Should I Add a Wrap Around Porch or Deck to My Home?

add a wrap around porch Adding any kind of outdoor living space to your home can be a big project, but the result is a beautiful, functional space your family will love to use all year long. One way to make a big impact is to add a wrap around porch or deck. This option, however, isn’t right for every family. Here are some pros and cons to adding a covered porch to a house so you can choose the best outdoor space for your needs.

Wrap-Around Porches: Big Bang for the Buck?

When it comes to building a porch or deck, one of the first questions we like to ask is this: how much time do you like to spend outside. Some families want an outdoor living space to use only occasionally, for family barbecues. Others, however, would live outside if they could. A wrap-around porch is going to give you a lot of additional outdoor space. It’s a bigger project that generally costs a bit more than a backyard porch or deck. Therefore, it’s typically going to make the most financial sense for families who really want to spend a lot of time outside.

The cost of adding a front porch or back porch will depend on several factors, such as the finishes and decking material you choose, special upgraded features, and whether you want the porch partially or fully enclosed. That said, building a wrap around porch isn’t exponentially more expensive than building a porch on just one side. In other words, a wrap-around porch that is twice as big typically doesn’t cost twice as much. Wrap-around porches tend to be less expensive per square foot.

Does a Wrap-Around Porch Make Sense with Your Home Design?

Here at Structurally Speaking, our owner Jim has been designing custom porches and decks for decades. He knows how to create a design that feels cohesive with your home. In fact, here’s what some customers are saying about our custom porch and deck designs:

“Deck looks great. Thanks for your work and design. I think we will enjoy this set up for years to come, it really preserves the view from the dining room window and opens up to the back yard on the upper end.” – Brian Fork

“Jim and the crew of Structurally Speaking were fantastic. Jim’s ideas for the design worked much better than the ones we had in mind. The work was done quickly and professionally. Our porch looks amazing and our family (especially our kids) spend most of their time there.” – Ofri Leitner

You can read more reviews here.

While a wrap-around porch can work for most homes, we’ll start with a no-obligation free consultation to see the space available and any existing porches or decks. A wrap-around porch might not be the best option for you in terms of design. Don’t worry! If it’s not, Jim and our porch contractor team will help you come up with the best option for your home’s design and your family’s needs.

Other Advantages to a Wrap-Around Porch

Although a wrap-around porch can be a bigger and more expensive project, there are several advantages to choosing this kind of outdoor living space:

  • More space means that you can have different zones for different activities, like a dining area, play areas for the kids, and more.
  • You can choose to enclose part of the space for a screened-in porch, without having to enclose the entire thing.
  • A wrap-around porch makes it easier to entertain guests, since you can provide more seating areas.
  • You can choose where to sit at certain times of the day, depending if you want to sit in the sun or shade. We can have portions that are an uncovered wrap-around deck, as well as portions that are a covered porch if you want a variety of options.
  • Since a wrap-around porch does get different types of sun/shade based on the side of the home, you can locate planters where it makes the most sense.
  • A wrap-around porch can make use of wasted space along the side of your home that is typically not used.
  • Having any kind of outdoor living space can make your home easier to sell, should you ever want to do so.
  • With a wrap-around porch, you can have multiple access points from inside your home if you want, in order to create a cohesive flow that makes sense for foot traffic.

Again, a wrap-around porch isn’t right for everyone, and we’ll never recommend a project that isn’t perfect for your home and family. We show you detailed drawings of any design recommendations we have so you can get a sense of what the finished project will look like. At the end of the day, we want you to make the best decision for your home.

FAQs About Working with Us to Add a Wrap Around Porch

We’d love to answer any questions you may have about working with our team to build your custom porch. Here are a few frequently asked questions to get you started:

Do I need permits or permissions to build a porch?

In most cases, yes. Your county or city will require permits to add a wrap around porch. However, we take care of this for you. We build decks and porches across North Carolina and are very familiar with the process.

Will you dig a foundation for my porch?

Porches need proper structure so they will be stable for decades to come. The way we build your porch will depend on many factors, such as how big it is, the grading of your property, and the type of soil. We always use best practices to create a strong foundation.

What if I don’t like the porch design?

During the design presentation, we are happy to tweak the design or even start from scratch. We don’t start building until you are happy and excited about your new porch design. Call us today to get started with your free consultation.