A veranda is just a roof platform, right? Not really. While some verandas are made just like that, many others are more like rooms in which windows and doors were removed from the walls, leaving empty openings.
Typically, the porches are made with a more finished look floor than the terraces. And the ceiling of the veranda, although often finished with wood, has a more finished look. In fact, every detail of the veranda has a more finished look than her sister's terrace.
For example, the pillars supporting the roof are not only structural elements but also decorative ones. These pillars can be made in the form of columns, or they can be a wooden channel, knocked together from 4 boards, decorated with moldings of various shapes along the edges of the box and at the point of contact with the floor or ceiling. Parapets and short walls are also often painted or plastered or even finished with artificial stone or siding.
Another difference between the terrace and the veranda: You can put wooden tables and chairs on the porch without fear that they will quickly become worthless.
Location selection
Porches are beautiful if they do not create problems for the rest of the house. The biggest problem for homeowners is the dimming of surrounding areas. The veranda in the back of the house can reduce the amount of daylight entering the kitchen, or the front porch of the house can block the light from entering the living room. Try to choose a location so that you do not block frequently visited rooms from daylight.
Construction of the veranda
Verandas can be built in many different ways. It is only necessary to take into account the general architectural style of the house. Read various design magazines, look at homes in the area or explore our catalog of house plans with porches. Or contact the architect to help you choose the right style that will not spoil the overall look of the house, and even improve it.
Foundations
Some verandas are built on a slab on top of rammed gravel. Then the final floor can be made of tiles, stone or decorated concrete. Other verandas are built on a wooden frame, supported by beams attached to piles. In the latter case, floor boards are selected narrower, such a floor is more like a floor in a room than a terrace. It does not matter what type of floor you choose, the veranda is built with a slope from the walls of the house so that rain falling on the veranda with strong winds or melted snow can drain without causing serious problems.
Stairs: Stairs for verandas can be made of prefabricated concrete blocks, and then tiled, or built of lumber. Unlike terraces, steps are made with a ledge and with risers.
Trim bottom: The space around the veranda can be covered with a lattice, or some animals can mink under the veranda. It is also possible to make a “pick-up” of the veranda from the battens nailed down crosswise in the form of wicker. In this case, you need to provide a door so that, if necessary, have access to the veranda.
Balustrades: Balustrades are selected taking into account the style of the house. (Do not use forged fences in a house in a modern style.) You can also build a short frame wall, decorating it in a style appropriate to the house.
Columns: On the right veranda, the columns can look very aesthetically pleasing. Be careful with proportions. Too thin columns can make the appearance of the veranda seem unreliable. Too wide will make the appearance of the veranda pretentious. The pedestal of wooden columns should slightly rise above the floor to prevent decay of the wood. If the column is made up of boards assembled in the form of a box, ventilation must be provided both from above and from below. Alternatively, you can use impregnated timber and plastic panels.
Roofs:
Roofs of verandahs, single or gable, are usually made with a slight slope. This is because they are usually attached to the top of the first floor (or slightly higher in a two-story house) and because the overhang of the roof should be high enough so as not to interfere with standing at full height. An exception, of course, is when the veranda is designed initially with the house.
The veranda is a great place to relax. Just spend a little more time thinking through the design and planning before starting construction.
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