What should I look for when hiring a porch builder?
When looking for a professional to build your new porch, make sure you complete the following steps:
Verify their license and insurance: Depending on your state and local requirements, a contractor’s license may be required to build your porch. It may need to be general contractors or have a specialty, like carpentry. Do your research to find out. Also, make sure your pro is insured and that the coverage is sufficient in case of any damage during your build.
Get several estimates: Your estimate should have a breakdown of costs, such as labor, materials, fees, disposal costs, and other associated expenses you can expect during your porch build. It may also include the costs of potential additions you may be interested in.
Read their reviews: Details are always good to look for in reviews. Green flag reviews will include timeliness, quality, professionalism, and similar positive experiences. Red flags often include reviews that discuss unhappiness with the final product, unexplained delays, not sticking with the estimate, and other negative experiences.
Look at their portfolios: Pictures are worth a thousand words. Check the portfolio for past projects to help spark ideas for what you want and to get an idea of the craftsmanship you can expect.
Find out if they have warranties: Find out what exactly is covered and how long the warranty lasts. You should check the fine print and ask any questions you may have about it.
Ask important questions: For example, get their pitch on what separates them from other local porch builders and find out how many projects they have tackled that are similar to yours and how long will it take to build your porch.
For more tips, visit Thumbtack’s Smart Hiring page.
How much does a new porch cost?
The national average cost to build a porch ranges from around $3,060 to $14,660*, according to Thumbtack data.
There are several factors that might impact the cost of your new porch, including:
Size: The bigger the porch, the more labor and materials are usually needed to build it.
Materials: There are several options for the types of wood, hardware, and other materials that can impact the cost of your porch.
Porch type: The type can also factor in. For instance, a small front stoop tends to be less costly than a back porch. But a back porch usually costs less than a wraparound porch.
Design: If your porch is very basic, it will likely cost less than a porch that includes build-ins like a roof, benches, outdoor kitchen areas, or other add-ons.
New vs. replacement: If you have an existing porch, demolishing, and removing it may impact your price.
Permits: You may need to obtain a permit to build your porch. If so, make sure you understand the cost and factor it into your budget.
You might be able to save money on your project with these tips:
DIY your removal: If you have an old porch, you’ll likely save money by doing your demo work and hauling it away. But only do this if you feel comfortable and have the required materials.
Reuse materials: In the case of an existing porch, you can check with your pro to see if any materials are in good enough condition to use on your new porch. This may help you save on material costs.
Book in the off-season: You may get a better deal if your new porch is built during the fall or winter off-season, when demand for services and materials is lower.
*Data on file at Thumbtack. For a personalized cost estimate, request a quote from a professional.
What types of porches can a professional build?
Here are some examples of different porch types that many pros can build:
Front stoop: This is a porch on the front of the house that’s often more formal than the back porch. Adding a beautiful, cozy front porch may help boost your curb appeal.
Portico: This is a front porch with a roof, often supported by small columns. It’s usually smaller than your typical full porch.
Back porch: This is a porch on the back of the house that’s often an informal outdoor seating area connecting to the backyard.
Covered porch: This is a simple back, side, or front porch that features a roof.
Wraparound porch: This is a large porch that wraps around the house rather than being solely in the front or back.
Veranda: A wraparound porch featuring a roof and platforms that typically go along one side of the home.
Screened porch: This porch features walls with screened windows to provide a barrier from insects while still being close to nature.
Consult your pro to find out if they can build you the porch you’re envisioning for your home.
What should I expect during the porch building process?
In most cases, a professional will take the following steps when building your porch:
Inspection: Your pro will likely inspect the area and help advise you on your options.
Estimate: After the inspection, they will create an estimated cost for you to approve based on the materials, labor, permits, and other associated costs.
Demolition: If you have an old existing porch, it will probably need to be torn down and hauled away before work on the new porch can begin.
Prepare site: Once the area is cleared, the ground often needs to be stomped down and prepared to prevent issues with sinking or shifting.
Lay foundation: The foundation is typically laid with concrete footers after the ground is leveled and prepped.
Build: Porches are usually built from the bottom up. The exact build process will depend on the type of porch, as a screened porch will be different from a simple back porch.
Protection: The last step is typically having your porch painted or sealed to help it weather better over the years.
Why should I hire a porch builder instead of building it myself?
In most cases, it’s best to hire a professional to build your porch. When deciding between DIY vs. hiring a professional, consider the following:
Tools and materials: A laundry list of items is usually needed to build a porch. You’ll need all the materials, such as wood or composite decking, concrete, and hardware. You’ll also need tools like a tape measure, saw, circular saw, miter saw, jigsaw, saw horse, hammer, screwdriver, power drill, level, and much more.
Save money: It may sound counterintuitive, but paying a professional to build your porch may actually save money. Consider this: DIYing your own porch project can become more expensive in cases where you need to buy a bunch of equipment and materials, and you make mistakes. To fix those mistakes, you may end up hiring a pro anyway to re-do your project.
Peace of mind: When you hire a reputable pro to build your porch, you typically have the peace of mind that comes from having a warranty or guarantee. If something goes wrong, you’re often covered by the warranty. Of course, you’ll need to understand your warranty’s conditions to understand exactly what is and isn’t covered.
Timeline: Using a professional service often means your project is done more quickly and efficiently than DIYing.
