How to Make a Small Open Porch

Draw the house on graph paper to define dimensions for the porch. Plan to construct a stoop only with a small roof, for example. Sketch the porch 6 feet square, as one option. Define a roof that is fully attached to the house with no support posts, if you desire. Add side rails to help prevent visitors from tripping or falling.

Dig the porch foundation and pour footings. Use concrete blocks to construct a foundation 24 inches deep that rests on 6-inch-deep concrete footings, as one choice. Fill the concrete blocks with dirt and gravel before adding metal grid work on top. Construct a porch base framework using 2-by-6-inch boards for the concrete base.

Build one or two small wooden steps coming down from the porch. Nail wooden risers to the concrete porch base and add treads. Add premade concrete steps as another choice. Cover the foundational concrete blocks with concrete stucco or bricks for a more finished look.

Use 2-by-6-inch boards to construct a small porch roof that extends approximately 3 feet over the 6-foot-deep porch. Build a simple shed roof on a 45-degree angle that is bolted to house framing. Use cedar as a suitable choice of durable, lightweight wood. Cover the roof rafters with ½-inch-thick plywood and add tar paper and asphalt shingles.

Finish up details of the porch. Add a gutter across the front and around one side, for example. Create a down spout attached to the house facade and add a splash block at the base of the down spout. Install a premade side railing on both sides of the porch. Use railings with balusters that fit the home’s architectural design that are approximately 30 inches high.