In today’s blog post, we’re diving into the costs associated with building a porch. We’re breaking down the materials cost per linear foot to give you a rough idea of what it would take to add a porch to your home. This is part of our ongoing series that follows our personal home build, known as The Mad County.
You can find this plan and many other stock options at Back Forty Buildings. We offer stick, steel, and post-frame barndominium plans, along with full custom design services. Check out the description for all the information we discuss in today’s video.
Porch Costs Breakdown
Our porch’s concrete cost us just under $4,000, but today it would probably be about $6,000 or more. We initially paid $540 per square foot for concrete, but now it’s around $8 or more.
Key Points to Consider
Materials: When planning your porch, consider the materials for posts, beams, and concrete. These costs can add up, especially if your porch wraps around your house.
Labor: From a labor perspective, the costs are similar to the main structure due to the detailed work required. At Back 40, the design of your porch is included in the overall design at no extra charge, but the materials and labor costs are separate.
If you’re hiring out your structure, expect the costs to be double. For instance, we were paying about $65-70 per square foot, and now it’s closer to $130. Contractor pricing might be a bit less, but still significantly higher than before.
Materials Cost Increase
Wet Set Brackets: Previously $40 each, now around $70.
6x6 Treated Cedar Post: Previously $124, now closer to $193. Cedar prices have fluctuated, but they have generally increased.
Additional Costs and Considerations
If you’re building a more luxurious property, consider investing in a wood ceiling for your porch. We chose a cedar ceiling, which cost about $4,000, but it significantly enhanced the overall look. If we did it again, we might opt for metal to save costs, but the cedar ceiling added a lot of aesthetic value.
Closing Thoughts
For a porch like ours, which is 8 feet deep with 9-foot ceilings, you can expect to spend roughly $150 to $175 per linear foot for materials in today’s market. If you hire someone, you can expect to double those costs.
Upcoming Episodes
This concludes our porch series. We hope you found it helpful. Next, we’ll discuss storm shelters as we are in storm season here in the Midwest. It’s an important topic, and we look forward to revisiting it.
Thank you for following along. If you haven’t already, subscribe to our channel, share our blog with your friends, and we’ll catch you in the next post!
Thank you,
MR Post Frame
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