Giving an Existing Porch New Life
When we talk about outdoor living, the backyard tends to get most of the attention. But a well-designed front porch can completely change the way a home looks, feels, and welcomes you.
For this project in Arlington, VA, our team gave an existing front porch a major refresh, without starting from scratch.
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Working With the Existing Front Porch
One of the first steps in any porch retrofit is figuring out what can stay and what needs to go.
During our site evaluation, we found that the porch’s front beam had sunk significantly and needed to be replaced with new footers. However, portions of the existing framing were still viable, along with the existing porch roof, ceiling, gutters, and header beam.
Instead of tearing down the entire structure, we put in temporary supports for the roof while removing the existing flooring, railing, stairs, and roof-support posts.
That’s one of the advantages of working with an experienced Arlington porch builder: sometimes the best solution isn’t a completely new structure. A thoughtful retrofit can preserve what’s working while updating what isn’t.
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Updating an Older Porch with Modern Materials
Retrofitting can also mean using modern materials to update the look of the porch, without changing the footprint.
For this Arlington front porch, we first addressed all those structural tune-ups (new support posts, adjusting joist spacing as needed, adding bracing, reinforcing connections, checking flashing, leveling uneven framing, and replacing damaged components where necessary), then we moved on to the aesthetics.
Our client chose TimberTech Landmark decking in Castle Gate, installed parallel to the home. Joist tape was also added over the existing porch joists to help protect the framing below.
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Classic Details for an Arlington Home
The new finishes give the porch a clean, classic look that fits naturally with the existing home.
We installed white TimberTech RadianceRail Express composite railing around the porch and wrapped the new pressure-treated roof-support posts in PVC with upper and base molding. We also gave the existing porch header, ceiling, and soffit a fresh coat of paint to tie everything together.
We updated the staircase, too. The original stairs had two unusually deep steps, so we added another tread to create a more comfortable step height and added railing for extra safety.
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Thinking About Updating Your Front Porch?
Backyards don’t get to have all the fun.
Whether your existing porch needs structural repairs, new decking and railing, or a complete redesign, a front porch renovation in Arlington, VA can improve curb appeal while creating a more welcoming entrance to your home.
At Core Outdoor Living, we build and renovate decks, porches, and patios throughout Arlington and Northern Virginia. Front porch not living up to the rest of your home? Contact us, we’d love to help you figure out what’s possible.