New build, porch/front stairs. Stone, concrete or??

5 år siden

What to do about a front porch and stairs that have to be about 12-14' long and reach to driveway?

More stone, stone pavers, stamped concrete, plain concrete??

First image shows general outline of porch and part of stairs.Next image shows plan from top & how driveway curves around

We can have any material or shape (almost), so open to ideas. Cost isn't an issue because we're 'way over budget anyway, ha ha.

I like idea of stone but afraid it may be too much, too busy. We could have risers like in sample photos below?

Note: outside finishes aren't "finished": garage doors from white-to-stucco-color, beams and bare wood to reddish brown, brown wood front door, brown fascia.

Fremhævet svar

groveraxle

5 år siden

I would make your landing larger. It will be more useful and more aesthetically pleasing...

Sorter efter:Ældste

(15) kommentarer

PRO
David D. Quillin Architecture
5 år siden
Hello, I would recommend plain concrete. You have really nice textures going on with the stone walls and exposed wood, so a simpler material would help to set those off. You could consider a polished concrete (not as slippery as it sounds) or also just do a plain light broom finish concrete...
Jeff Smith thanked David D. Quillin Architecture
suezbell
5 år siden
Concrete. My sister and her husband used stone for the flooring of both their wrap around front/side porch and their back screened porch and regret it.
Jeff Smith thanked suezbell
houssaon
5 år siden
I think plain concrete will look good with your house. Although I do like flagstone on the treads (and on the stoop) and the mountain ash on the risers, which I assume is the facing of the house.
Jeff Smith thanked houssaon
Jeff Smith
Forfatter
5 år siden
Houssaon - yes, risers would be facing the driveway.

Good ideas, wonder if we could just have plain concrete (which matches what will be a rather long driveway of plain concrete) but then have some stone detail? Like maybe only stone risers or stone treads? It DOES snow here so I don't relish the idea of shoveling snow off of stone.
suezbell
5 år siden
If you use stone, know that water can blow in and stand and freeze in any grout indents and eventually cause some problems.

If you choose a concrete porch, you can have a small (4") overhang over the front wall of the porch, enabling your to put any railing or posts at the very edge of where you'll walk and still have porch (overhang) beyond any railing ... which makes for a much better visual.

You couldalways use more stone for facing the porch beneath the porch floor overhang and for outlining your sidewalk and driveway.

If this is your main entrance, do seriously consider enlarging your front stoop/porch beyond the orange outline show in your pic which, as is, is little more than a wide step.

You should seriously consider adding a flat roofed screened porch between that white door and the part of the structure by the front entrance that is opposite it. That would visually minimize the white door, give you a shelter for any DIY projects you might consider doing as you finish and decorate the interior of your home and could be a great place to park a bicycle tricycle or baby troller or BBQ grill once you move in. You could have your screened porch door face the side, toward the driveway, rather than forward.

That white garage door and the white door left of it, if left painted white, could stick out like a sore thumb and compete for attention with the other door. There are paints (Giani) that can give it the appearance of wood.
Jeff Smith thanked suezbell
PRO
Beth H. :
5 år siden
your house reminds me of this one. I wish I had an entire pic showing the front. It looks as though forms/rebar are there for poured concrete.

BTW, If you brush your stone w/an enhancing sealer it will really bring out the colors in the stone.

I love how they did the steps in this one, mixed w/slatted wood.

when you get around to landscaping, this would look very cool next to your stone.

are you painting the garage door and that other white door?
Jeff Smith thanked Beth H. :
Jeff Smith
Forfatter
5 år siden
Here's a possible look, with stone only on risers...
suezbell
5 år siden
Really like the two-story porch roof in the pic BethH posted. Something similar could be used to enable you to have a larger porch extending the full depth of the entry.

Does your entry have a back door facing the door left of the garage? If not, you might consider adding one as you consider adding a screened porch there.
Jeff Smith thanked suezbell
groveraxle
5 år siden
Plain concrete for sure. You have more than enough stone and you don't need the steps to mimic the house.
Jeff Smith thanked groveraxle
houssaon
5 år siden
I have to weigh in again. Another vote for plain concrete - more modern feel.
Jeff Smith thanked houssaon
PRO
Virgil Carter Fine Art
5 år siden
Well, it's a budget issue...and it's a aesthetic issue...and it's a safety issue.

Stone as patio surfaces, stair treads and other horizontal surfaces raises safety issues and durability issues. Brick can work, but the question then arises as to harmonious aesthetics with your house.

My vote would be concrete which is composed of white cement and is integrally colored using pigment(s) of your choice, with a heavy salt surface finish to give some texture.

Good luck on your project.
Jeff Smith thanked Virgil Carter Fine Art
sprink1es
5 år siden
Personal opinion here, but I really dislike the 4x4' steps. To me it feels like I want to put one foot on each section, but I can't, and it turns into an awkward shuffle of me walking down the wedding aisle (step step pause, step step pause)
Jeff Smith thanked sprink1es
Jeff Smith
Forfatter
5 år siden
Folks, thanks so much. We already have multiple outdoor porches on other sides of the house, where the views are. Facing the front one only sees the street and other houses in the distance.

The rear has a sweet view, so there are multiple patios, etc. on rear and side. Further, as much as a screen porch would be nice we're too far along now...would need an approved City plan change, hoa change, etc. But good ideas!

I like the "mixed w/slatted wood" stairs picture...maybe we could do something along those lines.

Virgil's really got it with the shape of the stairs; we could potentially color the concrete slightly (they have more integrated coloring agents now that don't change color as much)...ligher version of stucco siding color shown above.
Jeff Smith
Forfatter
5 år siden
Here's another idea...boulders that come into the plane of the stoop and stairs and then plain concrete sort of flows around it. It might add some interest and we have to put boulders on left side anyway for erosion control (this would also mean that a railing isn't needed)