Porch design

yrhi

I am preparing to build a mahogany front porch on my house and I have a question about the entryway. The elevation from the door's threshold down to the walkway my steps will sit on is 22.5" I am trying to decide if I want to run the flooring to sit just below the threshold, or to have a step up into the front door. Either way I am providing the proper pitch away from the house. Hope this makes sense. Any thoughts? And if your suggestion is to have a step up into the front door, what does code require for a minumum and maximum height for that step?
Thanks
Bob

Bob Mariani

I would keep it down one step. This helps prevent snow from creeping under the door or rain splashing on the deck and under the door.

yrhi

Thanks Bob. How about the height of that step. I have seen photos that look like the door's threshold is only a few inches above the porch flooring. I prefer the look of that vs. a full step of 7+ inches.

buletbob

We have have a few Bob's on this post . Bob M has a good point. But I feel if the front porch has a complete roof covering over it I like to keep the porch floor on top of the decking. which is done with your much older homes. if the area by the door will receive rain and snow then you will be much better to keep it down to some degree as Bob M. suggested.
When you design this take into consideration your ledger board, you would be better off bolting into your house rim joist. could you post a picture of the front of the house?. BOB

Bob Mariani

Too small a step makes a trip point. Also consider making the steps to the porch only 6 3/4" - 7" Outside steps are more comfortable to be more shallow. But that means you need to make the treads wider. I use 6 3/4 X 11 Which leaves 1 3/4 to the house which would work for a covered patio.

buletbob

I see your point (tripping)BOB M. a good one at that. but I would think it has to do with hystedics, the style of the house . I saw a job they just finished on this old house timber frame dutch col. where they cut out the door threshold and installed a piece of granite, which sat right on top of the composite decking. the granite was two inches thick, of course the porch was covered, and looked absolutely beautiful. A small rise of two inches should be OK. but should blend into the architecture of the house. Cape codes, dutch col. victorians, If its a ranch then the bigger step would fit in. BOB

Bob Mariani

1 3/4 or 2" Seems like the Bobs have it. Then the steps are more shallow and everyone is happy. A trip would be 3-4"

buletbob

here's for the BOBS

yrhi

Thanks to all you Bobs out there for your replies. Non-Bobs are welcome to join in. I attached the only photo I have right now of the front door/step. The porch ceiling and area around the window do not look that way now.
The house is a split level with stone on the lower section of the one-story level. The two-story side is stucco on the bottom with clay vinyl siding above it. Any suggestions that address aesthetics is greatly appreciated as well as funtional suggestions.

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buletbob

You win BOB.M. It is not going to make a diffrence on the look of the house, this design will go with both . best bet to keep the floor lower for he snow as mentioned. there is now covered roof. this is just my opoin. BOB