For those who have a covered front porch???

[LaurenT]

Ok...
DH says a partial covered porch will be fine as long as it's done properly (he doesn't do that kind of work, buthe does know people, if you need someone to draw it up).
As far as leaving the living room dark by extending the porch over the entire front of the house...he said it depends on what exposure the window has.

 

[maslex]

Ok...
DH says a partial covered porch will be fine as long as it's done properly (he doesn't do that kind of work, buthe does know people, if you need someone to draw it up).
As far as leaving the living room dark by extending the porch over the entire front of the house...he said it depends on what exposure the window has.

The front of the house faces south.

 

[RunningGirl]

I know people with skylights in their deck roof to help bring the light into the house.

I don't think doing the deck halfway would look silly, as long as it goes from the edge of the house to the door.

eta I have a southern facing covered front porch. I'm very happy to have it blocking the mid-day sun into our front room to block the heat and do not find that room dark.

 

[Southernmiss]

I know people with skylights in their deck roof to help bring the light into the house.

I don't think doing the deck halfway would look silly, as long as it goes from the edge of the house to the door.

eta I have a southern facing covered front porch. I'm very happy to have it blocking the mid-day sun into our front room to block the heat and do not find that room dark.

I agree with bolded. I have a porch on the front and back of the house. The south facing windows have blinds too to keep the sun down even with the porch. The back side does stay darker than I'd prefer but I do love my porches.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Yep, a northern exposure, as mentioned by one poster above, will never have the sun shining right in.... A covered deck or porch will not change that.

A covered area might actually provide some respite from glare and heat in a southern or western exposure.

Unless you are talking about a deep, room sized porch, or a screened in porch.... which would block a lot of light... the light should be fine.

As I have described, we have a 8 ft. deep covered front porch, facing west... (the whole length of that front section of our house)
Our deck off of our living/dining faces east, and I have often wished that it were covered.
Would do it in a heartbeat.....

Could you have a professional draw up a front elevation for the two different options... This would really show you what they might look like. This might be well worth the expense.

A good builder should know an architect, somebody who can draw up specific plans on computer generated software. Might be cheaper than if you went straight to an Architect????

 

[leebee]

I think a partial porch would look OK but would want to plant some shrubbery to grow fairly tall under the window, so you avoid the "steps" look... you know, the front porch line, then it steps back to the house line under the window, then it steps back to the garage line. Where would the door be- directly out from where your front door is now? If you don't plant bushes, you could always use the little nook under the front window for the grill.

 

[cornflake]

I like the look of a partial porch - I think asymmetry is much more interesting a lot of the time. I think this looks nice, for instance (random image) -

 

[antmaril]

I have a covered front porch. My living room picture window looks out to the porch and my living room feels like a cave. On a rainy day, I have to have all the lights on. Hate it.

 

[LaurenT]

The front of the house faces south.

Ok, DH is already gone to work....
But I would think, since southern exposure is where most of your sun is coming from, that you wouldn't want to block it.
He thinks the partial porch would look fine as long as it's designed well.
Why don't you have some drawings of different styles drawn up and then you'll have an idea of what it will look like?
Or page through some magazines to get some ideas.

 

[PlutoPony]

We purchased a house with a narrow front porch across the whole front, eastern exposure / morning sun. I really like having the porch, just wish it was deeper. The windows facing onto the porch are floor to ceiling and do a nice job of compensating for the porch roof blocking some of the direct light. Have you considered replacing some of the windows with larger ones to bring in more light?