Asked on May 30, 2013

Porch on a brick ranch?

Kathy Crowe
by Kathy Crowe
We have been wanting to replace out concrete front step with wood and have thought about a porch also. Only the roof line goes the length of the house. We have about a 1.5 ft overhang off the roof. (fascia?) how would we tie in a porch roof?
front of brick ranch with planter box
  18 answers
  • Leslie D Leslie D on May 30, 2013
    This depends on your personal carpentry skills. A portion of the shingles would have to be removed, and proper attachment of your framing and substrate, and flashing added, with new roofing installed correctly to avoid future leak issues. This is a simple video to give you an idea of things to consider. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbXw518CRHU You may also want to consider a portico type porch cover, which would add some architectural interest to the front of your home, similar to this http://0.tqn.com/d/architecture/1/0/N/s/PorchVirginia.jpg .
  • Kathy Crowe Kathy Crowe on May 30, 2013
    I personally think we should remove the planter box and put a porch like deck on it with a pergola, so that it does not make the front of the house too dark. Also we desperately need to refurbish the outside, get rid of the blue. I would even paint the brick if need be. I think the house looks cold and needs warmer colors. Any thoughts or ideas appreciated.
  • Running a roof over the front porch is a fairly easy thing to do. However as you said, it will darken the inside of the house, unless you install skylights in the porch extension. Also height of the roof comes into question. You can simply extend the length of the roof from the wall area out to the edge of the new porch, but the pitch will need to change or the porch needs to be lower or the roof height will be too low by the time it reaches the edge of the porch. To prevent this you will frame another roof starting about four feet or perhaps more up the existing roof and pitch it flatter so it has a 7 or 8 foot height by the time it reaches the outer edge of the deck. As far as the planter, I would remove it completely, While it looks nice when flowers and small shrubs are in it, the soil level makes it to inviting for insects to invade your homes framing system. planters such as this are a nightmare to prevent moisture and insects. And when they are as high as yours is, this makes it even worse. Lastly I would when doing the deck remove the front door and the two brick walls on each side and install a larger door with sidelites to brighten up the entrance inside the home.
  • Jenny@birdsandsoap Jenny@birdsandsoap on May 31, 2013
    I would create a gable that runs the opposite direction of your existing roofline over the porch. same pitch as your existing roof to tie it in to the existing structure. It would certainly add a lot of dimension and needed character. Ranch homes tend to be so BORING on the outside, good luck!
    • Sue Sue on Jul 26, 2014
      @Jenny@birdsandsoap Just looked at your porch and other photos. Beautiful!!!
  • Kathy Crowe Kathy Crowe on May 31, 2013
    love that porch Jenny! Well we will be doing something soon as this look is awful. We bought this house when my father went into the nursing home and have been doing inside projects most of the time. But, wow seeing the house in this picture is disturbing. It needs a facelift and fast!
  • PAVERS DEPOT PAVERS DEPOT on Jun 01, 2013
    TEAR OFF THE GUTTER AND ATTACH TO THE FACIA YOURFIRST PLATE FOR YOUR SHED TYPE ROOF. PULL BACK YOUR FIRST ROW OF SHINGLES AND US A PEAL AND STICK PRODUCT TO COVER THE JOINT. ALLOW ENOUGH PITCH TO SHED WATER CORRECTLY. ELEVATE YOUR DECK POSTS TO BE ABLE TO COVER YOUR PORCH (EXISTING) WITH A 2X6. YOU HAVE A PRRCH. TRIM IT AS YOU PLEASE..
  • Letitia Letitia on Nov 20, 2014
    Ranch porch stoops are the pits. Not big enough to do much with. Be careful with the Do -It Yourself project though. You don't want to ruin your roof line. I purchased a 50s ranch that the previous owner caused a great deal of unnecessary water damage. Might be the one time that you pay a professional. It sure would have been a lot less headache for us. My ranch was the same color. I purchased brick stain. A little tedious but the house looks new. Lots of compliments. Good Luck!
  • Christine Brown Christine Brown on Dec 02, 2014
    @16 results are available, use up and down arrow keys to navigate.hometalkI would cut the porch off at the end of shutters, use the brick to end the planter box. I would take out all the porch and make a beautiful wooden stairs. Their are some rubber squares I would cut to fit, but make sure you use good paint. The rubbber makes them soft and durable from weather. Or use that vinyle they use for decks and never worry about termites. The rubber is 12 by 12 in garden area. You would never have to touch your roof there now, but you could add if you want covered.
  • Kristy Champion Kristy Champion on Jan 25, 2015
    I have same porch. I plan to widen the steps (they will still be concrete) and install hand rail on each side that attaches to house and is anchored into the ground at the base (to make safe and sturdy for visitors.) It won't be a huge change, but I think it will open up the porch and make it look larger....more of a focal point for front of the house.
  • Linda 4 Real Linda 4 Real on Oct 25, 2015
    I'm planning this now, I think I'm going to do a large with plenty of depth and offset on the front door Mark. I will have to plan a roof they marries to cottage style porch on a long ranch. Not sure how to pitch roof or choose posts???
  • Sandy Hopper Webster Sandy Hopper Webster on Jul 21, 2016
    When we had a new roof put on our house, we had them extend out so it covered our extended porch. Looks like it was always there and is my favorite 'Ron' in our house
  • Dea Dea on Nov 04, 2016
    Please take the planter box out and the stones along the walk. Take the carpet away. Remove the side walk and put a wider walk(4.5ft). with a curve going out from the house to the driveway.This will give you room to put a group of plants between the walk and house. it will soften the homes curb appeal.If you must paint the current porch make it concrete color and paint the front door a color that says here is my home!. Porch paint can have a special additive put in it to help stop any slipping.
  • Cherol Cherol on Nov 08, 2016
    You should have shown a full view. However, you can add a porch to the front of a ranch home, and completely change the look and style of the home. I had thought about ranch home but they lack charm. You would need to increase the foot print of the roof also. I had thought about buying a brick ranch. one of the 1st things is to decide how large of a porch do you want; it could be small or run the entire length of the house. I would add a pouch that was 60% of the length of the house. I have the roof of the porch in front of the door be raise into an A-line pitch higher than the current roof. I would paint the brick. I would use one of the two color schemes: 1. body-grey, shutters-black, door-red, and trim-white, roof-black grey coloration or 2. body-taupe, shutters brown or dark taupe, trim-cream, door-dark teal, roof shingles brown taupe coloration. I will not look like the same house. Just goggle ranch homes with front porches.
  • Dff11150295 Dff11150295 on Dec 18, 2016

    Keep in mind adding a roof over your windows is going to cut off light to the inside of your house. But since you hate the look now, it might be worth it to you.

  • Cherol Cherol on Dec 19, 2016

    Yes she may lose some light but the change will be significant and it will bring charm and character to a ranch home. I would also make all front facing windows full length.

  • Wanda sinnema Wanda sinnema on Jan 06, 2017

    I also have a ranch-- Yes the front entry is horrible.. 1 step and a 3 X 3 slab..In the last couple of weeks HGTV has had several redo's on FIXER UPPER.. I'd take any one of them.. From a dormer style entry pulled out front to a FULL front porch... check it out.. I love Joanna Gaines ideas,, cute couple....nice family

  • Dehumphries Dehumphries on Apr 15, 2018

    Is there any chance you'd use a porch? It can add curb appeal and extra outdoor living space, however if this is west facing you have to consider the sun and if applicable heat!