Perla Reynolds
This post may contain affiliate links which won't change your price but will share some commission. All the questions you need to ask before adding a deck to the front of your ranch style house. One of my favorite projects in my previous home before my husband and I divorced was adding a deck to the front of the house.
Our new front deck more than surpassed our expectations and gave us an outdoor living space we thoroughly enjoyed.
I loved the additional curb appeal as well as a sitting area for entertainment with friends and family. Honestly, I would have loved a covered porch instead of a deck but that put the financial cost way too high.
It would have been necessary to add a roof and connect it to the house in a way that both looked good and was functional. Previously we had just a small stoop and it was so difficult to get in the door with kids, groceries and pets trying to escape! The real question is whether you have the skills necessary for framing, adding joists and beams and all the DIY steps that are required.
We ended up hiring someone with the architecture skills to help us flesh out our open deck concept.
and improving the look of your home makes the decision to build and invest money much easier. Is the weather formidable with intense sunlight and if so, could you add an awning in lieu of a roof?
Whether you’re building a deck or an open porch, knowing the answers to these questions will help you as you begin. If we had unlimited funds I would have preferred a porch, which means a roof and not getting wet.
But that wasn’t part of the plan and even without it I couldn’t be more pleased with the way our project turned out.
We removed about twelve on this property through the years and every time we spent that money I grimaced. You may see me rock a jack hammer with my freshly dyed blonde highlights but I didn’t contribute much to this part of the process. We kept the flower bed to the left of the front door because it adds interest (and also it would have been an additional pain to remove!)
In the middle the stairs connect to create a beautiful tiered landing for flowers. Add a sunburst deck railing to set your home apart from the rest of the neighborhood.
This type of project requires a lot of attention to detail and knowing the code for spacing the pressure treated wood. After all the work is done on your beautiful new living area, there is still one more crucial step to protect your investment, waterproofing or sealing. If you want to create an additional seating area patio furniture is a must. I can happily say almost ten years later our furniture from Big Lots is still going strong!
It moved with me to my little cottage and I have the sweetest patio set up in the back of my home. Eventually I added a small rug and the pops of color are delightful!
(You can also read about our Upcycled DIY Potting Bench from a changing table here.) Shop yard sales and thrift stores (and the side of the road!) to add interesting pieces to make your deck or front porch unique. You may even want to make your own mason jar citronella candles to keep away the bugs!
Each year I used a combination of petunias, impatiens, lantana, marigold and spiky plant (my husband says that’s the official name but I’m not so sure!) The deck received full sun so I either got plants that could handle the heat or I watered every.single.day. If your area gets extreme winter weather you may want to store your cushions, rug and pillows. The front yard and new landscaping were definite positive additions but the deck itself steals the show!
If DIY is not your thing, make sure you hire a competent, dependable contractor to help you design and implement your choices. A lot of this depends on your budget and whether attaching a roof over a front porch is a possibility.
