Add Curb Appeal with a New Front Porch
Is your home in need of some curb appeal? Curb appeal conveys the tone of your home to visitors or those who just drive by. One way to add major curb appeal to your home is by constructing a new front porch, especially if your home already lacks a dramatic entryway. If you’re tired of a blah, just-a-front-step entryway, maybe it’s time to consider remodeling the blank canvas that is your greeting to the world.
A blank slate for the front of your house isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It gives you the opportunity to personalize it and put your home improvement stamp on the house. You can add both curb appeal and function by hiring a general contractor to draw up plans to add a front porch to your home.
The Remodeling Process
If your home is simple, such as a ranch, you’ll want to be sure the design of the front porch addition doesn’t overpower your home. To do this, stick to clean, non-fussy lines, such as you would find on a Craftsman-style home. If you’re thinking that clean and non-fussy mean boring, that doesn’t have to be the case. You can talk to your home remodeler about incorporating unique details such as stonework into the trim of the front porch for a classic look. Even just trimming out the lower edge of the porch with stone can add plenty of interest, without costing too much.
Another great way to add interesting architectural details is by constructing a gabled roof supported by a Craftsman-style truss. A gabled roof has two upward sloping sides that meet in the middle at a point forming a triangle. For the truss, a style similar to that of a scissor truss or arched truss will help the front of your home pop. These features will help create a rustic curb appeal to the home without being overpowering.
Finishing Details
After your new front porch is built, you can complete the look by paying attention to the remaining details. Take a good look at the rest of the front of the home to see how you could update the old features to complement the new features. Perhaps your windows could benefit from installing wooden shutters on either side. Or, if your front door lacks character when framed by your new front porch, a new front door installation would be a great update as well.
If you’re ready to add some curb appeal to your home, contact Tom Madsen LLC. We provide general contractor and home improvement services to Sussex County, New Jersey, and the surrounding areas. For more information and a free estimate on your next home improvement project, call us at (973) 875-9716.