Adding a porch to your home is a great way to create an extension onto your hall, providing some additional space for outdoor shoes/jackets, or just a nice welcome area to your home.  A smart looking porch can add kerb appeal and therefore increase the value of your house when you come to sell.

 

Your porch will be constructed with a timber frame before adding the roof.

There are two main considerations when it comes to selecting the appropriate roofing materials for your porch.

 

  •  Weather

Your porch will be more exposed to the elements than the rest of the house and needs to be able to withstand heavy rain, snow, and high winds.

 

  • Appearance

 

Your porch is likely fully visible from the kerb, and will be the first thing guests see when they arrive, so you want to make sure you put your best foot forward with materials that give a good finish.

 

Once you’ve added your plywood layer, your options for roofing include; wood shingles, concrete shingles, metal, slate, and ceramic, and EDPM.  

 

Wood shingles used to be a popular option, often made from cedar, they can fit beautifully on some houses, but are expensive.  You can get different thicknesses which allows you to tailor the look.

Concrete tiles are very common, mainly because they are cheap. They also have a long lifespan, as long as 30yrs for some types.  Nowadays they come in different colours and styles so you can pick something to fit your aesthetic

 

Metal roofs will withstand the weather really well and can last up to 50 years, but the aesthetic isn’t as pleasing as other options.

 

Slate always looks great, but can be a heavy material to use so will need the right support.  There are different styles and shades of slate so you have ways to match this type of roofing to the rest of your house.

 

Ceramic is more common in Mediterranean countries, under the right conditions they will last up to 80 years - but be warned, they can shatter in very low temperatures.

 

EDPM is a modern roofing material which originated in the US but is becoming more popular in the UK.  This rubber membrane is very durable which is an advantage, it’s easy to apply yourself if your porch is a self build as it sticks down with self adhesive.

 

These are a few of the roofing options you can use on your porch which gives you plenty of ways to match the design to suit your home.