Porch Construction and Care
One of the best added features of the exterior of a home is a porch. A porch adds a cozy element as well as architectural beauty. With new technology, you can get creative with where and how your porch is going to look if you plan on having one built.
Wrap around porches, of course, are absolutely gorgeous and provide plenty of space for outdoor activities. If you don’t have the structure capable to withstand a wrap around porch, there are still several options available to you.
Before construction begins on a new porch, there are certain factors to keep in mind during the construction phase. Building a porch is a four step process starting with the roof, then the columns and railings, the deck and lattice and finally, the steps.
The roof is either constructed of wood trusses or traditional roof rafters that have ceiling joists.
The porch columns are essential to supporting the roof beams. Some people might not like railings on their porch, but railings are an important element for safety and privacy.
The deck is what holds the weight on the porch. The deck is supported by thick and heavy wood joists and lattice is applied for decorative appeal. If you are building a concrete porch, lattice won’t be necessary.
The steps are the last to be built and can be constructed of wood or concrete.
Existing porches on older homes is very common, but often, those porches are in need of tender love and care. One should assess the strength of an older porch by doing the following:
Locate any damage done by pests such as termites and ants. For wooden porches, pests love to nest in the floor boards and they can do a lot of damage to the structural strength of the porch.
Check to see if there are any foundation issues. Soil, moisture and water leaks can aide in a crumbling porch or settling where the porch moves away from the house structure.
After you’ve done some basic checking and evaluating, contact a professional like Ivy Lea Construction to perform the renovating or rebuilding. A professional contractor has the knowledge to help you determine which route is best to take with your old or new porch.
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http://www.ehow.com/info_12022531_porch-construction-old-house.html
