Houses with a high foundation are always equipped with a porch with steps, the design of which is designed to emphasize the beauty of the building. The material for the construction can be used diverse. Also choose the type of design itself, depending on your preference. It is important to take into account the general style of the building so that all the details look harmonious. Below you will learn about the rules for the selection and preparation of materials, varieties and design of the structure.
Material selection and preparation
The porch is an important component of the house, no less than the roof, windows or foundation, so it will have to be designed and made accurate measurements.
These include:
- the span between the steps;
- base height;
- number of steps;
- depth and width of steps.
In addition to these indicators, it is worth considering materials that are useful for its construction. To equip the site using wood, tile, metal, brick, concrete, stone. It is important to consider that when installing this part of the house, the materials used must have a high coefficient of friction. This indicator is fundamental to the safety of the building.
Important! In humid and cold climates, waterproofing plays a big role. How the construction will be preserved and how long it will last depends on the correct implementation of this layer.
Given what the house is built from, you should choose the material. Most often, if the house is made of wood, then it is also built of wood. If the house is made of stone - stone, or use a combination of different types of finishes. However if the choice fell on a composition of several materials, they should be correctly combined.
If a stone house is being erected, the structure from simple staircases will look good, and you can veneer them with a ceramic coating. The wooden option is the easiest to build, since it does not require laying the foundation. But the strength of this type of structure is low, so metal can serve as an addition to wood.
Immediately before starting work, it is necessary to tie the foundation to the construction site, and mark the place of the future structure with pegs. It should be determined where the steps will be, in what quantity, and whether there will be a railing and a canopy. Next, materials are prepared in the required volume and tools for arranging the local area.
The initial stage for all types of such structures is the creation and laying of the foundation. Its depth should be the same as that of the whole house. Otherwise, when the soil shrinks, there is a possibility of deformation of the entire porch.
First you need to dig a pit, then pour a layer of gravel and sand, pour concrete, and mount the formwork from the boards. The foundation foundation is broken brick, and then a mesh of reinforcement is laid, which must be removed from the main structure. Vertical stakes are driven into this reinforcement, through which cement flows.
Wood
When constructing a wooden structure, hardwoods are used, such as: oak, maple, ash, larch, spruce, pine. The material must be completely dried and finely ground, coated with anti-slip and water repellent.
The main advantage of this type of platform in front of the front door is that the installation is quite simple, and the downside is its low resistance to adverse weather conditions.
There are two simple ways to build a wooden type:
- A stepped wooden box is installed on the foundation, the future porch itself is supported by the beams emerging from the wall of the house. Boards that relate to concrete must be treated with bitumen.
- Reinforced concrete sleepers - kosour are used. The platform itself is stacked on beams, and the stairs - on the braces. By cutting through the braids, they are attached to the foundation, and between each other - by a support board.
Metal
One of the most popular materials due to its strength is metal. So, it is necessary to drive a reinforced concrete support half a meter deep into the ground.
It is built from the following materials:
- pipes;
- channels;
- sheet iron;
- corners;
- forged items for decoration.
Such a platform is installed using a welding machine or fixing bolts. You can combine metal parts with elements from another material, such as wood. Forged decoration during construction looks aesthetically pleasing and beautiful, but the cost rises at times. And it is impossible to independently carry out forging work without special skills.
For this kind of porch, a lightweight version of laying the foundation is allowed, and sometimes the structure is erected without it at all.
These designs have such an advantage over other varieties such as strength and durability. And the disadvantages will be: constant care to avoid corrosion damage, as well as the cold of the material itself, which is unacceptable for arranging a terrace on the site in front of the front door.
Concrete
A versatile material that is affordable and durable is concrete. The platform from it does not begin to crack and stagger over time. It is also suitable for any type of decoration: stone, tile, paint. An advantageous difference of this type of platform is that it can be embodied in the most unusual form.
Materials required for the erection of a concrete porch:
- concrete;
- a mixture of cement, sand and stones;
- fittings;
- wire;
- formwork boards;
- Decoration Materials.
The work is carried out in the following sequence:
- preparation of the area for the construction;
- foundation pouring;
- construction formwork;
- formwork installation;
- concrete pouring steps;
- decoration with decorative materials.
If necessary, the concrete structure can be easily repaired in case of damage.
Video: Concrete house porch
A rock
Stone is an excellent material for building a solid porch. It is resistant to damage, durable and presentable. Outwardly, such a porch looks "antique". There are many types of stone, some types can be used to create the foundation, while others can be used for decoration. But all varieties of this material can easily counteract adverse climatic conditions. This type of porch does not require special care.
Did you know? In New York, a huge number of houses with a very high porch. At a time when people rode horses, such a height protected the house from manure (and stink from it), which accumulated on the street.
A foundation is required for such a design., it should be of the same depth as the foundation of the main structure. The stones use flat and smooth, small size. Before construction, they are cleaned of dirt and polished. Masonry is carried out using a solution, the gaps between the stones should be minimal. If the distance is large, then the stones can sag over time, and the masonry collapse.
There are several ways to build a stone structure:
- The construction of stone is not only the porch, but also the foundation. But the lining in this case can be made of tiles, boards or completely different materials.
- Both the porch and the foundation of the capital structure are built of brick or concrete, and faced with stone.
- Steps and cladding are built from massive stone (marble, granite), and the porch can be built from buta or reinforced concrete.
If the house itself is built of stone, then it will be appropriate to create columns in addition to the porch, such a design will look monumental.
Brick
There are several recommendations for building a brick porch:
- To erect a building take new material, preferably ceramics. The construction built from it will last a long time, because it will be strong and reliable.
- It is believed that such an attack should be wider than the front door to the house about 1-2 times. The site should not be higher than 0.2 m.
- Please note that if the house itself is on a high base, then most often they don’t make a monolith from brick, because it is too expensive. In this case, columns or brick walls are laid, and the empty space inside can serve for household needs.
- The foundation must be strong, filled with concrete, well dried. Clay brick is used for laying directly on the foundation. It is necessary to take care of the waterproofing of the house, so a layer of roofing material is laid out between the porch and the wall. Under a concrete base, it is necessary to pour a layer of crushed stone.
- After the foundation, they begin the construction of steps. To do this, the clone brick is used for the inner parts and the middle, and for the outer part they take the front one. To protect the extension from the effects of adverse weather conditions, the waterproofing composition is laid on the foundation in several layers.
- Next, the process of ennobling the porch takes place: erecting a visor, railing, as well as decorating the entire structure and finishing the basement.
Tile
Among other facing materials, the leading position is occupied by tile. When choosing, it should be noted that the porch is subjected to daily loads in operation and the impact of climatic conditions (temperature extremes, precipitation and icing, direct sunlight).
Therefore, before performing the work directly, you need to competently approach the choice of material and take into account all its necessary parameters for long-term use. The first step will be the selection of tiles.
She may be:
- ceramic;
- porcelain stoneware;
- clinker.
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What indicators should you pay attention to when choosing this material:
- format and caliber;
- water absorption level;
- surface hardness;
- resistance to abrasion;
- resistance to temperature extremes;
- anti-skid;
- decorativeness.
The algorithm for creating a tiled porch is as follows:
- Preparing the foundation before laying the tiles. This is usually a concrete base.
- Tile laying of the tile is done on a dry surface and the tile joints are taken into account.
- Direct laying of tiles.
- Sealing of tile joints.
Video: Laying tiles on the porch
Porch Varieties
The area in front of the door can be of several types: open type, closed and terrace. The open view of the porch is a simple low rise directly in front of the entrance door to the house. It can consist of several steps or even one.
If there is even just a canopy laid on pillars or columns, this is already considered a closed type of porch. A terrace is considered a separate view - a roomy platform that can stretch not only along one wall, but even bend around the building.
Important! According to building codes, the width of the steps of the stairs should be from 25 to 32 cm, the height from 15 to 18 cm. The number of steps must be odd.
Several intermediate types of porch can be distinguished:
Open type
The open porch is a small platform built on an elevation, consisting of one or more steps. It may have a railing (if there are more than three steps), a small canopy that does not block the area in front of the front door. And most often this type of structure is built without a visor.
The main function of this type is to provide a convenient approach to the door of the house. This type of structure is common in summer houses, which are not used in the cold season. The main advantages of the open type are ease of construction and reasonable price.
Closed type
The closed type is designed to protect the front door of the house and some space near adverse weather conditions. In winter, such a construction will not freeze, in summer it will protect the entrance from sunlight, and at any time of the year - from the flow of water in the rain.
The construction of such a porch involves the erection of a canopy, protective walls or railings and steps. This view can be divided into several subspecies: porch, fully or partially covered. The fully covered annex is a small room consisting of walls, ceiling, floor, doors.
The plus will be that you can use it as a hallway, but the minus is the expensive and costly construction and design. A partially covered porch consists of columns or pillars, a roof and steps with a railing, but the doors can be installed at your discretion.
Open or closed steps
An important element of the porch, along with steps, are risers. Their most important role is to create support for the steps themselves. In the closed version, the staircase is monolithic and integral.
Open steps are considered the best option in the design of the porch of the house. The free space under each step will create weightlessness and grace, as well as visually expand the space. Modern designers more often began to use stairs without risers.
How to make a visor
The visor plays an important role for the porch. The peak, unlike the canopy, is fixed with its base to the building, and is not reinforced with beams. Here you need to consider what material your house is built from and whether the fastening of the visor will hold firmly. When designing the visor, select the right materials to harmonize with the interior and home.
For processing the roof, polycarbonate materials, roofing iron, metal tile, corrugated board, slate, ondulin, glass are suitable. Each material has its own weight, so it is also worth considering when attaching a visor.
Did you know? Ivan the Terrible conducted a unique operation to transfer a wooden fortress. It was dismantled, each log was marked and rafted along the river, and in 24 days 75 thousand people gathered the fortress from logs back, comparable in size to the Moscow Kremlin.
When you start building, accurately calculate the dimensions of the parts used. It is recommended to leave the facade width 50 cm larger than the porch width, and the slope length not less than 70 cm. For crossbars and consoles, you need a wooden beam with a cross section of about 75 × 75 mm, for battens, you can take thinner slats - 40-50 mm.
The visor is recommended to be installed at an angle of 30 °. Before construction, all details are best treated with drying oil or paint. You can cover the canopy with any material of your choice, and fasteners to attach to the wall 2/3 of their length, so you ensure the strength and reliability of the structure.
Video: Kozirёk on the porch
Porch Design
Your comfort and convenience, as well as the appearance of the site, may depend on the construction of the porch. It can be made of wood, stone or other artificial materials. If you look into the country style, it is noticeable how laconic designers in landscape design use a wooden lining of the porch.
The tree will always look worthy if it is processed correctly. It can serve you for many more years. This option can be diversified by wrought iron benches and beautiful antique furniture, placed on the veranda. At the base of the steps and railings, flowerbeds are planted or clay pots of flowers are planted. Such a union would look great.
Also, in the design of the porch, stone or ceramic plates are often used. This texture can create the impression of a castle. Choosing the right color of the stone, you can achieve contact with the sun. The composition may contain a railing - they have a great variety.If space allows you, you can design wide steps with rounded edges, this option will maximize the space.
Now you know that the porch in a private house can be made from various materials, as well as use various design styles. There are many species varieties due to which it is possible to create a harmonious composition. The porch serves as the central figure in the overall design of the house, so it is especially important to think through every detail.