Redoing Front Porch - Extra Ideas?


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Old 03-03-21, 08:45 AM
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Redoing Front Porch - Extra Ideas?

Hi All,

We are in the (very) beginning stages of planning on re-doing our front porch, and I am looking for any "extras" people can think of that can/should be added when we redo it.

It is a covered (via overhang) front porch with approximate dimensions of about 30' x 7'; it has two ceiling fans/lights in the overhang (maybe overhang is the wrong word - it does cover the entire porch). We use it during spring, summer, and fall.

We are going to redo it (most likely in a composite material, e.g., Trex, depending on price). As we are thinking of redoing it, my wife asked if there was anything extra fun-type things we can add. One thought was to add in a watering system to water some hanging flower baskets we put there in the warm weather (my wife is not tall enough to reach them to water them, and I always forget to water them). Anyone have any other ideas of things they wished they put in, or that they did put it? (Or things you put in that were a bad idea to do?) Its really just your standard front porch.

Thanks in advance!
 
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Old 03-03-21, 08:50 AM
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How about a few pictures of what you have now?
 
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Old 03-03-21, 09:13 AM
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Oh, whoops. Good idea. Here are two showing slightly different views. Hopefully that gives you the idea. I can take others later tonight when I have a chance, if that would help.

Thanks again!


 
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Old 03-04-21, 07:44 AM
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Old 03-04-21, 07:54 AM
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How about a couple of Skylights.
 
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Old 03-04-21, 08:35 PM
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Thanks for the ideas, all.

I do like that watering bottle - I may look into getting it so that my wife can do the watering of the baskets that she insists on buying every year!

As for the skylights - I like the idea, but I don't think it would quite work with the way the set-up is. The windows right above where the skylights would be are bedroom windows, and it just seems like an odd placement. Also, I think of skylights as ways to get natural light into an area - but the front porch is open and gets a lot of light as-is.

So, thanks again for the ideas - anyone have any others? Anyone know if radiant heat under Trex would work? Or do composites not really transmit/transfer heat all that well?

Thanks again!
 
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Old 03-05-21, 07:11 AM
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Radiant heat under the porch floor would not work very well especially through Trex. The underside would have to be closed and insulated. The heat would have to be on a long time before (or always) to heat the floor enough to be effective.

A better option would be a wall (or ceiling) mounted radiant heater like this. Smaller units are probably also available and without the swivel bracket. Would need a dedicated circuit and could be controlled by a switch, timer, or motion detector. (Although if you are sitting still the motion detector alone might not work.)
 
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Old 03-05-21, 10:25 AM
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Always have to think about lighting. Recessed lights are always a good solution, but if you want to add some color-selectable LED strips along the inside front edge you can add some mood lighting or holiday colors as needed.
 
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