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Guide to Building (or Rebuilding) Porches

Browse this collection of articles and videos to find the details you need to create beautiful, comfortable, and durable porches.

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Porches can serve a lot of different purposes, from simple spaces to get out of the rain to cozy places to hang out with family and friends. Because a porch can be one of the most affordable ways to add living space to a home–albeit weather-dependent living space–it can be argued that every house should have one. If you agree, and you’re looking for help building or renovating a porch on your house, you’re bound to find some useful information in this collection of articles from the Fine Homebuilding archives.

  • Design 1
    The Rotproof Porch

    Water management is the key to keeping a porch standing for decades.

  • How-To 2
    Scribing Rails to a Round Column

    Carpenter Maria Klemperer-Johnson shows how to make a router jig to create a smooth transition for this tricky porch-railing connection.

  • Design 3
    The Particulars of Porch Design

    Learn how to nail the details to build a beautiful and functional covered porch; 3 case studies and a checklist of essential questions will help you get the job done right.

  • How-To 4
    Porch-Post Rescue

    Even on a limited budget, you can make things right by pouring new footings and replacing the posts.

  • How-To 5
    Mitered Post Wrap

    Use a lock miter joint and PVC boards to dress up pressure-treated posts.

  • 6
    How to Form a Custom Concrete Pier for a Porch

    A builder who doesn't like the look of conventional cylindrical forms looks for way to make his own

  • Design 7
    Porch Posts and Beams

    The right spacing, span, proportions, and dimensions are the keys to a good looking front porch.

  • How-To 8
    Weatherizing a Porch

    Energy-efficiency expert Bruce Harley give advice on how to insulate an enclosed porch to make it more comfortable.

  • Design 9
    A Screen Porch Dresses up a Ranch

    Wide overhangs and a wraparound stone patio keep this elegant outdoor-living area cool and dry.

  • How-To 10
    timber frame with basic tools
    Timber Frame With Basic Tools

    See how craftsmen create this true timber-frame look without relying completely on timber-frame joinery.

  • How-To 11
    Building a Concrete Porch Floor
    How to Build a Concrete Porch Floor

    Corrugated steel pan decking and mid-span support will ensure a successful pour

  • How-To 12
    Porch Rafters: Matching the On-Center Layout

    With the beam longer than the porch ledger it is a challenge to transfer the rafter layout so the framing is square.

  • How-To 13
    How to Make Rot-Resistant Deck Railings
    How to Make Rot-Resistant Deck and Porch Railings

    Use bevels, drip kerfs, and good planning to keep water from pooling on deck rails.

  • How-To 14
    Pivoting Porch Stairs
    Pivoting Porch Stairs Conceal Storage Space

    These DIY pivoting stairs make a great secret storage solution.

  • 15
    Repair Rotted Wooden Deck and Porch Railings
    Better-Built Wood Railings

    Elegant, site-built, rot-resistant railings don’t have to break the bank.

  • How-To 16
    Two Lessons from a Porch Addition

    A plumb-bob foundation layout and a cable-tensioned balustrade customize a tract house.

  • How-To 17
    Restoring a Porch

    A fast, inexpensive method that doesn't require house jacks.

  • How-To 18
    Octagonal Porch Posts

    Octagonal porch posts.

  • How-To 19
    How To Build a Deck-Stair Landing
    Best Practices for Building a Deck-Stair Landing

    Remodeling expert Mike Guertin offers suggestions for sturdy ways to support stair stringers that terminate at a ground-level walkway or landing.

  • How-To 20
    Build a Chinese Railing

    This alternative to balusters is attractive and easy to assemble.

  • How-To 21
    Building a Circular Porch

    A curving plywood beam and laminated trim solve some of the problems associated with working in the round.

  • How-To 22
    Building a Grand Veranda

    A New Jersey design/build team recreates a large, comfortable porch with 19th-century details built to last into the 21st century and beyond.

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