Architectural Standards for Porches

Style

• Since architectural standards are primarily concerned with home appearances, they include numerous details about how porches should look. These standards are meant to give homes in a neighborhood a consistent look, or to differentiate them from one another. For example, some architectural standards specify that adjacent homes may not have the same style and size porch. In other cases, standards address whether matte or glossy paint is allowable for different parts of the porch.

Structure

• While architectural standards for porches are more focused on appearances, they also deal with some issues of engineering. These standards typically deal with details such as how columns and railings are constructed, roof construction and stairways for home access. These standards affect porch appearances but also ensure that residents and guests have access to safe porches that are structurally sound.

Materials

• Porches employ various construction materials, which is why their architectural standards include provisions for the materials that porches can and should be made of. In general, architectural standards for porches require materials that are durable and environmentally safe for use. Concrete, wood, stucco, glass and vinyl are all within the scope of materials that porch architectural standards cover, usually by requiring that all materials be of a certain grade.

Size and Layout

• Architectural standards for porches also include basic terms for defining porches. In most cases a porch must have a roof and be at least partly open to the elements. Other structures are defined as porticos, decks and patios, with their own architectural standards. The architectural standards for a porch can also limit the number of feet that a porch may project from the front of the home.