the entrance platform. The depth can be calculated by multiplying the door width by 1.5. With width door leaf 1 meter the depth of the site must be at least 1.5 m.

This principle will help avoid a situation where, with the door open, standing on the upper platform, a person is forced to go down one step in order to enter the house. If you save on the size of the site and its depth, then lifting large items into the house - furniture, engineering equipment. Even carrying a couple of bulky bags from the grocery store will become inconvenient. The platform itself can be square with equal sides. With a door width of 1 meter, the upper platform is 1.5x1.5 m.

Moreover, the height of the porch is calculated in such a way that the top of the platform is approximately 5 cm below the door threshold. This way, snow and water will not get into the house. To build a convenient entrance staircase, as a guide, you can be guided by the following principles:

  • We immediately figure out how many sides the staircase goes on - one, two or three.
  • The optimal angle of inclination (ascent) of the stairs is maintained within 30-45 degrees. Stairs with an inclination of more than 45 degrees are difficult to climb. A staircase with an inclination angle of less than 30 degrees turns out flat and requires more space.
  • The width of the tread is within 25-30 cm. The height of the rise of the step is 15-20 cm.

Practice shows that the optimal comfortable height for raising a step is within 15-17 cm. The width of the tread is about 30 cm. The offset of the step is no more than 3 cm.

It is better if the number of steps is odd, because It is more convenient to start and finish climbing stairs with the same foot. The number of steps can be calculated by dividing the estimated height of the structure by the height of the step. Knowing the expected number of steps and the width of the tread, you can calculate the length of the flight of stairs.

Porch and staircase made of burnt timber

At the end of the article we will give an example creative approach to the arrangement of a beautiful open porch and stairs, which he built from burnt hardwood timber Green0568.

The entrance group was made using timber with a cross-section of 20x15 cm.

The beams are fastened together with wood grouse using polyurethane glue. Through one wood grouse the dowels are hammered. Under the fourth step in the middle there is a jack, under the third there are two jacks, which are placed at the edges with an indent.

Summarizing

In order to obtain a high-quality result when constructing a porch and entrance staircase, knowledge and practical experience are required. The entrance area can be either simple - made of boards or welded from corners and channels, or more complex - stone - with a monolithic staircase and forged elements. But it all starts with calculation and comparison of different options.

You can get ideas for construction, ask a question or find the optimal design on our portal. FORUMHOUSE has collected dozens of options for arranging the entrance area. Read, and... We also recommend articles about and. The video shows the addition of a wooden two-story porch and balcony to a log house.

The porch can be called the calling card of the house. By properly arranging the porch, you can give a unique look to the entire structure, even if your house is built according to a standard design.

The porch can be not only the entrance staircase to the house, but also a relaxation area, cozy and comfortable. By making a porch with your own hands, you will be able to provide for all the smallest details that will delight you during further use.

Let's look together at all the nuances of building a porch.

Types and design of the porch

When designing a porch, it is important to adhere to general style buildings. The construction of a porch involves the use of one of two types of structures:

  • On the stringers - in the case of a wooden porch, triangles are cut out in the guides for the steps to be placed. For metal stairs, a frame is welded to the same requirements.

  • On bowstrings - fastening is possible by cutting the steps into the guides or attaching them to the internal parts of the guide bars, on which the steps are subsequently placed. In case of metal stairs The bars or the metal steps themselves are welded.

Depending on the width of the porch, in both types of structures intermediate stringers can be additionally used to strengthen the structure. This is done in order to eliminate the possibility of the steps sagging under your feet.

If boards with a thickness of 25 mm are used for the tread, the permissible distance between the supporting guides should be no more than 60 cm. If the width of your porch is greater than these indicators, you must add intermediate stringers according to the above calculation or use a tread of greater thickness.

In addition, there are also varieties of porch in appearance and shape:

  • The most common option consists of a platform and steps.

  • Another option is to combine the porch with a terrace, which can be used as a relaxation area.

Calculation of porch parameters

When making a porch for a house with your own hands, you must make all the calculations and prepare the dimensions and diagrams of your future porch.

The standards define the optimal parameters of stairs that must be adhered to in order for the stairs to be safe and comfortable to use:

  • The height of the steps is in the range of 16 -180 mm.
  • The angle of the porch is from 20° to 40°.
  • The width of the tread is 280 - 320 mm - slightly larger than inside the house (assuming that you use the stairs in street shoes). It is not recommended to make the width more than 350 mm.
  • The width of the flight also increases to 1300 mm compared to indoor ones due to the reserve for using the stairs in outerwear.
  • The steps should have a slight slope of 1-2° so that rainwater does not accumulate on the steps.

These parameters are slightly different from those specified for indoor stairs, but it is recommended to adhere to these data for outdoor stairs. This is due to the fact that you regularly return home with additional load, this could be bags of groceries, outerwear and much more, and you need to create conditions in order to reduce the load for you when climbing the porch.

In addition to the staircase itself, the key criterion for a comfortable porch is the platform located in front of the front door. A number of requirements are also defined for it:

  • The platform should be located 50-60 mm below the door.
  • The depth of the platform depends on which direction it opens Entrance door. When opening outward, the platform should be 40 cm larger than the width of the door leaf.

Compliance with these parameters will help make the porch accessible for use.

Material selection

To build a porch for a house, wood, metal or concrete are most often used. Making a porch from other materials is much less common for various reasons.

For example, forged stairs and structures made of natural stone are not found very often due to their high cost. The most common options are lining concrete stairs with natural or artificial stone and wrought iron railings.

It is undesirable to make a brick porch due to its fragility and interaction with the soil. For the same reason, brick houses are built on a concrete base, which rises 400-600 mm above the ground.

DIY porch

Upon completion of the calculations, you can proceed directly to the construction of the porch.

In order to avoid possible destruction of the structure, the formation of cracks and misalignment of steps, construction must begin with.

When making a porch for a private house with your own hands, you must remember that the choice of foundation option depends not only on what material the porch will be made of, but also on how close the groundwater is.

If groundwater is located close to each other, use: strip foundation or monolithic slab. If the porch is located on well-draining soils with a low groundwater level, a columnar or pile foundation is used.

Before forming the foundation, it is necessary to determine whether it will be connected to the general foundation of the house. Both cases have their drawbacks.

  1. The foundation is not connected to the house foundation. In this case, cracks and distortions may form at the joint. In cold times, due to frost when the ground moves, the porch may warp; after warming up, everything may fall into place, but additional repair work may also be required.
  2. Connected foundations. Cracks are also possible, but not only at the joint. In the case of a light porch and a weak foundation with a rigid connection to the house, cracks may form on the porch foundation. It is necessary to tie the foundations with a heavy house and a massive and heavy porch. To do this, holes are drilled in the foundation of the house for ribbed reinforcement with a diameter of 14-16 mm, and from this reinforcement comes the reinforcement of the porch foundation.

Pouring the foundation includes the following steps:

  • A pit is dug at least 50 cm deep; it is best if the foundation is located below the freezing level of the soil.
  • Formwork is installed in the prepared pit.
  • A pillow is poured onto the bottom, this is 20 cm of crushed stone and 10-20 cm of sand, each layer must be compacted, the sand must be spilled with water for better compaction.
  • Reinforcement is performed in such a way that cells of 10x10 cm are formed.
  • Concrete solution is poured, proportions 1:3:5, where 1 part cement, 3 parts sand and 5 parts crushed stone.

How to build a metal porch?

You can build it by dividing the whole process into two main stages: the first is assembling the porch platform, the second is assembling the stairs.

The site assembly proceeds as follows:

  1. Based on previously prepared drawings and calculations, we cut a corner.
  2. According to the dimensions of the site perimeter, two frames are welded, upper and lower. Depending on the size of the platform on the upper frame, we add jumpers in increments of 500 mm to stiffen the frame.
  3. We assemble both frames into a common frame; for this we use corners, the length of which is equal to the height of the platform minus the flooring. Racks made from these corners are welded at the corners of the platform, as well as on both sides of each lintel.
  4. At the final stage, the platform is installed on the foundation and attached to metal mortgages, previously concreted into the foundation.

To assemble the stairs we use:

  • corner measuring 75x75x5 and 50x50x5 mm;
  • self-tapping screws for attaching wooden treads;
  • welding machine;

Assembling the stairs for the porch:

  1. Using a 75x75x5 corner, we cut two guides for the stringer. Their dimensions must be determined in the project and take into account the angle of inclination of the stairs and the number of steps.
  2. From the 50x50x5 corner, cut pieces equal to the height (size A in the figure) and the width of the step (size B), in an amount equal to twice the number of steps.
  3. We fix the guides for the stringer at the desired angle on one side to the mortgage in the foundation, and on the other side to the top of the site.
  4. We weld the prepared sections from angle 50 to the guide, so that sections A are perpendicular to the ground, and sections B are parallel (the permissible angle of inclination of section B is 1-2°, for draining water).
  5. In section B, holes are drilled for self-tapping screws to secure the tread.
  6. If necessary, a canopy and fences are installed on the porch.
  7. After all work is completed, the entire structure is primed and painted.
  8. After the paint has dried, the treads and surface covering are installed.

How to make a porch in a private house made of concrete?

Construction concrete porch at the dacha with our own hands we will divide it into 3 main stages:

Preparation of formwork.

Using data from the project regarding the dimensions of the porch, formwork is formed. Formwork uses boards strong enough to support the weight of the concrete. The thickness of the board must be at least 20 mm.

Reinforcement.

For reinforcement, reinforcement of at least 12 mm in diameter is used. The result should be a grid with cells 10x10 cm. The reinforcement frame of the porch should be connected to the mortgages that are provided in the foundation of the porch and the house.

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For pouring, a concrete mixture is used, made in proportions 1: 3: 5 (1 part cement, 3 parts sand, 5 parts crushed stone). If fences and a canopy will be installed over the porch, do not forget to prepare mortgages for support posts for them.

After pouring, it is necessary to release the air remaining in the solution; to do this, you need to pierce the filled porch with fittings in many places. Most effective way is to use a special submersible vibrator.

Upon completion of all actions, you should wait for the concrete to harden (7-10 days); to do this, you should cover it with polyethylene to prevent moisture evaporation and premature drying of the solution, and if necessary, in hot weather, soak the porch with water.

After the concrete has hardened, the formwork can be removed and the process of finishing the concrete porch can begin.

How to make a wooden staircase to the porch?

It is built similarly to metal.

A platform for the porch is being built:

  1. To do this, support posts are installed, which also serve as posts for the railings.
  2. At a certain height, the pillars are tied with boards around the perimeter, and jumpers are also made across the entire area of ​​the site to impart rigidity to the structure.

DIY staircase to the porch:

  • The stringers are prepared in such a way that the plane to which the treads will be attached, after installing the stringers at the desired angle, is parallel to the ground (the permissible slope for draining water is 1-2°).
  • The number of stringers is determined based on the width of the march.

Don't forget that fastening starts from the bottom step.

Errors when installing a porch

We will voice the most common mistakes when building a porch and hope that this will help you build a porch with your own hands, avoiding them:

  1. Construction of the porch after the completion of the house. This will lead to difficulty in arranging the foundation for the porch and the possible formation of cracks. Most best option pour the foundation both under the house and under the porch at the same time.
  2. When arranging a wooden porch, the support pillars are not treated with antiseptic preparations. Such an error will lead to destruction of the material.
  3. The height of the porch platform is the same as the height of the entrance to the house. In cold weather, when the ground moves, the porch will rise and may jam the door.
  4. No vapor barrier. This will lead to the fact that moisture, having seeped through the structure, will accumulate behind the cladding and, when frost sets in, will begin to expand, which will lead to the cladding breaking down.

What is a porch, why does it exist and what functions does it perform?

The porch is an extension to the house, which, through steps, makes it easier to enter/exit the doors. Since the porch usually has a canopy, this provides additional protection for the doorway from the sun, rain and snow.

In addition, the porch acts as decorative element, which makes the exterior of the house complete and its operation convenient.

As a rule, the parameters of the porch are thought out at the stage of building a house, cottage or cottage. But often a porch is attached to an existing structure.


Traditionally, to build a porch in front of a house, the same material from which it is built is used (for example, wood or brick house). The porch can be made of wood, concrete, metal, brick. It is important that the selected material (for steps, cladding, porch finishing) is in harmony with overall design Houses.

Due to the fact that wood is the most popular, as well as accessible and inexpensive material, porches are most often built from wood. Therefore, we will consider in detail (step by step) how to organize the construction of a wooden porch. Another argument in favor of lumber is the ease of working with wood, which makes it possible to make a wooden porch with your own hands.

Wooden porch for a private house - project

Construction begins with the development of a project that takes into account:

Types of porch

Porch design

  • built-in porch - built together with the house, has a common foundation with it;
  • attached ( attached porch) - completed during the operation of the house.

Material for porches in a private house

  1. tree;
  2. concrete;
  3. metal (forging, steel, iron);
  4. brick (stone).

Methods for constructing a wooden porch

Possible implementation in two versions:

This method is simpler and consists in installing a wooden box (or a porch frame made of a metal profile) on the prepared site, on which steps are installed.

This option is also more budget-friendly; it can be implemented at any stage of construction or operation of the house. A closed wooden porch makes it possible to hide all the flaws that arise during the construction stage;

The peculiarity of this method is that the base frame is prepared only for the lower part of the stringer/string, and the upper one rests on beams or a floor slab. This method of building a porch provides more opportunities for implementing original solutions.

How to make a wooden porch with your own hands without mistakes

Before we tell you how to build a wooden porch, we will describe the main mistakes that novice craftsmen may encounter.

  • stylistic errors. Dimensions, appearance, the porch material should be in harmony with general view buildings (house design);
  • errors in the dimensions of the porch. The porch should be proportional to the main building;
  • errors in measurements. Each parameter is measured several times and plotted on the diagram;>

    Note. Professionals advise putting on the diagram not only the dimensions of the porch and wooden frame, but also other parameters: the size of the doorway, the distance from the porch to the plants or protruding decorative elements. This information will be useful if necessary to correct the porch drawing.

  • excess material consumption. Eliminated through careful planning.
  • ignoring the requirements for structural strength. The porch is the most used part of the building. In addition, it is exposed to external factors, which means the material must be selected with a margin of safety and taking into account the dimensions of the porch;
  • provide additional protection to a wooden porch. Untreated wood gradually loses its properties, so it needs protection and constant care;

    Note. Both open parts of the structure and load-bearing parts need protection, i.e. those that are placed in the ground or rest on a foundation.

  • separation of the foundations of the house and the porch (on different (separate) foundations) will lead to uneven shrinkage of the porch and the appearance of a crack between the elements. This can be avoided by a threshold installed at the junction of the porch and the house. Or installing a threshold without a march, with the first step 150-170 mm below the threshold. But this is fraught with injury, since when leaving the door, the user is forced to go down;
  • the absence of a foundation leads to the fact that the porch “floats” under the influence of soil displacement (shear);
  • jamming of doors (blocking, jamming). Occurs due to geological changes (frozen soil can raise the porch a couple of centimeters).

How to properly build a porch for a house

Material for making a porch

To make a beautiful wooden porch you will need building materials:

  • For supports, a beam with a cross section of 100x200 mm is suitable. The size depends on the type of porch, the expected load, the number of supports, etc. When choosing wood for supports, it is better to give preference to larch or pine, due to the presence of resins, they can withstand all-season operating conditions well;
  • For entrance area from the steps you can use a board 30-50 mm thick;
  • ready-made balusters and railings. Or timber and lath for their manufacture. The dimensions of the lumber depend on the parameters of the future product.
  • solutions, compositions and impregnations for wood protection;
  • cement mortar (concrete);

Note. Using 50 mm boards for both supports and steps will allow you to avoid errors in calculations, reduce waste and, in general, use lumber more efficiently.

Drawing of a wooden porch

Even a simple (standard) drawing, drawn independently, will help to avoid difficulties during its construction.

The porch drawing must contain the following information:

  • appearance of the porch. Makes it possible to visualize the final appearance of the structure;
  • the width of the porch should be one and a half times wider than the doorway (you can calculate how wide the porch should be this way: 1.5 times the width of the door, this will be the minimum allowable width). This width will allow you to open the door while on the porch area;
  • The width of the stairs to the porch (flight of stairs) must be at least 700 mm. Otherwise, difficulties will arise when moving people and objects along the steps;
  • location of the porch platform (flooring). The porch floor should be 30-50 mm below the threshold (doorway). A lowered porch platform will prevent the doors from blocking due to snow or lifting of the porch structure;
  • porch angle;

Note. Professionals advise sloping the porch area and steps by 2-3° to avoid water accumulation. An alternative would be to install deck boards with a gap of 2-3 mm.

  • foundation. Types, depth, characteristics of the soil underneath;
  • number and size of porch steps. The standard recommends adhering to the following dimensions of steps: height - 170-180 mm, step depth (tread) - 300-350 mm. It is desirable that the number of steps be odd. These dimensions will make movement along the steps comfortable;
  • presence and installation location of fencing (balusters and railings).

Note. In construction practice, there are no norms and rules regulating the parameters of the porch. The recommendations concern only the parameters of the steps.

Drawing of a wooden porch, as an illustrative example:

Scheme of a wooden porch

It’s convenient when working when the diagram of a wooden porch is made on a large sheet of paper and is always in front of your eyes.

A good alternative would be a cardboard template made in life size. A paper template is indispensable when making a flight of stairs on a bowstring.

Foundation for the porch of a house

A correctly selected and poured foundation for a wooden porch is the key to its strength and durability.

A wooden staircase to the porch can be installed without a foundation. But filling it will prevent the porch from moving due to seasonal soil movement.

When building a porch, you can choose one of the following types of foundation:

Columnar. Well suited for lightweight construction. The number of support pillars depends on the size of the porch.

Slab. Structurally, it is a monolithic concrete slab. Designed for heavy (massive) structures. In most cases, a slab foundation does not need to be tied to the foundation of the main structure (house).

Tape. It has a significant margin of safety, while requiring less material costs. Connection to the foundation of the house is required.

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What kind of foundation is best to pour under the porch?

Some users recommend installing a strip foundation for the porch. In this case, the likelihood of a discrepancy between the porch and the house, as when using a columnar one, is eliminated. It also reduces material consumption compared to slab. The difficulty in arranging this type of foundation is that it needs to be tied to the house.

How to tie (connect) the foundation of the porch and the house?

First of all, adjacent foundations of the porch and house must have the same depth.

It is better not to immediately fill the place where the foundations are attached (fastened, connected), but leave a technical gap (a gap of 20-30 cm), in which there will be connecting elements (studs, reinforcement).

In the old foundation of the house, holes are drilled at a distance of 50-60 mm and studs with expansion anchors are driven in. From the new porch foundation, make a rebar outlet to these studs. Simply fitted (do not twist or weld).

After the new foundation has “settled” (stands) for a year (or at least a winter), preferably under load, the reinforcement can be connected (tied, twisted, welded). Fill the bond with concrete mortar.

The diagram below shows how to make a porch out of wood with the foundation tied to the house.

What is the depth of the foundation for the porch

The depth of the foundation for the porch must correspond to the depth of the foundation of the house and is located below.

A strip foundation is certainly an excellent solution for building a porch. However, not everyone needs a massive structure. After all, most porch staircases are built using stringers or bowstrings. In this case, it is not necessary to pour a strip foundation, but give preference to a pile or columnar foundation. When laying out such a foundation, you need to make concrete “pillows” for the supports and the base of the stringer/string.

The method for constructing a concrete pad is shown in the diagram.

How to build a wooden porch for a house

Let's consider the technology of constructing porches on pillars (piles, supports, beams) made of wood.

The construction of a porch on a foundation in the form of a support cushion for pillars (support pedestals) will be justified only if a number of rules are followed:

  • the base of the stringer must rest against the waterproofing laid between the foundation and the wood of the stringer;
  • for supports it is better to take coniferous wood, it is preferable in conditions of high humidity;

Advice. When choosing lumber for a support, it is better to give preference not to a 100x100 mm beam, but to two 50x100 boards fastened together.

  • the wood of the supports should be treated with an antiseptic;

Note. The support should be processed to a height of 150-200 mm from the soil level. In this case, it is undesirable to use roofing felt. It prevents the flow of air, and the process of wood rotting begins from the inside. It is better to use drying oil or used machine oil.

  • installation depth of supports is at least 800 mm;
  • the wider and more massive the structure, the more supports there should be;
  • After the concrete used to fill the supports has dried, you need to check their height. Adjust the height difference;


Note. When making a porch from wood, it is necessary to consider waterproofing and drainage system. This will avoid distortion of the porch structure.

It is worth noting that there is no fundamental difference in how to build a porch for a wooden or brick house. It is important to make an informed choice of the type of foundation and, if necessary, correctly link it to the foundation of the house.

Flooring the porch landing and installing steps

Users' opinions differ on this issue. Some advise fitting the flooring boards as closely as possible to each other in order to prevent the appearance of cracks typical of dry wood, and also making a slope of 1.5-2° to allow water to flow smoothly from the flooring.

Others recommend leaving a gap of 2-3 mm so that water flows down unhindered. At the same time, they claim that these gaps do not entail the risk of injury when walking on the flooring (except for high-heeled shoes). Wooden steps for the porch - you can buy them ready-made or make them yourself. If the latter option is selected, a detailed description is provided below.

How to make steps for a porch out of wood

The steps are installed starting from the lower edge of the stringer/string. Fastening is carried out using self-tapping screws, which must be sunk into the wood to avoid injury.

First, the riser is installed, then the step. This is due to the fact that it is easier to maintain the dimensions.

When constructing a staircase on a stringer, the steps are attached to it. Options for attaching the steps to the string are shown in the diagram.

Wooden porch fencing

It is important to note that if a flight of stairs has more than 3 steps, it is advisable to equip it with a fence. The fence for the porch can be metal (forged, stainless steel), wood, brick, stone (or concrete). Wooden railings for the porch can become not only a guarantee of safety of movement, but also an additional decoration.

Recommendation. Provide safety elements - anti-slip coating on the porch steps (non-slip, anti-slip, rubber, rubber coating, tiles, mat). After all, frozen moisture (icing) makes movement on them dangerous.

We have sorted out the question of how to make a wooden porch; now it is important to study how to extend its service life.

How to protect a wooden porch - care

A canopy over the porch will protect the wooden steps and the structure as a whole from external factors (sun, snow and rain). A wooden canopy over the porch will look especially good wooden house. For buildings made of other materials (for example, for a stone house), polycarbonate, corrugated sheets, tiles or others are suitable roofing materials. The visor can be made with or without stands. The main thing is that the visor supports do not interfere with movement.

Wood processing is divided into pre-operational and operational. The first involves applying special compounds before the construction of the porch begins. The composition of the solutions will reduce the tendency of wood to rot, deform, dry out, etc. And the second will make it possible to preserve the original appearance of the structure. Such processing may include painting, waxing or varnishing.

Painting a wooden porch

  • pine wood needs to be exposed (coated) with paint in several layers and the layer periodically renewed;
  • before applying paint, you need to open (treat, impregnate) the wood with a primer;

    Advice. The primer will preserve the properties of wood, but the surface will need to be painted every 3-6 years. Without impregnation, the paint will last up to 10 years, but the properties of the wood will deteriorate significantly.

  • It is not recommended to coat pine with transparent compounds. IN soft breed sand and dirt are pressed in;
  • larch or deciduous wood can be opened with transparent compounds. Vermeister Deck.Oil impregnation oil has proven itself to be excellent;
  • When choosing what to paint a wooden porch on the street, you need to know that the compositions for coating the wood outside and inside the house may differ. To paint a wooden porch from the street (outside), use the following paints and enamels:
  • oil-based (due to their pungent odor they are gradually losing popularity);
  • water-based (need constant updating);
  • alkyd (resistant to moisture and mechanical abrasion);
  • polyurethane (used mainly in industrial environments);
  • reactive (consist of two components; their distribution is limited by high cost and short time for application after mixing the components).
  • Each renewal of the coating on wood is carried out only after stripping the surface of the previous layer of old paint.

How to attach a wooden porch - video

Following the steps listed above will allow you to create a beautiful, reliable and functional wooden porch with your own hands.



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