Building a New Porch Extension in Raleigh, North Carolina
If you’re thinking about a porch extension in Raleigh or the surrounding area, the Structurally Speaking team can help. We specialize in custom outdoor living spaces, including sun porches, screened-in porches, and decks. With a porch extension, you can enjoy your yard to its fullest by adding to your existing porch. Here’s everything you need to know about this type of building project.
Types of Porch Extensions
There are three main types of porch extensions. Each has its own merits. If you aren’t sure which one works best for you, we can help you decide by showing you detailed drawings of how the finished porch will look.
First, we can simply extend your current porch so you have a larger porch. For example, maybe you have a front porch but have always dreamed of a large wrap-around porch. Or, maybe you have a very small porch and would like to make it bigger. We can add length or width (or both) to your porch so it fits your needs better.
Another option for your porch extension is to enclose your existing porch while also making it bigger. There are many benefits to screened-in porches and sun porches, so this might be the best option if you want a more convenient outdoor living space you can use during more months of the year.
Lastly, we can extend your porch by adding a deck. A deck doesn’t have a roof like a porch, so it is a more budget-friendly building project in many cases. Additionally, decks give you an option for outdoor grilling, fire pits, and plants that won’t work under a roof.
The Porch Extension Process
When you work with Structurally Speaking, we’ll start by meeting with you for a free consultation. During this consultation, we can talk about the type of porch extension you want, along with other details. We walk you through this process so the end product will be a porch that you absolutely love and that your family will use often.
Next, we’ll schedule a design presentation. This is a meeting where we’ll show you porch designs based on our initial consultation. We’ll start by reviewing your objectives. Then, we’ll show you at least two different porch designs for your home, which includes scaled drawings from multiple viewpoints. We want you to be able to visualize how the final porch will look. At this point, you are able to make design changes, and we’ll also make final decisions about building materials, colors, etc. Additionally, this is when we finalize the budget so you know exactly how much your new porch extension will cost, rather than getting a surprise bill at the end.
After we’ve finalized the design, we’ll schedule the porch construction process. We give you a timeline and will always keep in touch if there are any changes to that timeline due to poor weather. Unlike other companies, we do not work with subcontractors. We handle the construction in-house. This means that our team of builders will be able to effectively translate our design drawings into a real life porch. When you work with subcontractors, you never know what you’re going to get.
Along the way, we’ll be on hand to answer any questions you may have. We want you to feel completely confident that you’re getting the new outdoor living space of your dreams.
Porch Extension Ideas
One of the biggest benefits to working with our team is that you get a custom porch designed specifically for your home. We’ll talk about why you want an extension and how you intend to use this new space. Then, we’ll look at the existing architecture and design the perfect extension that looks like it was original to the home.
No two projects are alike. We’ll give you specific recommendations based on what will work best for you. That said, here are a few general porch extension ideas that homeowners can consider:
- Add a hot tub. We love building hot tub decks, and they work really well as a covered or uncovered porch extension.
- Consider adding a screened-in porch extension to your existing non-screened porch. This gives you two options for enjoying your outdoor living space.
- If you don’t have a large lot, consider extending your porch by building up instead of out. Two-story decks and porches can look great and give you the extra space you want without using more of your yard.
- Use this as an opportunity to make changes to your existing porch, such as painting it a different color, or add other features to your porch, such as an outdoor fireplace.
We can’t wait to help you build a custom porch extension that perfectly fits your needs and style.
FAQs About Building a Porch Extension in Raleigh
During our initial consultation, we can answer any questions you may have about building a porch extension in Raleigh. However, here are a few frequently asked questions to get you started:
Can I extend an existing porch?
Yes, in many cases! It depends on your existing porch’s condition, as well as your property. We can also build a new porch from scratch.
Do I need permission from my city or town?
It depends on your specific project. If you need any permits, we handle this process for you. You may also need permission from your HOA. When necessary, we can help with this process to ensure your new porch meets any requirements.
To get started, click here to schedule your initial consultation. We look forward to speaking to you about a porch extension or any kind of outdoor living space.