When is a porch a porch

[Leon Marcus]

What is your "definition" of a porch? Our office has differing opinions. Some say it must be big enough for at least two chairs for people to sit and be able to allow people to enter and leave the house, some say it has to be covered, some say as long as it is bigger than 4 x 6 some say any slab covered or not.
I just got a report to review where the Porch check box has nothing and listed as none. It has an open slab about 4 x 5. Who would say no porch?

 

[Ken B]

No roof = no porch

A small slab with no roof is a stoop.

 

[Michigan CG]

A porch is a space large enough for a chair, a small table for your beer and enough area left over for the dog to lay down. There must be ample room to open the door without disturbing the chair, the dog or the beer.

 

[glenn walker]

Would you call a 4' X 4" or 4' X 5' slab a patio ? ... Probably not. Typically porches are designed for sitting under and many older homes had covered porches that were half to full length of either the front or side of the home. From what you have described the home has no porch just a entry pad or stoop to get to the front door . I think a good way to define it would be to think in terms of patio sizes to porch sizes , I know i would not call a 4 x 4 slab a patio.

 

[Mike Kennedy]

What is your "definition" of a porch? Our office has differing opinions. Some say it must be big enough for at least two chairs for people to sit and be able to allow people to enter and leave the house, some say it has to be covered, some say as long as it is bigger than 4 x 6 some say any slab covered or not.
I just got a report to review where the Porch check box has nothing and listed as none. It has an open slab about 4 x 5. Who would say no porch?

20 s.f.concrete or cement patio

 

[JRS at OBX]

IMO, a porch needs a roof.

 

[Proactive]

20 s.f.concrete or cement patio

Cement patio? As in CEEment Pond?

welllllll doggies. :laugh:

OP: How about "open" porch?

 

[Lee Lansford]

What is your "definition" of a porch? Our office has differing opinions. Some say it must be big enough for at least two chairs for people to sit and be able to allow people to enter and leave the house, some say it has to be covered, some say as long as it is bigger than 4 x 6 some say any slab covered or not.
I just got a report to review where the Porch check box has nothing and listed as none. It has an open slab about 4 x 5. Who would say no porch?

Whatever it is named, did the appraiser verify (if a governmental agency would so require, that is) that it is in place via the permit process?

 

[RSW]

Would you call a 4' X 4" or 4' X 5' slab a patio ? ... Probably not. Typically porches are designed for sitting under and many older homes had covered porches that were half to full length of either the front or side of the home. From what you have described the home has no porch just a entry pad or stoop to get to the front door . I think a good way to define it would be to think in terms of patio sizes to porch sizes , I know i would not call a 4 x 4 slab a patio.

I typically call that a stoop and report it under the porch section of page one of the URAR.

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

Step, patio step, stoop, entrance, uncoverd porch, concrete deck...what does it matter?