How Much Does a Porch Cost?

Looking to find out how much it will cost to build a porch?

You should expect the average 3m² porch cost that you're quoted by experienced tradespeople to be around £4,500.

But the exact cost of building a porch will depend on a few things.

Are you just looking for a quote? You can find local porch builders near you through MyJobQuote. (Remember, a good rule of thumb is to get at least three quotes.)

But if you want to learn more first?

In this guide, we breakdown the porch extension cost for different types of porches - we cover rear porch prices, the cost of a wooden porch, how much a uPVC porch costs, and more!

This makes it as straightforward as possible for you to calculate the cost of a porch in your specific circumstances (and with your particular preferences). This can be invaluable to have before you get quotes from porch specialists.

Let's get started below!

What's the Cost to Build a Porch?

Let's get to the main point:

What should you expect a porch extension cost to be per square metre?

The average cost of a porch per square metre is between approximately £1,400 - £1,700. This is the total cost of building a porch per square metre and is estimated using average materials and standard labour costs.

While you can have a porch installed that's only 1 metre squared (1m²), it would likely be quite restrictive and not offer much practical benefit.

Porch installations are typically between two square metres (2m²) and three square metres (3m²) in the UK. You can build a porch structure which is larger than this, but that would require you to get planning permission from your local authority.

Given this, how much does a porch cost to build that's around 3 metres squared (3m²)?

The average cost of a porch that’s 3 metres squared (3m²) will run between approximately £4,000 - £5,000.

Aluminium vs Brick vs uPVC Porch Cost

But how much does a porch cost if it's made of different materials?

The illustration below highlights the porch extension cost variations for a two-metre squared (2m²) porch built with uPVC, bricks, or aluminium.

This shows that a uPVC porch costs the least to build (between £2,000 - £3,500), an aluminium porch costs the most (between £2,500 - £3,500), and a brick porch is somewhere in the middle (between £2,000 - £3,000).

uPVC (Unplasticized Polyvinyl Chloride) porches are the most popular choice due to their affordability, followed closely by brick porches which - while a bit more costly - might more closely match the style of the house they're being attached to.

Aluminium and timber porches are more premium choices to consider, especially if you're looking for a more distinctive style.

We cover the pros and cons of each porch extension style that's available later in this guide.

Average Porch Extension Prices

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.

The table below lists average porch prices that you should expect to be quoted for building a new porch on your existing property.

The table below pulls apart the different costs involved in building a porch, giving you an idea of what you should expect to pay for each component of the project.

Additional Porch Costs

There are various additional costs of building a porch that you may need to consider when planning everything out.

The illustration below highlights some of these. For instance, installing electrial outlets and porch lights cost anywhere between £100 to £800 depending on the size of the new porch extension. And while we've incorperated the cost of a front door in our average costs above, you could pay up to £800 for a stylish and high-quality new front door.

Porch Builders Cost and Timescales

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

A professional can discuss everything with you - including the design options, prices involved, and the timescales that you should expect the job to take.

Porch builder costs will vary based on the job at hand. However, the table below highlights the typical rates that you should expect to pay when hiring different types of tradespeople for a porch extension job.

This is just a general guide of the labour costs involved. The types of tradespeople you'll require when building a porch depend on the specifications for the project.

Cost of Porch Extension Materials

How much does a porch cost if you do everything yourself?

Although it isn’t recommended, you might be interested in taking on a project like this yourself.

If that's the case, you might be wondering what the supply costs are to get everything you need to build a new porch on your existing property.

Let's dive into the list of different supplies that you may need when building a porch yourself (and the prices of each item).

Timber Porch Cost

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 porch frame costs between £2,300 - £2,800.

Brick Prices

You will need to calculate how many bricks you need to build the structure of a porch extension.

One brick costs between £0.40 - £1.00 and you will likely need between 60 - 70 bricks per square metre of porch wall. This assumes you're using standard-sized UK bricks, so you'll need to confirm your requirements when selecting the specific types of bricks you want for your porch build.

Roof Tile Prices

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

The number of tiles that you need to build a porch roof will depend on the size of the tiles you want to use. A standard-sized roof tile in the UK is 265 mm x 165 mm, which means you'll need between 60 - 70 tiles per square metre that needs to be covered.

Flat Roof Rubber Price

The average cost of a flat rubber roof is around £80 per metre squared (m²).

This means that a porch roof that covers a space that's around 3 metres square (3m²) would cost around £240.

Flat rubber porch roofs are a popular choice as they're affordable and easy to install. They're durable too, as they are weather resistant.

Porch Flooring Price

You'll also need to think about the type of flooring you want to be laid in your porch.

Most porches act as a port of entry to the home and are usually laid with either tiled or wood flooring.

The cost of tiled flooring per square metre is around £20, and wood flooring prices per square metre are about £30.

What Impacts How Much a Porch Costs?

A number of factors can affect the cost of building a porch.

In the subsections below we've collected together specific factors that might impact the cost of a new porch project.

Size of the Porch

The larger the porch you're looking to have installed, the higher the cost is going to be.

The average porch cost per square metre (m²) is around £1,400. This is with standard materials though, and you may find that you're quoted significantly higher than this if you want premium materials or a specific aesthetic.

With this in mind, you can see how the price can drastically rise if you choose to build a larger porch.

Number of Porch Windows

Porch window prices are usually between £300 - £1,000.

The upper end of this range is reserved mainly for the most premium options. There are various options that are priced between £300 - £500 that will be more than suitable for most average installations.

But as you add more porch windows, the total cost of a porch extension increases.

Porch Roof Style

The two most popular styles of roofing for a porch are a tiled pitched roof and a rubber flat roof.

Using roof tiles is more than likley going to work out more expensive than a having a flat porch roof installed.

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

Porch Types

The types of porche will also lead to variations in the price you're quoted.

For example: if you would like a lean-to porch extension, you can expect a uPVC porch cost to be around £2,500 - whereas a flat gable roof porch costs roughly £3,500.

Types of Porch

There are various types of porches - 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 and their affordability, uPVC porches are very popular choice in the UK.

Pros

• ✔ Completely weather-resistant

• ✔ Low maintenance

• ✔ Good value for money

Cons

• ✖ Lack of character

Lean To Porch

A lean-to porch, as the name might suggest, is a type of structure that looks like its leaning onto the side of a building.

The image below shows what we mean.

This is a popular type of porch which is a straightforward addition to a property's exterior.

Pros

• ✔ Blends in well to most homes

• ✔ Simple and 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 made mostly of glass. This type of porch is great for letting a lot of natural light into your home.

Pros

• ✔ Lets in a lot of light

• ✔ Easy to clean and maintain

Cons

• ✖ Lack of privacy

• ✖ Fragile

• ✖ Quite expensive

Aluminium

An aluminium porch is made mostly of aluminium materials. It's the perfect type of porch for places with extreme weather conditions, as its more durable and resistence to the elements.

Pros

• ✔ Extremely tough and strong

• ✔ Lightweight and flexible

• ✔ Unlimited choice of colours

Cons

• ✖ Quite expensive

Timber Porch

A timber porch is a structure made mostly of timber. It's fairly straighforward to have built, and the material is well-priced.

Pros

• ✔ Aesthetically pleasing

• ✔ Easy to work with

Cons

• ✖ Can scratch, stain, and splinter easily

• ✖ High maintenance

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 3 metres squared (3m²).

• Any area of the porch is more than 3 metres above ground level.

• Any area of the porch is within 2 metres of any boundary.

• Any area of the porch is within 2 metres of any public roads.

• Any area of the porch is within 2 metres of any public footpaths.

If you do find that you need planning permission for your porch, this will cost you £258 to apply for 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 an outline of the most popular types of porch roofs.

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.

The average cost of a pitched porch roof is £30 - £65 per m².

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 of the property. 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.

The average cost of a gable end pitched porch roof is £30 - £65 per m².

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.

The average cost of a flat porch roof is £35 - £70 per m².

Double Hipped to Wall Porch Roof Cost

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

The average cost of a double hipped to wall porch roof is £50 - £100 per m².

Double Hipped to Ridge Porch Roof Cost

This design of this type of roof is much larger than other designs, 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.

The average cost of a double hippped to ridge porch roof is £25 - £60 per m².

Single Hipped Porch Roof Cost

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

The average cost of a single hipped porch roof is £30 - £65 per m².

Why Should I Build a Porch?

A new porch is a wonderful addition to any home!

So, what are the benefits of building a porch?

It’s a great way to add a little extra space to your property, but also adds an extra sense of security.

It’s a great way to let in light and offers a convenient place to store things like shoes and coat racks, too.

But why else might someone want to build a porch?

Here are some of the main reasons you may want to add a porch to your existing property:

• 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.

• Storage opportunities – You can store many things in a porch, such as your shoes and coats, which will free up space inside your 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.

• Increase the value of the house – A porch can add value to your home, which is great if you're looking at selling your home in the near future.

• A better entrance to the home – A porch offers a grander entrance to the home.

• Aesthetically pleasing – Porches are a beautiful addition to the outside of your home and can be pleasing to the eye.

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. Because of this, it's recommended that you hire a professional to build your porch for you.

But even if you're having someone else build a porch, it's important to understand what the tradesperson should be doing at every stage of the project.

Here's an overview of the process of building a porch:

• The first step in building a porch is to lay the foundations.

• The second step is to lay down the damp proof course.

• After this, the concrete must be laid over the top of it. This concrete acts as a subfloor.

• The fourth step in building the porch is to begin laying the bricks and laying the floor.

• The flooring is then laid on top of the damp-proof course.

• If you are planning on installing windows on your porch, the bricks will be built up to the window level.

• When all of the brickwork has been completed, work can then begin of the porch roof.

• After this, the guttering needs to be installed.

• Once all of the above steps are complete, the windows and doors to your porch can be installed. At this point, you can also have the porch plastered and decorated as you wish.

Can I Build a New Porch Myself?

Building a porch can be a complex job which takes professionals, on average, about 2 weeks from start to finish to complete.

This type of extension 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 often left by most people to experienced 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's 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 end up saving a few hundred pounds, as labourers tend to charge between £14 - £30 per hour.

However, if you 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 to resolve issues that arise.

Cost to Remove a Porch

There are many reasons why you may want to remove an old porch:

• It might be against an older home with issues that require remodelling.

• You want to replace an existing porch with a new porch installation.

• You may just decide you don’t need or want a porch anymore.

Does this apply to you?

If so, below we've broken down the cost of removing an old porch at all the different stages.

If you are thinking of hiring someone to remove a porch for you, you will be looking at paying somewhere between £14 - £20 per hour for the labourer to complete this job.

Porch Removal Preparation

Before you begin to dismantle a porch, you will need to make a plan for removing the rubbish.

It is a good idea to hire a skip from a local company. The average cost to hire a skip is about £220.

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

Removing the Old Porch 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. 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 Porch 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 Porch 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.

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 porch designs, listen to your desires and work out a design that you'll love - and all for a reasonable price.

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

If you wish to build a porch with a custom paint job or unique design, then you need to make sure you budget accordingly. Most contractors will charge additional fees for non-standard designs, so keep this in mind if you're trying to stick to a budget when adding a porch to your house.

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 the details of the guarantees that the company is offering to you.

Hiring a Porch Builder Checklist

Ready to start getting prices for a new porch?

Here's a quick checklist of things to consider when hiring someone, or a team, to complete this job:

• Hire a company that will work with you on all areas of your new porch design until you are completely happy with the proposed design and plan of action.

• Ensure that the company you're looking will include detail work and can supply the materials that you need for your new porch.

• If it's required, determine if they're able to provide custom design work.

• Make sure that they work on the foundations before construction commences so that you can be confident that your new porch is on level and even ground.

FAQs

Sources

https://www.roofingsuperstore.co.uk/help-and-advice/project-guides/roof-sheet/how-to-build-a-porch/

http://www.wisegeek.net/what-are-the-pros-and-cons-of-a-glass-porch.htm

https://www.hamiltonwindows.co.uk/advantages-of-a-porch

https://www.findleyroofing.co.uk/the-pros-and-cons-of-pitched-roofs/

https://www.on-magazine.co.uk/homes/interiors/simple-ways-to-enhance-your-space-without-breaking-the-bank/

https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/porches/building-regulations

https://www.doineedplanningpermission.co.uk/for/porch/planning-permission

https://parsonsjoinery.com/blog/how-big-can-a-porch-be-without-planning-permission

https://www.self-build.co.uk/hiring-trades