A porch is a small enclosed structure built over a front or side door, adding a weatherproof entrance space for coats, shoes and deliveries, improving security and reducing draughts and heat loss from the house.
We build brick, uPVC and aluminium porches and canopies for front and side doors. Our free site survey and written quote measures the area in front of your door, checks drains, gas meters and paths, and looks at how the roof will meet the house and any first-floor windows. We explain the options for walls, glazing, roof and door, and whether your plans are likely to need planning permission. A porch suits homes where the front door opens straight into a living room, where draughts are a problem or where you want somewhere for coats, shoes and parcels. We handle foundations, brickwork, roof, glazing, door and finishes.
What’s included?
- Survey of the doorway, paths, drains and meters
- Foundations and a concrete base with damp-proof membrane
- Brick dwarf walls or full brick walls to match the house
- Roof tiled or covered to suit the house, with flashing
- Windows and an external door in your chosen style
- Guttering and a downpipe connected to drainage
- Electrics for lighting or sockets by a qualified electrician
- Plastering, sills, skirting and flooring ready to use
Which options can you choose from?
How much does a new porch cost?
Most jobs fall between £3,500–£8,000 for a typical 2–3m² enclosed porch with door, windows and roof, including VAT at 20%. The table shows three typical levels of work; the figures are national guides, confirmed in writing after a free site survey.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide price |
|---|---|---|
| Canopy or open porch | A tiled or lead canopy, or an open timber porch, over an existing door. | £1,000–£3,000 |
| uPVC or aluminium porch | A glazed enclosed porch on a brick dwarf wall with a new door. | £3,000–£5,500 |
| Brick-built porch | A fully brick-built porch matching the house, with tiled roof, windows and lighting. | £5,500–£10,000 |
What affects the price?
- Floor area and height of the porch
- Construction: uPVC, aluminium, brick or timber frame
- Roof type and how it meets the house
- Door and window specification
- Drains, meters or paths that need moving
How do prices vary across the UK?
| Region | Guide price |
|---|---|
| London | £4,600–£10,500 |
| The South East | £3,900–£9,000 |
| The East of England | £3,700–£8,400 |
| The South West | £3,600–£8,200 |
| The West Midlands | £3,400–£7,800 |
| The East Midlands | £3,400–£7,700 |
| The North West | £3,300–£7,600 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £3,300–£7,500 |
| The North East | £3,200–£7,200 |
| Wales | £3,200–£7,400 |
| Scotland | £3,400–£7,700 |
| Northern Ireland | £3,000–£6,900 |
Regional figures apply typical labour and material cost differences to the national guide. They are not quotes.
Do you need planning permission for a new porch?
Small porches are often exempt from building regulations where the existing front door stays in place and the floor area is modest, but safety glazing and any electrics must still comply. Rules differ between the UK nations, and we confirm what applies.
England
In England, a porch is usually permitted development if its ground floor area is no more than 3 m², no part is higher than 3 m, and it is at least 2 m from any boundary with a road.
Small porches at ground level are usually exempt from Building Regulations if the front door stays in place between porch and house, but safety glazing and any electrics must still comply.
Wales
In Wales, a small porch is usually permitted development within similar floor-area, height and road-distance limits.
Small ground-floor porches are often exempt from Building Regulations, but glazing and electrics must comply.
Scotland
In Scotland, a small porch is often permitted development within floor-area and height limits and away from a road boundary, but not in conservation areas.
Very small porches can be exempt from a building warrant, though they must still meet the building standards.
Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland, a small porch is usually permitted development within floor-area, height and road-distance limits.
Small porches can be exempt from building control approval, but glazing and electrics must comply.
Rules change and every property is different, so we check the planning history and constraints for your address before we quote.
How long does it take?
Typical time on site: 1–2 weeks on site. Lead times for materials, drawings and approvals come before that and are set out in your written quote.
How does the job run?
Free site survey
We visit, measure up, look at access and the condition of what’s there, and talk through options and budget with you.
Written quote
You get a written quote with a fixed price for the agreed specification, what’s included, the payment stages and a likely start window.
Plan and prepare
We sort drawings, approvals and materials, agree dates with you and explain what to expect each week before work starts.
Build and hand over
The work is carried out, checked and cleared away. We walk round it with you and pass on certificates and product details.
Porches: frequently asked questions
How much does a porch cost?
A typical enclosed porch of 2–3m² costs £3,500–£8,000, including foundations, walls, roof, windows and a new door. A uPVC porch on a dwarf wall sits at the lower end, while a fully brick-built porch with a tiled roof costs more. Open canopies cost less. The door specification and moving drains or meters also affect the price. We confirm a fixed price after the survey.
Do I need planning permission for a porch?
Whether a porch needs planning permission depends on its size and height, how close it is to a road, your home's location, whether it is listed or in a conservation area, and which UK nation you live in. In England, a porch is usually permitted development if its ground floor area is no more than 3m², no part is over 3m high and it is at least 2m from a boundary with a road. We check before quoting.
Does a porch need building regulations approval?
Small porches are often exempt from building regulations, provided the existing front door stays between the porch and the house and the floor area is modest. Glazing must still be safety glass and any electrics must be certified. If you remove the front door so the porch becomes part of the house, it is treated like an extension. Rules vary between UK nations, so we confirm what applies.
How long does it take to build a porch?
Building a porch usually takes one to two weeks on site. Foundations and base go in first, then the brickwork, roof, windows and door. uPVC and aluminium porches are often quicker because the frames are made off-site, while brick-built porches with a tiled roof take a little longer. Frames and doors are made to measure, so allow a few weeks' lead time before starting.
Will a porch make my house warmer?
A porch acts as a buffer between the front door and the outside, so cold air does not rush straight in every time the door opens. This reduces draughts in the hallway or living room and can help cut heat loss. It also gives a dry place to take off wet coats and shoes. Well-insulated walls, double glazing and a good door make the biggest difference.
What if there is a gas meter or drain where the porch will go?
A gas or electric meter box or a drain in the porch area does not usually stop a porch being built, but it affects the design and cost. Meters may need moving by the supplier, which takes time to arrange. Manholes can sometimes be enclosed with a sealed cover, depending on the drainage. We check these details at the survey and include them in the quote.
Can I use my porch as a room?
A porch is designed as an entrance space for coats, shoes and deliveries rather than a habitable room. If you want to use it as part of the house, for example by removing the front door between them, it is likely to need building regulations approval like a small extension, with higher insulation standards. We can design the porch to suit either use.
What style of porch suits my house?
The right porch style usually echoes your house. Brick-built porches with a tiled roof suit traditional brick homes, while uPVC or aluminium porches suit newer houses and give more light. Matching the roof pitch, brick colour and window style to the house helps the porch look as if it has always been there. We bring photos and options to the survey.