Installing a porch is one of the best ways to make your home look stylish and modern. Pulling out the front side of your house, especially at the door, makes the entrance more appealing. Further, it creates a focal point of your house which completes the beauty of your home.
A well-designed porch offers additional space where you can store your boots, bags, and other bulky and hard-to-store belongings. Also, the porch space is a nice and inviting place where you can relax and unwind while taking a cup of tea as you admire your abode.
Plus, a porch can be a good way to prevent heat from escaping, thus keeping your house warm during chilly weather. But how much can it cost to install a porch? Most people assume that installing a porch is expensive. However, when done right by experienced professionals, a porch is a great way to increase your home’s value and make your home look elegant.
For that reason, we will cover the porch installation cost in 2022. We covered everything that affects the cost of installing a porch and how you can save money on porch installation. Further, we will cover how you can get and hire a porch installer. We will show how you can ensure the professional you hire is the right one.
How Much Does Porch Installation Cost
The cost you will incur while installing a porch will vary depending on the styles and sizes available. However, the typical cost of a new porch ranges between £1,500 and £5,000, depending on the rates offered by the porch installers you hire.
Let us look at the porch cost based on other factors such as the style and material.
| Porch Material | Porch Style | Estimated Cost (Including Labour Cost) | Time Needed |
| uPVC | Lean-to | £2,000 to £3,500 | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Roof gable | £2,000 to £4,000 | 1 to 2 weeks | |
| Edwardian | £2,500 to £5,000 | 1 to 2 weeks | |
| Victorian | £2,500 to £5,000 | 1 to 2 weeks | |
| Brick | £1,500 to £5,000 | 1 to 2 weeks | |
| Aluminium | £2,500 to £4,500 | 3 to 5 days |
Using uPVC material on your porch can cost you £2,000 to £3,500 for lean to porch style. As the name suggests, the lean-to porch style leans on the existing structure of your house. As a result, they eliminate the need for standalone structures, which in return minimises the cost.
On the other hand, you can install a uPVC roof gable porch at the cost of £2,000 to £4,000. The roof gable porches create an attractive focal point for your house. Also, they act as a shelter against the scorching sun and rain to anyone waiting for the door to be opened before they enter the house.
Further, the uPVC Edwardian porch is another style that can cost you between £2,500 and £5,000. The Edwardian porch style has been there since the 1900s. They commonly consist of a large front door and a glass of different colours based on your choice. Also, they have an elegant frame enclosing the doorways, thus making them more rigid and strong.
Finally, we have a Victorian uPVC porch which you can expect to pay between £2,500 to £5,000. The Victorian porch has ornate frames surrounding your house door, forming a latticework pattern. This pattern gives the house an elegant look that is worth the cost.
Apart from uPVC porches, you can as well try porches made of brick if you like the aesthetic appeal. Brick porches give your house a traditional look yet stylish and trendy. They can cost you £1,500 to £5,000, and it only takes an experienced installer one to two weeks to finish the workload.
Similarly, you can try aluminium-made porches if uPVC and brick-made porches are not your cup of tea. You can expect to pay between £1,500 to £4,500 to install the aluminium porches. Unlike brick porches, they are beautiful and take a short time to install, between three to five days. However, the aluminium porches are prone to rust and wear and hence less durable than the uPVC and brick porches. If you’re looking to renovate your house, you can also check out the house extension costs and services on Bark.
The time needed to construct a porch ranges from one to two weeks, regardless of the type and material used. However, installing porches is not easy; thus, a lot of time is needed to do a good job. So, one to two weeks duration is an estimate which can increase due to disruptions in the process.
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What Affects the Cost of Installing Porch
As you can see from the price table above, there is no fixed cost for installing a porch. All the costs vary, which can be high or low depending on your budget. Thus, knowing the key factors influencing the porch installation cost is essential.
The following are major factors that will lower or raise the cost of your porch:
Porch Style and Material
As we mentioned previously, the cost of your porch will vary depending on the porch style and material. The cost will vary whether you choose uPVC, brick, or aluminium-made porches. For instance, aluminium-made porches are more expensive than uPVC porches, which tend to be more costly than brick porches.
On the other hand, the cost of the porch will vary depending on the style you choose. The most common style uses dwarf brickworks which involves building the porch using brick up to waist height and glazing the upper part. Even though this brickwork porch style looks elegant, it is costly as you can pay £55 for every square metre installed.
Likewise, the cost of uPVC porches varies according to the style. The Victorian and Edwardian styles are the most expensive as they look more classic.
Your Location
You will need permission to keep construction vehicles on the road while carrying out porch installation. The fees add to the porch installation cost and vary depending on your geological location.
For instance, the cost of the permits will be higher in London but lower in the other local areas.
Flooring Type
The flooring you choose can drastically affect the cost of installing porches. If you choose to tile, it will cost you £30 per square metre whilst carpet will cost £18 per square metre.
Further, laminate and wooden floors will cost you £16 per square metre, which is the cheapest of all known floor types.
Roof Style
The most significant feature of modern porches is the roof style. You do not want to integrate a roof style that makes your house appear like an eyesore. Instead, it would be best to incorporate a slate roof style that matches your house. However, it will incur an additional cost.
A flat roof is the cheapest roof style as you can expect to pay £30 per square metre. But, if you want to install the Edwardian or Victorian roof style, it will cost you £50 per square metre and an additional £12 per metre for guttering.
Size of the Porch
You can spend a little money installing a porch if you prefer small-sized porches. This is because the cost of installing porches increases with an increase in size, making large porches more costly. However, an average-sized porch can cost you between £1,000 and £1,200 per square metre.
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Planning Permission
You will require planning permission to construct large porches, mainly three metres and above. In return, the cost of obtaining the planning permission alters the total cost of porch installation, and it varies depending on your location.
For example, it will cost you about £200 in Scotland, £150 to £200 in England, and around £250 in Wales.
Glazing
In the interest of your preferred style, you can decide to have your windows and doors glazed. Further, if you choose the Edwardian style, you may prefer coloured glass inserts to feature on the windows or doors to make them look more stylish. As a result, all those initiatives will bump up the cost of installing your porch.
Finishing
Opting for brick porches will require you to plaster and paint the porch to achieve high quality and a good finish. This will add to the cost of installing the porch, although you can avoid it by choosing either aluminium or uPVC porches.
Electrics
You need to include wiring on your porch mainly for lighting. As a result, the wiring cost will affect the porch installation’s total cost.
How Can I Save Money on Porch Installation?
You must select a porch installation offer that keeps the cost as minimum as possible throughout the installation process.
Having said that, the following are the best practices that you should do to save money on porch installation:
Keep the Porch Simple
If you have a small budget for installing a porch, a lean-to-porch can be cheaper than Victorian porches and ornate gabled roof styles. You can get ideas on how to install a simpler porch from top designers. Also, you can choose to install a porch with fewer windows to reduce the cost.
Select Cost-Effective Porch Materials
Choosing more cost-effective materials like uPVC or brick can help lower the structural cost. Aluminium front porches are waterproof and durable but might be unnecessary if you live in areas that do not experience harsh weather conditions.
Recall the Value Added Benefits
Adding a porch to your home will increase the price when you decide to sell it in the future. This is a great value-added benefit of your building work because you will recapture the initial building price in the sale price.
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What Type of Porch Installation Is Best
Porch installation involves different styles and materials, having some more suitable for your house than others. To help you choose a perfect porch installation for your home, the following are the advantages and disadvantages of the three known types of porch installation.
Advantages of uPVC Porches
uPVC porches are available in various types, such as roof gable, Victorian, Edwardian, and lean, depending on the construction style. The uPVC is commonly preferred in these porch styles because it is long-lasting and offers an excellent home aesthetic. Further, other advantages of the uPVC include:
- Ease to use and maintain
- Durable
- Offers insulation against sound and any other form of noise pollution
- Have high thermal and energy efficiency
- Resistant to rusting and rotting
- Termite-free
- Highly customisable
Disadvantages uPVC Porches
- Prone to sagging as they are not structurally as strong as aluminium
- Hard to modify during renovations
Advantages Brick Porches
Unlike uPVC porches, the brick porches are more solid and have substantial strength. Further, other reasons why many people prefer brick porches include:
- Needs far less maintenance
- Resistance to breaking, rotting, rusting, and bending hence durable
- Enhance the aesthetic look of the house
- Flexible in terms of structure as you can choose between rounded, squared or any other structure depending on your preferences
Disadvantages Brick Porches
- Prone to cracking when there is variation in temperatures and also a lack of proper foundation
- Expensive and labour intensive to construct
Advantages Aluminium Porches
Constructing an aluminium porch is a good idea since aluminium is lightweight, fairly strong and resistant to corrosion and water damage. Other advantages of aluminium include:
- Pest resistant hence termite free
- Low maintenance required
- Simple to install, thus not labour intensive
- Higher thermal efficiency than uPVC
Disadvantages Aluminium Porches
- Aluminium is brittle and thus tends to crack and break with impact.
- High cost of construction due to the overall cost of material and machinery needed
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What Is Involved in Porch Installation?
Building a porch is not an easy task. Thus, hiring a professional to safely, accurately, and precisely install your porch is advisable. However, if you have basic knowledge of construction, you can apply simple steps to build a porch for yourself.
The first step involves laying the foundations. You must ensure that the foundations are deep enough to provide ample stability. The foundation depths can vary depending on the pipes and the cables running underneath. After that, you should set down the damp-proof course. This will hinder any plant from growing below and tearing through the foundations. Moreover, it also blocks dampness from leaking.
The next step is to lay concrete on the top, which usually acts as a subfloor. It would be best if you did not forget to lay the concrete higher to create space for other flooring materials. After that, lay the bricks uniformly and accurately to ease the flooring process. Here it would help if you began building your porch up to the damp-proof membrane.
After that, lay the flooring on the top part of the damp-proof membrane; you must lay it carefully and uniformly. Then add a cover to block water damage while still in the installation process. If you are installing windows, you will lay bricks up to the level of the window in this stage. If otherwise, then continue with the brickwork up to the roof timbers.
When the brickwork is complete, focus on building the roof. Begin by creating a timber framework, then install a waterproof roof membrane that can protect the porch from harsh weather elements. Further, lay your roof tiles or the roofing sheets. However, this will depend on the roof type chosen.
Once the roofing is complete, add guttering. This will prevent water damage which can compromise the structure of the porch . In addition, it will improve drainage and reduce flooding around the porch. Finally, you can do the finishing touches to your porch, such as plastering, painting, and installing a lighting system.
How Do I Find and Hire a Professional?
The best way to find and hire a porch professional is through friends, family cohorts, and neighbours. Asking them to recommend their trusted porch installer can help you save the time you would spend looking for a perfect match for your requirements.
Sometimes it can be hard to bypass rogue traders. Some online traders advertise their skills to entice customers, yet what they do in reality does not match what they claim to.
However, Bark comes in handy if getting recommendations from your friends is impossible. You can join Bark to find a trusted porch installer near you. It is the leading online marketplace made of serial entrepreneurs passionate about helping people find what they need quickly. The marketplace finds and locates pros who can get any job done effectively. You can also use bark for other services like tree removals.
Thus, not only will Bark help you avoid wasting time while hopping between websites, but also it will show a list of competent porch installers for you to review. You will have the privilege to check different profiles, read customer reviews, and have your questions answered to help make sound decisions. Most importantly, Bark provides all these services free of charge.
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Ensuring the Professional Is the Right Fit
Like any other job, evaluating every trader’s competency before signing contracts when searching for a porch installer is crucial. Ask them to share photos and videos of their previous works if possible. That way, you will be able to tell if their work experience matches your expectations or else what the trader says on their website is what they are capable of doing.
If your friend or neighbour recommends a particular porch installer, ask them to let you see the work the installer did for them. Likewise, ask your friend or neighbour to reach out to the installer on your behalf, as it will create more trust between the installer and the friend regarding your projects.
Further, it is essential to acquire a written quote. This helps avoid unnecessary invoicing due to additional fees that were not included at the start of the project. Also, the written quote serves as a reference for both parties in case of confusion on what exactly should be in the initial agreement.
Moreover, referring to customer reviews is another good way to vet porch installers. Whatever a customer says about a particular trader is used as a basis of whether the work ethic of that trader suits what you are looking for.
Finally, every porch installer should have their insurance. This is a safety measure in the event of accidents, which you need to cross-check if the traders have before they get into your site.
Final Checklist
Do you need to increase the square footage of your home and finally get a place where you can stow away your soggy boots, umbrellas, and big winter coats? No doubt, a porch has numerous advantages to your home; hence installing one is worth your money.
Here are the factors you should check out first to ensure you get everything right:
- Range out the design that you wish to have. Would you prefer a modern or classic design?
- Think of something that will match perfectly with the existing house design.
- Check whether planning permission is required. Your porch might be installed higher than the amount permitted for developing such structures.
- Choose the material that you want depending on the appearance you wish to achieve.
- Find a legitimate trader using Bark. This will save you money plus your time.
- Get a list of the materials and an agreed written quote.
- Prepare yourself for a few days of disruption.
- Then, you can enjoy your newly installed porch.
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FAQs About Porch Installation
- What is a porch?
A porch, by definition, is a covered area usually attached to a building at the entrance. A porch is built near the entrance of a house but can also be at the back or the front of a building. They are part of the house design offering an easy passage between indoors and outdoors.
In most cases, porches match the interior designs of a building to make the house appear more appealing. They form an excellent entrance that adds aesthetic value to your home and a complete curb appeal.
- How long can it take to build a porch?
The time needed to complete building a porch can vary. This is because porches are built in different sizes. On average, constructing a porch can take two to three days or up to two weeks. On the other hand, those requiring larger projects and more significant work can take longer to complete.
- What are the benefits of a porch?
A porch can provide countless benefits to your home. It can provide extra living space where you can put shoes, umbrellas or anything intended for outdoor elements instead of keeping them indoors. A well-built porch increases the aesthetic look of your homestead.
In addition, a porch gives you a lovely outdoor space where you can relax and chat with your family members or visitors. Moreover, a porch can offer extra security to your home.
- How can I choose the best flooring for my porch?
There are different types of materials that you can choose when flooring your new porch. These materials include tongue and groove porch flooring, traditional wood, and low-maintenance decking. Also, you can use hardscape materials for a covered porch.
In general, the style of a flooring porch is an individual preference. However, pressure-treated wood can be a great choice because the floor area will be covered and safe from harsh weather. On the other hand, you can use tongue and groove flooring to enhance the beauty and create a good profile.
- How can I keep my porch clean?
Your porch elevation will influence the dirt amount entering the porch. So, if your porch is much higher from the ground, it will stay clean compared to the one closer to the ground. However, dirt and some dust are expected in any porch setting.
Also, a porch can eliminate those wet and muddy footprints before entering your house. You can keep your home mud-free by placing mud and dirt-trapper mats at the entrance.
You can use leaf blowers to clean to keep the interior parts of your porch tidy. This is a convenient solution because it is fast and effective. In most cases, dust and mud are the main cause of your porch getting soiled and dirty. Nonetheless, the best way to keep your porch clean is to regularly sweep or blow dust out on the top and inner parts using a leaf blower.
- Can rain enter the porch easily?
Heavy rains may cause intrusion into the porch. This can happen on a traditional porch because it is open on three sides. Moreover, the degrees in which your porch overhangs will also dictate the amount of rain that will blow inside the porch.
Thus, to avoid such occurrence, the roof of your porch must be large enough to allow a good buffer zone for protection. Further, you can choose to add convertible porch systems like screens and window panels. These systems act as a barrier against harsh weather conditions and keep the inside of your porch dry.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Porch Installation
Advantages
- It creates extra space for storage.
- A porch adds an aesthetic appeal to your home and increases home value.
- It offers added protection from outside elements such as heavy rains and mud.
- Enclosed porches help keep your house warm in chilly weather.
- Additional outdoor space for relaxation.
Disadvantages
- Installing a porch can be costly, depending on the design.
- You need to secure permits and pay fees when you want a bigger porch.
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