What is the ideal porch size minimum size?
4, 5 or 6 what works out best for rocking chair or glider type bench?
Ken
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Six foot is the absolute minimum.
Yes 6 foot minimum! Think of it as another room, you'd never make a room so small, shoot for 7 or 8 foot wide if you can.
I agree with the others--6 foot minimum. If you can get ahold of a copy ot A Pattern Language, the authors say the same thing and then back it up with quite a good explanation. Book well worth reading.
just built one 25 ft wide and 11 ft deep.
seems close to being right.
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
I'm building a 16'x 32' shed/hobby room with a porch. I figured the cost of pressure treated timber, Simpson floor joist hangers, and pressure treated decking in comparison to pouring concrete. Not counting my labor building the porch vs the concrete pouring crew's $4.50 a sq. ft., concrete was about $200 more.
When the building slab was poured, the porch was formed with a flat 2x4 lower and then added the drainage angle. It's 8'x32', with a roof overhang of about 2'. The 8' width seems to be just right for rockers and a bench swing on each end. There will be railings between the 6x6 columns.
I'd add one more thought. Think about your sun angle and see if a deeper porch will provide good or bad shade during the later hours of winter or summer days.
Bill
OK, what do you want?Ideal or minimum?
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I did eight feet so when I'm in the swing with my feet on the rail. I dont have to keep moving my feet to let others walk by. they can walk behind the swing
My front porch is 40'x8' which is perfect for us.........6' would be OK for like a bedroom deck or something......any smaller 6' would be a fire escape IMO.
my wife wants a front porch to sit on in her cracker barrel rocking chair next to the front door 4-6 feet wide , me a back porch for the grill and such 6-8 feet wide
what overall size for the front 6' wide x 12' Length, back 8' wide x 16' Length
thanks ken
My back deck off the dining area ( where the grill is ETC. is 10 x16...and that is about as narrow I'd want to go cause of the table/chairs etc.........
I sized mine with the following in mind:
I wanted 8' flooring perpendicular to the house
I want my roof pans (homemade standing seam) at 10'
I am allowing winter sun to get under the Overhang
Part will do double duty as workspace while remuddling the house.
Unless screened, I don't see us spending a lot of time on it what with skeeters and horseflies. It will be enclosable in the future for solar gain in winter and bugs in summer.
Part may also become a mudroom/airlock entry.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
"We strive for conversion,we get lost in conversation, and wallow in consternation. "
Me.
Make sure when you determine the minimum size you factor in the centerline of the columns and the porch rail dimensions.
For instance, let's say you build a porch with 6' of decking exposed, 1" deck overhang, 1x Azek rim, 6" square columns set flush with the framing, and a 3-1/2" wide rail.
At some points, instead of having 6' of clear space you will be down to 5' 4-1/4". At the porch rail, you will only have 5' 5-1/2".
You probably are already thinking of this, but the trap of forgetting the small details can be easy to fall in to.
Jon Blakemore
RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA