What to Buy to Build a Porch

Foundation Materials

• To ensure you porch is structurally stable, you will need to purchase foundation tubes, cement and sand. You will also need to have water on hand for mixing with the cement. You will need a shovel for digging holes, a wheelbarrow to transport the dirt and buckets to mix the cement.

Lumber and Hardware

• To purchase hardware and lumber, you will need to consult your building plans to find the recommended sizes. You will need to purchase nails and screws per the instructions. You also will need to purchase pressure-treated lumber and patio decking board according to your plans. Porch sizes and designs differ, so following the recommendations on your building plans will help you to purchase an exact amount of materials.

Power Tools

• You will need to buy a circular saw with blades to cut the lumber to the dimensions outlined in your plans. You will also need to purchase a drill. Along with your drill, you will need bits in various sizes to secure the screws in your porch.

Other Supplies

• You will need to have miscellaneous supplies on hand, such as a pencil, paper, stakes, chalk line and a tape measure to stake out the dimensions of the porch before building. Buy footing clamps to frame the structure of the porch. You will also need to obtain a building permit from your local government before you begin.