The porch of a private house or country house is a kind of “face” of the structure. The design of the porch, which attracts attention and serves as a reliable support, allows you not only to get inside the house, but also to spend your free time, sitting comfortably in the air.
Essentially, the porch is a kind of extension with steps to the building, with the help of which you can enter or exit the room. It is quite important to give a finished, neat look to a private or country house, and also protects the building from snow and rain. Most often, the design parameters are thought out at the design stage, but one of its features is the possibility of an extension after the building itself has been erected.
Traditionally, the material that is used to build the home itself is also used to construct the porch or veranda. Therefore wooden house
The porch should be built from wood, and for a brick porch - from brick. However, most often a wooden veranda with steps is added even to a brick house, since this material is cheaper and easier to work with.
Depending on the type of structure, the porch can be:
The closed design has greater protection from wind and precipitation. In summer, you can hide under it from the scorching sun, and in winter, even the heaviest snowfall will not cover the front door or block it. However, this design is not easy to install and is quite expensive. The porch area is completely covered with a canopy, there may be a canopy over the stairs, the sides are covered with fences to the height of the railing or completely. This design is perfect for any home with the right selection of design and materials.
An open small porch is much cheaper and easier to build. It only has railings and a small canopy, which sometimes does not even cover the entire area. In the simplest case, the canopy and railings at the porch may also be absent, but if the extension is high enough, the absence of a fence poses a certain danger. Most often, such simple attached structures are erected near country houses, which are simply not used in winter. The small foundation of such a porch is attached to external wall, and the extension itself consists of only a couple of steps and a small platform near the door and is not able to protect it from rain and snow.
The design of the vestibule is a small closed buffer zone, which reduces the temperature difference between indoors and outdoors. The vestibule also reduces heat loss in the winter and increases the coolness inside the house in the summer.
A porch with a staircase descending on two sides is erected when the construction of an ordinary staircase is impossible due to the presence of outbuildings. The layout of such an entrance allows you to go down in the direction you need, and go up from any side without going around the porch. Before building it, it is better to consider other options, since the design is quite complex and expensive.
The terrace is often mistakenly called a "veranda". Their main difference is that the veranda is located under the same roof as the main building and stands on the same foundation, while the terrace is built close to the house. Most often, the porch-terrace is an open structure with or without a large canopy. On the terrace you can place outdoor furniture or beautiful vases with flowers.
A porch-gazebo looks like an open veranda and is usually built of wood. Instead of a roof, you can put a mesh frame over such a gazebo, which in the summer will be covered with wild grapes or rose hips.
The first thing you should pay attention to when designing a porch structure is its size.
The shape of the porch may depend on the configuration of the street staircase and be:
There are no strict regulations in choosing the shape of the porch; it is selected in accordance with the design of the site and the house itself. Rectangular and square designs add a certain severity and weight. Round ones, on the contrary, soften the overall appearance of the structure. The design does not have to be a perfect circle; it is enough to just outline a small circle and remove sharp corners.
An original solution would be a corner porch, which can be of absolutely any shape. You can build a trapezoidal platform, triangular and even completely asymmetrical complex design. The main thing is that the porch harmoniously complements the single design idea and does not introduce dissonance.
Natural and artificial stone are well suited for the construction of large monolithic structures. Granite is durable and wear-resistant, but its price on the building materials market is quite high and it is used in the construction of luxury real estate. For more economical options, sandstone is used, which is easy to process yourself and will fit perfectly into any design.
The finished stone porch can be faced with clinker tiles or porcelain stoneware.
There are special sets on sale that include three types of tiles:
With all the elegance and beauty of stone structures, wood remains the most popular material for the construction of stairs and platforms. It is best to choose hardwood, such as oak or alder. A more economical option is linden and larch boards. Before installation, the wood must be treated with a special solution containing an antiseptic, which protects the wood fibers from rotting processes. To prevent wooden steps from being slippery, small grooves can be cut along the edges.
You can also build a structure made of brick or metal profile, install a wrought iron ladder.
The optimal foundation option for a wooden porch area is piles. This design is economical and can be easily erected on the site with your own hands in a short period of time. In addition, the columnar foundation allows you to make the porch high enough and install it on an uneven surface.
Tape and slab foundation It is advisable to do this if you plan to build a large veranda or patio. The slab foundation is tied to the foundation of the house, which allows you to install the porch even on moving soil.
Since the most popular option is the construction of a porch made of wood, it would be advisable to consider all stages of manufacturing using its example.
Tools you may need include various fasteners (screws, nails), a shovel, a saw. For measurements, it is most convenient to use a construction tape and a level, and fasten the parts with a screwdriver or hammer.
Unlike a strip or slab foundation, a pile foundation does not require large financial and time investments. The beams must be pre-treated with an antiseptic and allowed to dry completely. Then mark the installation locations of the support and dig holes 70-80 cm deep in the places. It is necessary to lay sand and gravel at the bottom of such pits to increase the stability of the foundation pillars.
The piles are lowered into the hole and leveled, only after that they can be poured concrete mortar. After complete drying, the supports that are adjacent to the wall of the house can be screwed to it using self-tapping screws. This will add strength to the resulting structure.
Ready wooden porch can be processed different ways to maintain or improve it appearance. Using wax, you can protect wood fibers from moisture and dirt, which negatively affects its strength. A carved wooden porch can be varnished, which will not only protect the material, but also make numerous edges and cuts sparkle in the sun, revealing the master’s idea. However, the simplest way to finish wooden structures located on the street is painting.
Porch country house most often built from metal, wood or concrete. The choice of a specific material depends mainly on the architectural features of the building itself. Each type of street staircase has its own construction technology.
They will be discussed in this article. You will learn not only how to properly make a porch for a house from one material or another, but also how to tie it to the foundation of the house and what its own foundation should be like.
The choice of material for the porch of a house mainly depends on what its walls are made of. So at the facade wooden building It is best to build a structure from boards and timber. A concrete or brick house can be attached to a concrete or metal structure. For finishing, tiles, bricks, wood or even plastic are often used:
Wooden porches are different undeniable advantages. They are beautiful and require virtually no additional finishing. Such designs are somewhat cheaper than other varieties.
Construction of a porch to the house. Photo of an aesthetic and easy-to-manufacture design
Wooden street stairs are usually attached only to a log or cobblestone building or to a bathhouse. But there are exceptions to every rule. The simplicity of the design of such stairs makes them extremely popular, and often a carved or ordinary wooden porch can be seen on concrete or brick houses.
A wooden staircase can also be attached to a concrete house
Concrete options for porches can be poured. They are also built from blocks. Such a design can be made at the entrance to a concrete or brick building. The main advantage of concrete stairs is durability. How to fill a porch with your own hands and how to make it from blocks will be discussed below.
Concrete marches look very beautiful and at the same time solid and solid
Do-it-yourself metal porch at the dacha It is best to make it from a corner or profiled pipe.
On a note: Structures made from galvanized material are very beautiful. However, making them at home is hardly possible. In order to make such a staircase you need significant experience in working with welding machine. Therefore, at the entrances to private houses you can often see painted metal structures made of ordinary steel.It is better to make wooden steps on street stairs made of metal. In some cases, they are also made of metal.
Using wooden steps you can build a very beautiful metal porch
You can build a porch at a dacha or in a country house using different technologies. The choice of a specific one depends on what material will be used for its manufacture:
First, let's look at how to make a porch with your own hands for a wooden house. You can build even the simplest wooden porch so that it turns out reliable only by drawing up a project in advance. In this case, the stairs must be calculated taking into account the following factors:
How to build a porch with your own hands. Drawings of convenient street stairs
To make a simple wooden staircase you will need to prepare the following materials:
They continue to build a wooden porch with their own hands by installing supports. To make them durable, it is worth treating their ends with automotive oil. Under them, holes about half a meter deep are dug in the ground at a distance from the wall equal to the width of the upper platform.
A durable porch can be built only by arranging reliable supports
At the next stage, the upper platform is knocked together. Next you will need to make stringers or a bowstring. One end of the stringer is attached to top platform, while others are supported on a concrete pad. Then they begin to fill the treads and risers.
DIY wooden porch. Photo of the process of installing steps on stringers
Advice: When building a wooden staircase in a private house, it is better to fasten the steps not with screws, but with bolts and nuts. Weak fasteners will simply become loose under constant load in the future.So, we have looked at how to build a wooden porch with your own hands in stages. However, without railings and a canopy, the structure will be unfinished. Balusters are mounted on metal studs. Next, the handrail is attached to the bolts. After this you need to make a visor by sheathing wooden frame boards.
Making reliable railings with your own hands when building a porch is not so difficult
Now let's figure out how to build a porch for a house made of metal. The technology for constructing such structures is slightly different from the method of assembling wooden ones. Install supports from a pipe, angle or profile of at least 50*50mm. Next you need to make the frame of the upper platform. The bowstring should be made from a channel or corner.
A porch to a metal house can be made using a welding machine
When building a porch, the steps are welded from a corner in the form of frames, to which the racks are welded to the height of the riser. Next, the resulting elements are welded to the bowstrings, to their upper edge. Then the edged board is screwed to the corner.
Since metal is a material that does not tolerate moisture, a canopy must be made. You can equip a metal porch with your own hands, for example, with a canopy made of corrugated sheets. In this case, the frame should be made from a steel angle.
The construction of a metal porch requires the installation of a canopy
If you like arched, dome or curved canopies, you can use polycarbonate instead of metal profiles. You can make a curved frame yourself using a pipe bender. Polycarbonate sheets are attached to it using self-tapping screws with thermal washers.
You can make a very interesting shaped visor from polycarbonate
Important: The holes for the fasteners should be slightly larger in diameter than their rods. When installing the sheet, the screws themselves do not tighten too much, since polycarbonate sheets expand as temperature increases.A concrete porch should be attached to a stone building. You can make it with your own hands as poured or block.
When constructing a porch made of monolithic concrete, formwork is used. Its shape depends on the chosen form of the march itself. The easiest way to make it is from a board, and it is a multi-tiered structure (according to the number of steps). All steps must be reinforced. The concrete mixture is made from cement, sand and crushed stone in a ratio of 1*4*4.
To build a concrete porch, you need to make multi-tiered formwork
On a note: A semicircular, round or oval porch made of concrete looks very beautiful. In this case, during construction, the formwork can be made of tin or plastic.Below see how you can build a porch with your own hands (video):
In order to make a neat porch of a country house from blocks or foam blocks, markings should be made. Next, the foundation is laid. The ladder is laid out with ligation of the seams. After construction, a block structure, just like a monolithic one, must be faced with tiles or boards. In this case, you will get not just a solid, but also a beautiful porch.
The porch can also be built from concrete blocks
Approximately the same technology is used to make a porch with your own hands from brick or stone.
In the event that the porch village house is arranged during its construction; it is poured simultaneously with the foundation of the building.
Important: The foundation of the street staircase is laid at the same depth as the foundation of the house itself.
It is best to build a porch at the same time as the building itself
However, more often the connection of the march to the building is done after its construction. In this case, you should follow the rules for connecting the porch to the plinth, which will be discussed below.
When attaching the porch of a private house with your own hands, it is worth remembering that it is not recommended to attach heavy structures rigidly to the foundation and plinth. In this case, roofing material or polyethylene is laid between the march and the house. It can also be plywood or boards impregnated with bitumen. The fact is that an extension is usually made to a house that has already shrunk. A heavy concrete or brick staircase will definitely sink.
If you make your own porch from wood or metal, you can attach it directly to the base. In this case, during construction, bars or metal corner. A wooden frame or iron frame of the upper platform is attached to them at one edge.
You can build a metal porch by attaching it directly to the house
We hope you now understand how to properly attach a porch to a house with your own hands. Only one question remained unexamined, namely, what its foundation should be. You can make different types of bases for outdoor stairs.
When constructing light wooden and metal stairs, a small concrete pad is usually placed under them. Next, let's see how to fill such a support. They do not lay it across the entire width of the porch, but only under the first step of the flight. Thus, it serves as a support for stringers or bowstrings. Its installation is carried out as follows:
DIY porch. Photo of the process of installing a concrete pad under the march
If a wooden or metal staircase has a very wide or long flight, it is worth building a thicker cushion. Wooden or concrete pillars of the upper platform must have a thickening at the very bottom.
The concrete pad under the porch can be quite large. It can also be built with steps
Sometimes wooden stairs are simply supported on pillars during construction. At the same time, in addition to the supports of the upper platform, two more wooden columns are buried in the ground under the march (instead of a concrete pad). In the same way, you can make supports for the bowstrings of a metal ladder from sections of pipes. Such a foundation is cheaper than a pillow and is easier to build, but it is less reliable.
You can build a porch with different types of pillars
The design of a porch is technologically quite complex if it is built into the veranda. In this case, most often during construction, a strip foundation is poured under the entire structure.
DIY porch. Photo of a foundation pit for a strip foundation
This event consists of several stages:
How to build a porch. Pouring strip foundation
Important: The veranda and the march itself are erected no earlier than two weeks after the foundation is laid.Next, let's see how to make a slab foundation for a street staircase. This type of foundation is installed under heavy structures - concrete and brick. He represents monolithic slab under the entire area of the stairs. It pours in about the same way as a pillow. The depth of laying depends on the depth of the foundation of the building. Usually it is 50-70cm.
It’s not very difficult to make a slab foundation for a porch
On a note: The thickness of the sand or gravel layer according to SNiP must be at least 10 cm.So, now you know how to build a porch with your own hands. Depending on its type, different techniques can be used. For light street stairs, you can make a cheaper and simpler foundation. Heavy structures require a more reliable foundation.
The porch of a brick house, or the external extension through which entry and exit is carried out, has both utilitarian functions, including protecting the premises from dirt brought in from the street, and decorative ones, and, in addition, is the calling card of the home. The appearance of the porch alone will tell a lot about the tastes of the owner who installed it, especially since there are many options.
distinguish:
The most common, of course, is the first option.
Open area the porch can be:
Porch construction the porch can be:
The porch should be an extension of the house, in harmony with it. When developing a project, it is necessary to take into account not only the compatibility of the future porch with the architecture of the house, but also its ergonomics, convenience and practicality. Therefore, the porch project begins with its correct marking. SNiP standards will be of great help, according to which:
The design of the future porch also plays an important role in the development of the project.
A small porch creates depth to the overall appearance of the building. The design of the porch directly depends on the specific architectural forms of the brick house, on the availability of free space, on the surrounding landscape and, of course, on the harmonious combination of porch elements:
The materials for cladding the steps and the porch platform itself can be anything: wood, stone, brick, composite panels and slabs. Railings can also be made of wood, metal, stone, etc. Recently there have been different types vinyl fences, and on luxury houses glass fences and chrome railings can be installed. In general, there is no universal option when choosing a design. Only the principle of adding a porch is universal.
Porch-veranda. The addition of a porch is carried out in several stages:
Naturally, you should not skimp on materials intended for the porch. A wooden porch must be treated with an antiseptic and painted, a concrete porch must be laid out with special tiles, and an anti-corrosion coating must be applied to the metal one.
The construction of a porch can be entrusted to a specialist, especially for a metal porch. But you can build a wooden, concrete or brick one yourself.
Curved patio and covered porch. 
Porch-veranda - cozy atmosphere for family. The last stage involves the installation of handrails, railings and canopies and final finishing.
A porch under the same roof as the house. 1. Color contrasts. It is best to choose white for this, especially if the house is made of red brick. Vibrant contrast adds extra appeal to the home, while clever placement of white accents can highlight proportions or architectural elements. If the house is small, it is enough to add white railings or fences to the porch. If we are talking about a large mansion, white columns will do. However, the color can be any. Most often, the front door and supporting pillars of the porch are painted in bright colors, emphasizing the hospitality of the owner;
2. Stone cladding. This option is suitable for a shallow built-in porch and gives it solidity and solidity. The stone can be chosen to match the masonry or contrast with it, depending on the desired effect;
3.Brickwork. It harmonizes with a brick facade and porch, if the latter was made primarily of other materials - stone, wood, concrete. In this case, brick columns, fences and even paths leading to the porch are selected to match the brick facade in order to preserve general style. Dimensions brick supports The openness of the porch is regulated. If you need to make it as visible as possible, it is enough to make two powerful brick columns. If you put a series of thinner columns instead, inner space will become more closed;
4. Wooden decor. Most often, a porch canopy, canopy sheathing, flooring or steps are made from wood or its imitation. The texture can be either similar in color to the facade masonry in order to create a monochrome effect, or contrasting - to emphasize specific details and give the facade greater expressiveness.
The porch is mandatory element the entrance part of the building and its “business card”. The desire to decorate your own home, taking into account fashion trends and personal taste preferences are inherent in almost everyone. The design of the porch of a private house should emphasize the integrity of the entire structure and make it more attractive. There are many options for designing the entrance of a building, so we invite you to consider the most popular and interesting of them.
The most popular option remains installation wood flooring on the porch. In most cases, such structures are made from pine wood, as the most inexpensive and popular natural raw material. If the porch is properly sealed, varnished and painted, it will look attractive for many years.
This is a current way to decorate a facade, which is decorated in country style. This design can be complemented with wood-based porch decor, which will add the atmosphere of a country cottage. Wood can be complemented with stone, which is relevant not only for country style. In private country buildings, these two materials look quite harmonious together and are suitable for finishing platforms, doors and for use as decoration.
Concrete is considered universal material, which is cheap and reliable, and is also optimally suited for making a porch. This monolithic design, which will not begin to wobble over time, which is sometimes inherent in wooden products. In addition, it can be easily repaired and decorated with any decor. Do not forget that a concrete porch can be of various shapes, which will not particularly affect the price and the amount of time to complete the task.
Concrete structures can be decorated with tiles, for example, clinker. There are options trimmed with stone, and also painted and treated with other materials. IN modern buildings with a facade made of wood, brick or siding, a concrete porch can be left without additional covering. This allows you to emphasize the features of the texture of the walls and their colors.
A brick porch is a more expensive option compared to the previous ones, but it also looks attractive and is considered a fairly reliable solution for decorating a home. Installing the structure may take more time and require serious effort, but in the future the work put in will pay off in a big way, since it does not require additional maintenance.
Often, a brick porch has a concrete base or a covering of steps based on other materials. There are also options for laying tiles on the steps. It looks homely, inspires confidence and adds reliability to the building. But be careful, as any step surface you choose should not be slippery, otherwise this area will become potentially dangerous in the cold season due to snow and ice.
Natural stone is considered classic version. Such raw materials are distinguished by durability, presentability and strength, which is especially important. There are many varieties of stone, some suitable for the base, and a number of others for creating decorative elements (and the raw materials for making the base will be much more expensive). Although, in general, all types of stone can withstand adverse weather conditions and will not require additional maintenance for a long time.
If the building is made of stone, then you can fit a porch with columns into the overall structure. Natural stone can be combined with monumental elements. This composition will look harmonious.
Usually, when they talk about a forged or metal porch, they mean decorative parts of the structure - awnings, railings, steps, which are made of metal. But sometimes a completely metal porch is installed in a private house.
The main advantage of such structures is increased strength and service life. However, you will have to constantly paint and treat your porch to prevent it from deteriorating due to corrosion. Moreover, a metal floor will be quite cold, so it is not suitable for arranging a terrace. The latter option requires a concrete base or wood flooring on a metal base.
In most cases, awnings seem to continue the roof and, together with the porch, perform important function protection from precipitation and solar radiation. This great option arranging a comfortable entrance to the building.
If the building has architectural features that do not allow installing a canopy over the main entrance, even a small one, replace it with a canopy. Such a detail will not only partially perform the functions of a canopy, but will also be able to diversify the appearance of the building, and if you choose the product correctly or make it in an original way, it will become a real decoration of the exterior.
Even a small canopy can make an entrance to a private house more presentable. Its shade can protect you from the sun, as well as save you from streams of water during the rain if you open the doors or wait for the car.
If the house has a high foundation and you can install steps that will lead to the main entrance, installing railings will be relevant. This design will make the exterior of the building appear safer and more stable, and will also perform a very specific function and help residents and visitors enter the house in bad weather.
This is a traditional type of design for the entrance to a building. It can be combined with a canopy or canopy, and can also be additionally decorated with various designs to make the composition look complete.
Entrance doors do not allow snow and wind into our houses, but they themselves withstand the entire load. They are often located significantly above ground level, so to enter the house you need a porch. It will help you get inside without any difficulties, leaving street dust and dirt behind the threshold.
What's interesting about the porch? It can be arranged in very different ways, according to the taste of the owner. This article will look at various options for arranging and decorating a porch.
The entrance group in most cases is central decorative element in the exterior of a cottage or private house.
Peculiarities First, let's figure out what a porch actually is. General definition
says that this is an extension to the house, which serves as an entrance and exit from it. It has a staircase (or at least several steps), as well as a canopy (this condition is optional). In most cases, this design has a decorative appearance. This structure is located outside the building and is therefore not subject to building regulations
and standards for covered buildings.
There are also fire safety rules that must be followed when arranging the porch:
From a safety point of view, the site needs to meet a number of requirements:
Building codes and regulations (SNiP), as well as GOST, regulate the basic parameters for arranging a porch.
Depending on the height of the base of the house, the number of steps in the entrance group is designed.
For example, the depth range for each step is 27-30 cm, and the height is 12-18 cm. Thus, the tread and riser should be 45 cm in size. This will ensure optimal comfort for climbing the steps.
In order for one person to comfortably climb the stairs, its width should not be less than 60 cm. If it is expected that two people will walk on the steps, they should not be narrower than 120-145 cm. More than three steps on the stairs require a guardrail or railing. Their height should vary from 9 to 20 cm. If the railings decorate the porch of a private cottage, their height can be whatever the owner desires.
The ladder must meet the requirements for safe movement in relation to the horizontal angle. The safest from the point of view of operation is a staircase with a wide and flat configuration.
The upper platform is located 5 cm below the threshold. This is a requirement of fire safety standards and regulations. Its depth should be equal to 1.5 times the width of the doorway.
The porch belongs to the group of lightweight outdoor buildings, so it does not require a reinforced foundation. Often the base for it is separate, for example, in the front door or entrance.
Most often, the foundation for the porch:
If the porch for a private house is planned as a full-fledged structure with a staircase, columns, and the material for it is brick, concrete, stone, then it will require a solid foundation. It is built together with the foundation of the house, and connected to it. For example, if you decide to build a porch with brick columns on a concrete platform, the fragile foundation simply will not support this structure: it will sag, warp or collapse.
Depending on the type of design, the porch can be:
The first type is mainly found in private cottages. These homes often have a patio or terrace right behind the porch. The porch consists of an open platform and steps, which can be different quantities. If there are more than three, the porch should be equipped with railings.
There are no canopies or canopies; most often this role is played by an attic or balcony located directly above the entrance. Or, if the house is one-story, the canopy function can be partially taken over by the protruding roof.
If the porch is equipped with a canopy or canopy, it is located above the front door and covers it, as well as part of the area near the house. The canopy can be extended to create a parking area for vehicles or a recreation area in front of the house. The latter can be equipped with a barbecue or grill.
Most often, this type of porch is used when the house has ground floor, and the front door is located high. An interesting, unusual canopy can decorate the facade and also perform practical functions.
In the latter option, the entrance area is completely covered with a roof, as is the area near the door. The walls of the house enclose the porch, thus creating a kind of vestibule. The entrance to the house is protected from precipitation and winds.
Today, achievements in the construction industry make it possible not to be limited only to the rectangular shape of the porch. Now you can give it a variety of configurations: a semicircle, a polyhedron, even a triangle.
For example, by giving the porch a semicircular shape, you can hide and smooth out the excessively sharp corners of the house. Its convenience is that you can climb the steps from any side, since they completely go around the entire porch, providing a comfortable approach to the door. It is better to make them brick or stone (from clinker tiles).
If there is a need to balance the house, you can lay out trapezoidal steps. They are interesting because they expand as they rise. Thus, the upper platform turns out to be solid and quite large.
Types of porches can be classified according to the size of the upper platform:
Due to some reasons, the porch area is located at a considerable height.
This is due in the following cases:
Stairs can be located perpendicular to one side of the platform or both, or encircle it, making it possible to approach the door from any direction.
If there is not enough space in front of the house, the staircase can be placed along the facade or a reversible structure can be arranged. The multi-level terrace also looks original.
The cantilever-support structure is most often used for metal stairs. But it is necessary to provide for its construction at the stage of laying the foundation for the house.
If the width of the platform is not sufficient, you can place two small stairs along different sides from her. This is the most convenient option if there is very little free space in front of the house.
The most convenient of the stairs is the one whose steps go in a circle around the landing. For example, if the porch is small, but the lift should be comfortable.
The more original the solution for decorating the porch, the more interesting the facade will look. Thanks to the taste and ideas of the owner, you can create a living and original architectural composition.
On modern market quite a large number of different materials for arranging a porch in front of the front door.
The most common and frequently used are:
The tree can be used in the form of logs, beams or decking boards. Most often, entrance areas are equipped with wood. country houses, built in the old Russian style. For a hut built in the traditions of wooden architecture, a log porch will be authentic.
Wood is also convenient because it is easy to process; it can be given any shape, even the most complex and imaginative. Master carvers with extensive experience are able to create unusually beautiful openwork compositions on windows, roof ridges and entrance groups of houses. The porch railings and the fence around the house look very impressive if they have a similar or identical carved pattern.
The more original and subtle the wood carver’s work, the more spectacular the result will be.
We should not forget about the need for mandatory processing wooden elements fire retardant against fire and antiseptic against rotting. Then the structure will serve for a long time without losing its attractive appearance.
It is better to use wood species that are difficult to rot.
These are usually conifers, for example:
There are no restrictions on the use of wood in construction. You can build a porch entirely from this material, you can sheathe it with birch or cedar boards or clapboard.
It should be noted that the presence of smooth turned figured balusters on the railings and polished steps is a traditional element in Russian architecture, which remains relevant today.
Metal is not as popular a material as wood, concrete or brick, but it can look no less impressive. Especially if forged elements in a vintage style are used. Most often, metal parts are used in combination with stone, concrete or wood.
This is not due to the fact that the characteristics of the metal are worse than other materials. It’s just that its cost is quite high, as is the price of welding work when installing the porch. But forged railings or a frame on a canopy, supported by a similar frame for a street lamp or lantern, are more budget-friendly options.
If the price is not a problem for the owner, you can order any forged elements from the appropriate craftsmen. An openwork frame on the canopy, supported by the same design of caps on the fence, or the same frame of lanterns above the door and along the perimeter of the fence look very impressive.
But the metal is extremely susceptible to corrosion; rain and snowfall can quickly render it unusable.
Very often, forged elements are coated with transparent polycarbonate. This way they are less susceptible to negative factors environment, while the beauty and originality of the details are more noticeable.
Any professional forging makes the appearance of the structure a real work of art.
Natural stone is a very special material. It can act either alone or in combination with any other type of finish. A granite or marble entrance group has the maximum advantages for a capital structure: strong, durable, beautiful, reliable, resistant to environmental influences. But it has two significant disadvantages: it is bulky and expensive.
Thanks to the achievements of modern production technologies, false stone is practically indistinguishable from natural stone in appearance. You can detect a fake only by touching it.
Instead of natural stone, you can use tiles: clinker, paving. They are, firstly, cheaper than solid stone, and secondly, they are much more convenient to work with, since they are lighter and each element has its own specific size.
An entrance group made of stone will perfectly decorate a house made of brick, as well as one finished with plaster or panels imitating stone or brick. You need to understand that the stone porch looks truly monumental, so decorate it with small house Not recommended.
Brick, like wood, is an affordable and often used material in porch design. They can be used to finish finished composition, and create a complete structure from it. It weighs little, is inexpensive, and is strong and durable. In addition, it is easy to use and operate.
For outdoor work, a type of brick such as clinker is often used. It has enhanced strength. It is not afraid of all typical environmental factors: rain, snow, temperature changes, direct rays of the sun. It does not lose its attractive appearance for a long time.
There are a large number of color solutions clinker bricks. This allows you to create real masterpieces in the decor of porches: ornaments, gradients, contrasting patterns or monochrome.
Polycarbonate is the only material that cannot be used for the base of the porch. It can only be used as a coating. The frame will be metal, wood or brick. Polycarbonate needs to be used wisely, then you can create an interesting architectural solution from it.
Where can polycarbonate be used:
Due to the fact that polycarbonate bends well, it can be used to create structures of various shapes.
In most cases, concrete is the base; it is covered with various cladding on top. This happens because concrete itself has an unpresentable appearance and an entrance built only from it will not decorate the house.
However, concrete can be poured into any formwork form to create a large number of different configurations for steps and porches.
Available polished or painted concrete structures, looking quite interesting.
Since uncured concrete is plastic, casting of elements of any degree of complexity is possible. But the main disadvantage is the extreme heaviness of the material and the complexity of installation.
It is best to plan what the porch will be like at the design stage of the house project. Then you should decide on its size. In addition to the desire of the owner, there are also safety requirements. So, the upper landing should be such that a person can open the door (outward, in accordance with fire safety standards), and he does not have to step down the step.
The width, depth and height of the steps are regulated by SNiPs, and none of the parameters should be less than the regulated ones. The same goes for slope angles. As for the configuration and decor, here the owner is free to act in accordance with his imagination.
Regardless of whether the top of the porch is high or low, it can be designed and decorated in accordance with the wishes of the owner. Of course, you need to understand that the railing on a high porch is not only and not so much a decorative element, but an important functional detail: both in winter during snowfalls and ice, and in autumn during heavy rains. On a low porch or a couple of steps, railings and fences are not an urgent need, but a whim of the owner. However, such a fence (posts connected by a chain, for example) can become a decoration for the entrance, especially in spring and summer.
Depending on the chosen design style of the entrance group, you can complement its design with a bench, a hedge, a shaped lawn, symmetrically laid out flower beds, one or two lanterns - there are a great many options, and each is interesting.
Do not overload the decor with heterogeneous details. For example, if forging elements are used in the design of a porch (canopy, canopy), it is advisable to support it by using similar elements in the design of a lantern, bench, and fence caps. Mixing elements of different styles can create cacophony and bad taste in the decor.
In addition, you need to take into account the compatibility of the materials from which the entrance group is created. The quality must be at its best, because attempts to save money and buy construction material of dubious origin can lead to rapid destruction of the structure. Therefore, it is better to buy all the components of the input group from well-known and well-established manufacturers in the market. Clinker tiles will look great with both concrete columns and forged metal railings. The brick porch is in harmony with a fence made of a similar material.
It must be remembered that any combination should be treated with caution. It is better to draw a sketch - by hand or in computer program, or use one of the huge number of ready-made photographs. Because the porch is a significant element of home design that is the first to catch your eye.
The adjacent landscape (as well as the overall composition of the site) is also important to take into account when developing a design project for the entrance group. For country house in a classic style, stylization under english garden– bouquets in pots, mini-flower beds.
In most cases, facing steps on concrete stairs occurs through ceramic tiles or stone, the latter can be both natural and artificial. The treads can be finished with tiles that have an imperfect rough texture.
In front of the door wooden house you can make a small flood staircase. Then you can cover it not with tiles, but with sanded or decking boards.
A wooden porch can be decorated different ways. Since this material has a very beautiful structure, it does not need to be hidden, but rather, on the contrary, emphasized.
If necessary, you can coat it with varnish, special oil or paint.
Any entrance to the house is a wide field for experiments in decoration, be it three steps or a full-fledged wide staircase. How to decorate a porch in different styles – we’ll look at it in this section.
A country-style entrance group will look best in wooden version , and the material should look as if it had never been machined. It is important to leave the natural curves of the tree trunks on the fence or railing, and, of course, there should be no jagged or rough spots on them that could leave splinters and injure someone who will move along the stairs.
A porch decorated with Greek-style columns can look very interesting, especially in warm climates. It is best to plant antique portals with flowers and evergreen shrubs (cypress, thuja, laurel). Stone clinker tiles on a low porch with a spacious area will be an ideal addition to the composition, as will a gable canopy supported by columns.
The colonial style of the entrance lobby with deliberately roughly processed stone will beautifully complement a house made of a similar material. This porch looks especially original near a house with a multi-pitched roof or a round roof. The house becomes like a fortress or a castle, and the entrance group organically complements the composition. This style is neither luxurious nor pretentious, but it looks truly impressive and solid.
An entrance lobby designed in a Mediterranean style will look best near a house in warm climates. The descent down the wide white marble steps directly to the sea or pool is truly chic. Columns and amphora pots with southern flowers and plants planted in them will add sophistication to the composition.
Russian style is, first of all, beautifully crafted wood. Neither brick, nor stone, nor especially plastic are inappropriate in it. Only wood, if possible, carved. There are several ways to decorate buildings in the Russian style - this is a log hut, and a princely mansion. Railings with balusters, a carved fence, a canopy with an openwork pattern - these are all integral components of this style.
Scandinavian style– the complete opposite of pretentious Russian. There are no unnecessary details, while all the requirements of convenience and comfort are met. The apparent simplicity of this style hides the thoughtful organization of all the little things. As a rule, white stone or tiles are used, and the fence posts are also stone or concrete.
Provence style will perfectly support wooden staircase threaded. It is recommended to paint it white, it is good if the paint cracks a little.
Forged elements will look great in the chalet style: a lantern, fence caps, railings and posts.
When decorating the entrance group, it is logical to use the same material from which the house is built. That is, a porch made of wood is suitable for a log or timber house, and a porch made of brick is suitable for a brick house.
When constructing steps and a platform, it is necessary to waterproof the elements of the extension, because otherwise they will suffer from the influence of climatic conditions. In addition, it is necessary to drain the soil; for this, special trenches are dug for drainage and the water is pumped out.
Before finishing the construction of the porch, you need to make sure that the door can be opened even after heavy snowfall. And for this, the platform should be lower than the front door, about 5 cm. If there is no canopy over the entrance area, you can build a platform with a slight slope - up to 5 degrees - to ensure the outflow of water. If there is a canopy or canopy, it is not necessary to arrange a slope.
The larger the house, the more impressive the porch and, accordingly, the foundation for it will be required. It is best to lay it at the stage of building a house at the same time as the general foundation of the house, especially if it is planned to build a veranda or patio on the upper platform.
If you do not make a foundation for the porch, it may sag soon after construction.
There are several options for the foundation for the porch:
The most common type of base is tape. It is chosen by both experienced builders and beginners in this matter. It is easy to build, since the technology of the device is simple, and few building materials are required.
Pile type it is more difficult to arrange, you will need reinforced concrete piles. Their ends are sharpened to make it more convenient to install them to the desired depth.
Laying a columnar foundation is quick and easy, since the pillars are located close to each other at the corners of the porch and in places where walls intersect.
The most complex and expensive option is a foundation built from slabs. Firstly, this requires a large number of activities: from preparing the pit to laying a reinforced slab on a prepared “bed” of sand and gravel.
It is important to remember that the wider and larger the porch is planned, the stronger the foundation for it should be.
The process of laying the foundation must occur simultaneously with the construction of the house. If the foundations are laid in different time, then they will settle with at different speeds. Structures can “lead” in different directions, which will lead to the formation of cracks. To avoid this, you need to use high-quality cement.
In order for the structure to last longer, you need to take care of the thermal insulation of both the porch itself and the base underneath it. This is especially true for large, substantial entrance groups. It is equally important to correctly calculate the depth for laying it.
In most cases, a foundation under the entrance group is needed. It is unlikely that there is a person who built a house, invested a large amount of time, effort and, to hide it, money into it, who wants to watch how his creation is destroyed only because he was too lazy to put it on a high-quality and reliable foundation.
.jpg)
