What is the Average Cost to Build a Front Porch?

Next, the porch floor is built on top of the foundation. Your porch decking will be a big part of your front porch cost. Wood or composite are common porch flooring materials, but in some cases, you may see concrete, stone, or brick flooring on low porches. Flooring costs can differ drastically depending upon the material. For example, wooden planks start at $5 per square foot, while composite planks start at $5-$13 per square foot. Bricks can be $6-10 per square foot.

Walls, Railings, or Screens

Some front porches have low walls or railings. Others are entirely screened in. These features add to your cost for a front porch, but can make it more convenient and usable for your family. For instance, porch screening can protect your family from glare or insects while enjoying your porch. Similarly, railings add an element of safety, as well as a more decorative element.

Accessories

Do you want a ceiling fan? What about porch lighting? Paint or stain? If you want to dress your porch up with paint and electricity, that will make it more comfortable and add to the cost of building your porch. For instance, adding a ceiling fan can cost between $100-$500 dollars. You’ll also need an electrician to install it, which tacks on an additional $65-$95/hour in labor. Then there are other furnishings, like a porch swing which can start at $200.

When considering the cost of adding a porch to your home, consider the type, size, materials, installation, and furnishings you’ll want to include in your ultimate vision.

As an example, a 200-square foot porch can run between $4600 to $22,000 depending on materials, design, and labor. Here is a brief breakout of cost ranges for materials, as well as the cost of labor involved in building a front porch.

Cost to Build Different Types of Porches

There are many different types of porches. From screened in “rooms” to a simple covered front porch, the type of porch you choose will affect the cost due to their materials and complexity in building. Here’s a look at some common porch types and typical costs associated with each.

How Much Does it Cost to Build a Covered Porch?

The costs to add a covered porch to your house will depend on the size, materials, and design. On the low end, you may be able to add a simple front porch with a roof for around $5,000. If you want to build a large wrap-around porch with plenty of architectural elements, then it will cost you between $40,000 or $50,000.

How Much Does it Cost to Build a Screened-In Porch?

If you do not have an existing porch to screen in, adding a screened-in porch to your home can cost between $30,000 to $55,000 or more, depending on the type of materials you use and any integrated features. However, if you already have a porch, adding screening can cost between $2,000 to $3,000, depending on the size and types of porch screening materials.

A screened-in porch is an excellent way to enjoy the fresh air without battling insects. Building a screened-in porch requires screens (obviously) and your choice in screening material and will affect porch costs. Types of screening material can vary, including screening made from copper to aluminum to PVC and more, each with its own benefits. You can estimate your porch screen costs to range from $4.50-$7.00 per square foot.

How Much Does it Cost to Build a Sunroom?

Sometimes known as a sunroom, a Florida room is usually enclosed entirely in windows. Florida rooms or sunrooms can provide excellent indoor space for plants to get ample amounts of sunlight. The average cost for building an enclosed sun porch is $30,000.

How Much Does a Concrete Porch Cost?

In some cases, you may opt to add a concrete slab and build your porch on it. This can be a very cost-effective option at around $8-$12/sq. foot and can work well if your house is already low to the ground. You can still add a roof for shade and, if you want to dress up the concrete, you can consider stamped concrete for a decorative flooring option.

How Much Does it Cost to Build a Sleeping Porch?

The cost to build a sleeping porch can range between $15,000 and $30,000, with costs varying depending on the types of materials used and desired features added.

In the days before central air, many older homes had sleeping porches on the side or back of the home for airier sleeping quarters. These sleeping porches often have a simple bed or couch for resting and typically were screened in to protect sleepers from insects. Some more modern sleeping porches incorporate screened-in windows and insulation, as opposed to just screening to keep bugs at bay.

How Much Does a Prefabricated Porch Cost?

A prefabricated (or “prefab”) porch is a kit. You simply choose your design and it arrives in pieces ready for assembly. Prefab porches start at $10,000 and can go upwards, depending on how simple or intricate the design.

Material Costs for Building a Porch

Many porch cost variables depend on the types of materials used and the size of your porch. Generally, you can budget based on square foot. For example:

• What is the cost of using wood? Costs for inexpensive pressure-treated wood can start at $4, while redwood can run up to $30 per square foot, showcasing the wide spectrum of costs for choosing wood to construct your front porch.
• What about composite? Professionally installed composite decking, railing and porch materials can range between $50 and $80 and upwards per square foot. One of the chief benefits of composite decking is that it is rot-resistant and requires less upkeep than traditional wood lumber.

Costs of Labor When Building a Porch

In addition to the building materials, another cost involved in building a porch is installation and labor cost. Experienced contractors will cost between $20-$40/per hour to build your porch. You may be wondering if there is a cost per square foot for labor? The average cost of labor is $67/square foot, but it can vary depending on your location and average rates for contractors in a given region or metropolitan area. You’re also paying for the cumulative years of skilled carpentry factored into the cost of labor. While it may be expensive, it can be a weight off your mind knowing that your porch is being built by a professional with a deep understanding of complicated projects.

The time to build your porch span anywhere from a few days to several weeks, depending on the complexity of the design. A front porch with a lot of intricate design features -- such as screening, a roof, or even electricity -- will take longer to complete than a simple slab porch.

Ready to set the wheels in motion for the front porch of our dreams? Get in touch with a contractor near you to get a quote.