Overhead Porch Styles

Basic Styles

• The style of the roof dictates the design of the ceiling. Conventional porch roof styles are gable, hip, gambrel and shed. Gable roofs have a pair of steep, sloping surfaces from the center peak. The peaked roof space underneath provides more ceiling room than other roofs. Hipped roofs do not possess gable ends, and they slope from each wall with the eaves leveling off. The level eaves allow a wider overhang for an easier fit for gutters. The wider eaves also provide additional shade. They are self-bracing with decorative beams underneath that are exposed in the ceiling. The gambrel roof has two slopes on each side – a shallow slope near the peak and much steeper slope below. A gambrel roof is most common on barns and ranch and French colonial styles. A shed roof is usually flat or has a single slope.

Metal Roofs

• Metal porch roofs do not exactly fall into an architectural design, but they affect the style. They are energy-efficient, fire-resistant and more durable than conventional asphalt shingle versions. Metal porch roofs can remain uncovered underneath to give the ceiling a bare bones look, or they can be accented with decorative, non-functional beams or braces.

Ceilings

• Most porch roof ceilings have a plywood layer in 4-by-8-foot sheets under a metal- or asphalt-shingled roof. Home builders usually recommend primer paint on the surface and edges, and then a coat of paint to protect the wood from moisture. Stained or painted bead-board paneling over the plywood gives porches a warmer appearance. Exposed, varnished or painted tongue-and-groove wood planks are another highlight. Porch ceilings also include visible rafters and joists.

Lighting

• Final touches for overhead porch styles often feature ceiling-mounting lamps. Perhaps the most common lamps are exterior lights hanging from the center of the ceiling and over bistro tables and chairs. Hanging lamps also may include chandelier lighting for a more glitzy appearance. Lamps mounted flush into the ceiling provide a contemporary look. Scones mounted on the wall or on both sides of the front door are a more conventional, old-school approach to porch design. Decorative lamps allow homeowners to use a theme, such as wagon wheel chandeliers hanging from the ceiling of a gambrel roof of a ranch-style porch.