Porches and their types

Articles > Porches and their types

What is a porch?

The word porch has been taken from the Old French Porche (balcony), from Latin porticus (colonnade), from porta (passage) a room or gallery placed in front of the entrance to the building. The porch is placed in front of the building as a part of the building and then forms a low front. Alternatively, it could be a van or an emerging structure that occupies the entrance door of the building.

The porches are present in both religious and secular buildings. There are various styles of such porches, many of which depend on the architectural culture of the area. The porches allow enough space for a person to stand comfortably before entering or after leaving a building, or resting on it. Most of the porches are open on the outside with a balustrade supported by balusters that usually surround the entire porch except where stairs are located.

The word "porch" is probably used only for a building outside the main walls of a building or house. Porches can be lined under the same roof as the rest of the building, or as towers and belfry supported by simple posters or decorated columns and arches. Examples of porches include those found in Queen Anne's style architecture, Victorian-style houses, Spanish Colonial Revival buildings, or any American Colonial style buildings and houses.

Some of the porches are small and they cover only the entrance of the building, while some are larger enough to cover even the sides of the building or the whole façade of the building.

Types of Porches:

Arizona room:

This is a type of porch that is common in Arizona (USA). It is a semi-outdoor room found in most of the houses and homes with the purpose of recreation. Rooms build with the same shape and purpose, in Florida are called Florida Room. The room is usually a patio that has been covered and screened in. The purpose of these porches is to prevent outer heat and cold and prevent the entry of insects into the building.

Screened porch:

It is also called a screened-in porch. It is built with or of the screens. The screened panels are fixed with frames all around. The screened porch is aimed at allowing open light into the porch.

Sleeping porch:

It is aimed at semi-outdoor sleeping. It is an open area, which is used for sleeping outdoors. It can be an ordinary open porch, screened porch, or porch screen windows.

Rain porch:

A rain-porch is a type of balcony with a roof and extended columns that pass through the deck and reach the floor. The roof may be several feet ahead of the porch and create a covered patio. The rain-porch is very common in Carolina State, this why it is known as Carolina porch. Moreover, it is usually found all around the southeastern United States.

Portico Porch:

Portico (Italian) is a pavilion-style that uses columns or colonies, even terraces, similar to the use of modern and contemporary Italian architecture.

Loggia:

Loggia is a covered external corridor or porch that is part of the ground floor of which can be elevated to another level. The roof is supported by columns or a porch, and the exterior is open to elements.

Veranda:

The veranda (also spelled 'verandah') on a style balcony is usually larger and may cover the entire front and sides of the building. A case in point is the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan, with its longest veranda-porch at 200 meters.

Lanai:

It is very common in Hawaii. It is open from the front and sides. The roof of the lanai porch is installed on the pillars.

Sun-Porch:

The sun porch or sunroom, which is very common in Florida, because of which is is nicknames as Florida Chamber. It is a room or structure, usually enclosed with glass, but can also be a closed porch.

Stoop:

The stoop-porch is constructed on the top of the stairs, with a roof, thus giving the shape of a room/chamber. Stoop-porches are very common in Dutch influences cities of the United States, like Philadelphia and New York.

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