Ranch Porch Design Options

by Tracy
(Houston, MS)

QUESTION about Ranch Porch Design Options : I just purchased a ranch home and was wondering what type porch would look really nice on it. I was thinking of (A) extending garage to the right(south) to make a double or (B)extending the garage back to the west to sidewalk and have cars pull in north to south having a triple carport.

Either way the the south side brick wall is coming down to where the storage room starts.

Any ideas on how to blend in porch the easiest with either plan will be appreciated. Sorry these are not good pictures of house, my other pictures are in a different format and cannot be uploaded.

ANSWER: Thanks, Tracy, for contacting us.

You have a charming ranch home and a porch will really add lots of curb appeal - plus a great place to relax! Not exactly sure from your description regarding the "wall coming down" and its impact - it is always easier to assess if we can be on scene.

However, here are two ranch house porch design ideas to consider which you could also modify to fit your specific construction plans.

Both options below will work with either a gable-style roof or shed-type roof. The shed-type will be less expensive.

Option 1: Small porch addition with porch patio. The two photos below depicts small porches with gable-style roof lines. Your porch would be similar and I recommend you extend it from far right corner of the front of your home to the picture window on the left.

I would then turn the area between the house and garage (where it is inset) into a patio porch to give you added space. See our ideas for patio ideas.


Option 2: Larger front porch with patio. Your home would be ideal for a larger front porch across the front.

This porch is a combination shed-type with a gable over the front door (technically this is a hip roof with a gable but the front part is the shed-type roof) . Yours could be similar
with the door to the right instead of the left side.

Once you decide upon the roof design you like the most and one that fits your budget, the rest is fairly easy. It appears you will need porch railings but check with your local building codes department to determine the requirements for your area.

Here's another option Mary and I think you should consider as well. It is almost always cost effective to ensure your porch design fits your home and is one that you will really enjoy - you'll have it for a long time. A 3-D rendering allows you to visualize exactly what your project will look like once completed.

Here's a link for you to see some conceptual front porch design examples by landscape architect Brian Wray. It may be worth it for you to check out his 3-D renderings.

Once your porch is built, add some landscaping and you will have the perfect retreat!

Hope this gives you some design ideas. Be sure to send us pictures of your project!

Another visitor asked a similar question about his ranch porch design options. Our reply to him may also benefit you.

Best,
Dave