Cost of Building a Porch

Looking to find out how much it costs to build a porch?

On average, you'll pay around £4000, but this will depend on a few things.

In this guide, we breakdown the porch extension cost for different types of porches, such as a rear porch, wooden porch and more!

This way, it makes it easy for you to calculate how much a porch will cost before they hire contractors.

If you're just looking for a quote, take a look at MyJobQuote's porch builders here.

Let's get started below!

How Much Does a Porch Build Cost?

A new porch is a wonderful addition to any home!

So, what are the benefits of building a porch?

It’s a great way of adding a little bit of extra space to your property while adding an extra sense of security.

It’s also a great way to let in light and offers a great place to store things like shoes and coats for when you’re in and out of the house.

Building a new porch is a very time-consuming job, so you’ll want to hire a professional tradesperson or company to carry out the job for you.

A professional will be able to go through everything with you, including the design options, prices involved, and the timescales that you should expect the job to take.

You’ll want to build something that looks natural and blends in with the design of your home. The specialist that you hire will be able to go through all of the design elements with you and will help you come up with the ideal design to suit your home.

Understanding this is a timely and costly undertaking and the first step in executing and installing a new porch.

How much will a porch cost to build, then?

The average cost of building a porch that’s 3-metres will run between £3,000-£5,000.

This guide aims to highlight all of the potential costs involved with building a new porch and what you should expect to pay for your particular preferences:

Porch Build Prices

Below is a table of the prices that you should expect to pay for building a new porch on your existing property.

Below is a table of the prices you should expect to pay individually for each different element of building a porch:

Labour Costs and Timescales

Labour costs will vary based on the job at hand; however, below is a table of the typical rates that you should expect to pay for the labour of building a new porch:

Depending on the type of porch that you are looking to build and the elements that you want to be installed, you may not need all of the above tradespeople.

The above is just a general guide of the labour costs involved if you were looking to hire individuals for each element of the job at hand.

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Additional Costs

When building a new porch on your existing property, there are a number of additional costs that you may need to think about depending on your needs. Below is a list of the additional costs that may arise when building a new porch.

Supply Costs Only

Although it isn’t recommended, perhaps you’re interested in taking on this project yourself. If that were the case, you might be wondering what the supply only costs are of building a new porch on your existing property.

Below is a list of all of the different supplies that you may need when building a porch yourself and the prices of each item.

Timber Frames

Timber frames for a porch can range anywhere between £750-£2,800 depending on the design and size that you are looking for. A small basic timber frame for a porch will set you back around £750-£1,000 whereas a large solid oak frame will cost around £2,300-£2,800.

Bricks

You will need to calculate how many bricks you need depending on the size of the porch you are building. One brick costs around £0.40-£1.00.

If you can accurately estimate the number of bricks you will need for your particular porch; you can easily estimate how much of your budget you will need to set aside for bricks.

Roof Tiles

If you are building a porch that requires roof tiles, you will be looking at the cost of around £0.80-£1.80 per roof tile.

If you can estimate the number of tiles that you will need based on the size of your porch roof, then you will easily be able to estimate the total cost that needs to be set aside for roof tiles.

Flat Roof Rubber

Flat rubber roof prices start from around £80 per metre squared. If you have the measurements available for your particular porch roof, you will easily be able to estimate the amount of your budget that needs to be set aside for a flat rubber roof.

Porch Flooring

You will need to think about the type of flooring that you are going to have in your porch. Most porches act as a port of entry to the home and so are usually laid with either tiled or wood flooring. Tiled flooring will set you back around £20 per square metre, and wood flooring will cost around £30 per square metre.

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Cost Factors of Building a New Porch

There are a number of factors that can affect the cost of building a porch. Below is a list of cost factors that you should be aware of before you decide to build your new porch.

Size of the Porch

As you can expect, the larger the porch, the more it is going to cost you. For the entire cost of a porch, you will be looking at paying approximately £1,400 per square metre. So with this in mind, you can see how the price can drastically rise if you choose to build a larger porch.

Number of Windows

A new window for your porch will cost between £300-£1,000. Therefore, the more windows you want to have in your porch, the more it is going to cost you.

Style of Roof

The two most popular styles of roof for a porch are a tiled roof and a rubber flat roof. Roof tiles tend to work out more expensive than a flat roof.

You should expect to pay around £0.80-£1.80 per roof tile and around £80 per metre square of flat rubber roofing.

Type of Porch

Types of porches can vary in price also. For example, if you would like a lean-to, you can expect a uPVC porch cost to be around £2,500, whereas a flat gable roof porch costs roughly £3,500.

What's Involved in Building a New Porch?

Building a porch can be a difficult job, and it’s important that the job is done safely, precisely, and accurately. Therefore, it is recommended that you hire a professional to build your porch for you.

However, the eight steps below explain how to build a basic enclosed brick porch that features windows and a door:

• The first step in building a porch is to lay the foundations.
• The second step is to lay down the damp proof course.
• After you have laid down the damp proof course, you must lay concrete over the top. This concrete acts as a subfloor.
• The fourth step in building the porch is to begin laying the bricks and lay the floor.
• It is now time to lay your flooring on top of the damp-proof course.
• If you are planning on installing windows on your porch, you will now need to lay bricks up to the window level.
• When all of the brickwork has been completed, you can then work on building the roof.
• Once your roof is complete, you should add guttering.
• Once all of the above steps are complete, you can then install the windows and doors to your porch, and you can plaster and decorate it how you wish.

Types of Porch

There are many different types of porch, and each one comes with their own set of advantages and disadvantages. Below are the different types of porches that you can add to your existing home and the pros and cons of each one.

UPVC Porch

UPVC porches are a traditional style of porch that uses uPVC as the primary material. Due to the ease of customisation, uPVC porches are very popular.

Pros

• ✔ Completely weather resistant
• ✔ Low maintenance
• ✔ Good value for money

Cons

• ✖ Lack of character

Lean To Porch

A lean-to porch is a porch that is an addition to the structure of the home and appears as if it is leaning onto the side of the building. It is a popular type of porch and is quite easy to build.

Pros

• ✔ Blends in well to most homes
• ✔ Simple
• ✔ Easy to build
• ✔ Can easily be removed
• ✔ Perfect for small spaces

Cons

• ✖ Don’t offer as much protection as other porch styles

Glass Porch

A glass porch is one that is made up of mostly glass. This type of porch is great for letting a lot of natural light into the home.

Pros

• ✔ Let in a lot of light
• ✔ Easy to clean and maintain

Cons

• ✖ Lack of privacy
• ✖ Fragile
• ✖ Quite pricey

Aluminium

An aluminium porch is one that is made up of mostly aluminium materials. It is the perfect type of porch for places with extreme weather conditions.

Pros

• ✔ Extremely tough and strong
• ✔ Lightweight and flexible
• ✔ Unlimited choice of colours

Cons

• ✖ Quite pricey

Timber Porch

A timber porch is one where the structure is made up of mostly timber. It is a fairly easy porch to build, and the material is well-priced.

Pros

• ✔ Budget-friendly
• ✔ Easy to work with

Cons

• ✖ Can scratch, stain, and splinter easily
• ✖ High maintenance

Things to Consider Before Building a Porch

When you are ready to build your new porch, you need to choose a good tradesperson or company to carry out the job. A good trade company will discuss design, implement your ideas, listen to your desires and work out a design that you will love for a reasonable price.

In addition to choosing the right company, you need to think about the materials, design, and overall finish of your porch. This helps to ensure you can afford your perfect porch and will also help you to determine how long the job is going to take.

If you wish to build a porch with a custom paint job, and a unique design then you need to make sure you budget accordingly. Most contractors will charge additional fees for custom designs, and unique work so keep this in mind when deciding on the ornate detail work you would like to see on the new porch.

Lastly, make sure you have a full written quote and guarantees. This is not just so you know exactly what you are paying for the design and finish, but also so that you know how long the porch will take to complete, and all of the guarantees that the company offers to you.

Will I Need Planning Permission to Build a New Porch?

To add a small porch to the front of your property, you won’t usually need planning permission. You will only need to apply for planning permission if your porch meets any of the following criteria:

• The external ground floor area exceeds three square metres.
• Any area of the porch is more than three metres above ground level.
• If any area of the porch is within two metres of any boundary.
• If any area of the porch is within two metres of any public roads.
• If any area of the porch is within two metres of any public footpaths.

If you do find that you need planning permission for your porch, this will cost you £172 in England.

What Type of Roof Can I Have on My Porch?

There are several different roof designs for porches in the UK. Below is a list of the most popular types of porch roof and some information on each of the different types.

Pitched Porch Roof Cost

A pitched roof is a great design that works well on the majority of homes. It is perfect for those who have wider homes or for homes that have a small front garden with not as much room.

Price per m² – £30-£65

Gable End Pitched Porch Roof Cost

A gable end pitched roof is the perfect choice for homes that have a good amount of room at the front. Similar to pitched roofs, a lot of homeowners like to use the peak at the front area of the porch as a nice decorative feature.

Price per m² - £30-£65

Flat Porch Roof Cost

A flat roof offers a very subtle and contemporary look to your porch. Flat roofs are best for homes that feature a large window above the space where the porch is being built.

They are also great for bungalows that have a low roofline.

Price per m² - £35-£70

Double Hipped to Wall Porch Roof Cost

A double hipped to wall roof is very similar to a pitched roof; however, they offer a more traditional look to the property. This type of roof is perfect for older properties as they are Elizabethan in design.

Price per m² - £50-£100

Double Hipped to Ridge Porch Roof Cost

This design of roof is much larger than other designs and so works best on homes where spacing isn’t an issue. It is quite a modern design and can be fitted with French doors for a wonderfully grand entrance.

Price per m² - £25-£60

Single Hipped Porch Roof Cost

Single hipped roofs are a very neat design and are smaller than most other roof designs. This type of roof is perfect for properties where the floor space comes at a premium. They’re also great for homes where the front elevation appearance can’t be altered.

Price per m² - £30-£65

Why Should I Build a Porch?

There are many reasons why you may want to build a porch onto your home. Some of the main reasons you may want to add a porch to your existing property are listed below:

• More space – Homeowners often crave more space in their homes and a porch is a great way to introduce some extra space in your property.
• A better entrance to the home – A porch offers a grander entrance to the home.
• Keep the heat inside the property – A porch is a separate room which means that you don’t have to open the front door and let all the heat out. Instead, the heat can remain in the home, and the cold air from outside will only enter the porch area.
• More security – A porch offers an extra layer of security to the house. You can have a lock on the external door as well as the door that enters the home.
• Storage opportunities – You can store many things in a porch such as your shoes and coats which will free up space in the home.
• Increase the value of the house – A porch adds value to your home, which is great for if you decide to sell your home down the line.
• Aesthetically pleasing - A porch is a beautiful addition to the outside of your home and is very pleasing to the eye.

Can I Build a New Porch Myself?

Building a porch is a complex job and will take a minimum of 2-3 weeks to complete. The job requires a lot of specific knowledge in terms of materials, design, and execution. With this in mind, building a porch is a job that is best left to licensed professionals. Due to the complexity of the job, it is always recommended that you hire a company or tradesperson with the skills required to build a porch.

It is also important to make sure that your porch fits in with building regulations. This is so that, if you ever come to sell your property, you will have all of the correct paperwork. A professional porch builder will know everything necessary to carry out the correct work needed to fit in with building regulations.

If you decide to build your porch yourself, you will save money in the short term as you won’t have to fork out for the cost of labour. This can save you a few hundred pounds as labourers tend to charge around £14-£30 per hour. However, if you are not fully competent and don’t have the advanced knowledge needed to build a good and reliable porch, you may end up having to spend even more down the line.

Cost of Removing a Porch

There are many reasons why you may want to remove a porch. Perhaps it is up against an older home with issues that require remodelling, or maybe you want to make room for a new installation, or you may find that you just don’t want a porch anymore. Below is a list of the steps that you will need to take in order to remove a porch.

Preparation

Before you begin the dismantling process, you will need to make a plan for removing the rubbish. It is a good idea to hire a skip from a local company. A one-week skip hire will cost you around £200 to £250.

You should start by cutting the power to your porch area so that you can safely remove all of the necessary wirings during the demolition.

Removing the Roof

It is safest to begin by removing the roof from your porch. Start with the guttering and any trim work. You may find that you need to get a hammer to some of the tougher areas, or if any parts are screwed on, be sure to unscrew them before you start trying to remove them.

Once this is complete, scrape away any underlays or waterproofing to expose the roof panelling. Some tougher panelling may need to be pried loose, and others will simply unscrew. If you are not planning on reusing the materials, it can make the job easier if you saw the roofing panels into smaller, manageable pieces.

Removing Walls

Start by removing any windows and doors from the walls. From there, you can begin to knock down the walls, being very careful to avoid any falling debris. It is always best to work on a small area at a time and make your way along the wall until all of the bricks and panelling have been loosened and removed. For the sake of safety, start from the top of the wall and work your way down to avoid any large debris from falling onto your head.

Removing the Flooring

For wood flooring or vinyl flooring, it is easiest to remove this by cutting into it. Set the depth of a circular saw to around ¾ of an inch and then cut the flooring material plus the subfloor into manageable 3-foot sections.

Be sure to sink the saw into everything at once and then pry them away from the floor joists. Tiled and stone flooring is a little bit more difficult as this will require the use of a jackhammer to expose the subfloor. Finish up by cutting the floor joists down and prying them loose.

If you are thinking of hiring someone to remove a porch for you, you will be looking at paying somewhere between £14-£20ph for the labour.

Hiring a Porch Builder Checklist

• Hire a company that will work with you on all areas of the design of your new porch until you are completely happy with the proposed design.
• Make sure the company will include detail work and that they can supply the materials that you want for your new porch.
• Consider if they are able to provide custom design work if required.
• Make sure they work on the foundations before construction commences so that you can be sure your porch is on level and even ground.

FAQs

Sources

https://www.self-build.co.uk/hiring-trades
https://www.roofingsuperstore.co.uk/blog/how-to-build-a-porch
http://www.wisegeek.net/what-are-the-pros-and-cons-of-a-glass-porch.htm
https://www.on-magazine.co.uk/homes/thinking-of-adding-a-porch-to-your-house
https://www.doineedplanningpermission.co.uk/for/porch/planning-permission/#page
https://www.anglianhome.co.uk/porches/porch-buying-guide/choosing-your-preferred-porch-style
https://www.hamiltonwindows.co.uk/advantages-of-a-porch