Session Four: Picture Perfect Porches

April 24, 2004

by Dave Muylle

Learn more about the unique character of Eastside porches, their design materials, restoration, and maintenance.

• Styles
• Design
• Problems
• Elements of Porch Construction
  • Footing
  • Framing
  • Columns
  • Roof

Styles

There are three main styles that Eastside porches typically have:

1. Classical (1885-1920)
2. Victorian (1850-1910)
3. Arts & Crafts (1900-1925)

Design

At one time or another, you may have driven through the Eastside of Lansing and noticed various porch designs. Here we have taken pictures of many different designs to give you an idea of how you might want your porch to look (click for larger view).

Problems

The most common problem with porches is the footings. When a house is built, a footing is where the house makes its connection to the earth. Putting concrete in the bottom of the footings helps it sit in the soil. In this area the cross line is 42”; if you are below that there will be no shifting in your building.

If footings are not built properly, they will settle into the ground. Water is 98% of the problem as well.

Getting Started [:46 , 892 KB WMV]

Rotting and lead paint can be problematic for your porch aesthetically. Moss can build up on old porch roofs that need to be restored.

Building a Porch

Footing

• You need a building permit if you are going to be rebuilding your porch
• Footings need to go about about 42” into the ground with concrete
• Reinforcing bar (re-bar) should be placed in the concrete to add strength to the footing (if necessary), especially if required by local code.
• Gravel or crushed rock should be compacted around the post to allow water to drain away from the footing, especially if drainage is poor.

Problems with Footing [1:01 , 1.14 MB WMV]

Framing

Create any new entrances or passageways by removing or opening up existing walls.

Before work begins, discuss with your contractor exactly how he or she plans to open up the house and what precautions will be taken to prevent dirt and dust from entering living areas. Typically, clear plastic dust curtains are hung around the immediate construction area. However, it's not a foolproof guarantee against dust.

Your contractor should have plans for securing any openings each evening after the day's work is complete. Usually, sheets of plywood are temporarily nailed in place to keep out weather and to block entry.

Columns

The posts support the beams which support the joists, so the tops of the posts have to be level with each other for proper stability.

Because of variations in the height of the footings, the length of each post should be determined individually.

Use a 2x4 long enough to extend from the ledger board past the post, and set one end in a joist hanger. Use the other end of the 2x4 alongside the post, and set a level on top to hold it in a level position.

Use another level to make sure the post is perpendicular, and then mark where the bottom of the 2x4 crosses the post. That transfers the height of the bottom of the ledger board to the post.

Once posts are measured and cut, you must install drift pins in order to anchor the posts. Codes will require that there is an anchor system so that they don't fall over in bad weather conditions. Cut out drift pins from 1/2-inch steel bars.

When getting ready to raise posts, apply glue inside of the drift pin holes to anchor the pins solidly in the holes on the bottom of the posts.

Roof

When putting a roof on your porch, you might want to think about having it tie into the existing roof line on your home.

You can use scissor trusses (seen on the right) to help raise the ceiling so that it is level with your home.

Porch Roof [1:01 , 1.15 MB WMV]

Set the end (gable) truss flush with the end wall's top plate. Working back toward the house, set the trusses and brace them together.

After the truss closest to the house is set, run a string line level from its peak to the roof line peak. This is where the ridge board is nailed to the roof.

On each side, run a valley rafter from the ridge board at the house roof point down to the porch truss. Nail jack rafters perpendicular to the ridge board down to the valley rafter on 16" centers.

Most roof designs call for an overhang on the gable end to protect the end wall from the elements. Most overhangs extend a foot or two, but try to match the house's overhang.

The next step with the roof is the sheathing. You will want find out how your main roof was done, so that you can use the same methods on the porch.

It might be safer to have the sheets measured out before bringing them to the roof. Make sure to space the sheet ends at the center of the truss rafters so both sheets have a nailing surface.

You will want to add a weatherproofing membrane in the valleys and along the drip edges for protection against water penetration. After this is done your last step is just to add shingles.

< Back | Next >

< Back to Main Workshops Page