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Front Porches cont.
Many older homes in neighborhoods throughout the country
featured spacious front porches. They were gathering
places for families and neighbors, where adults discussed
the day's activities while watching children play in
the front yard. We may not be able to return to the
slow-paced life, but we can re-create the serenity of
the front porch.
| For any porch to be a
practical and inviting place for people to gather,
it must be spacious. While the minimum depth is
six feet, eight to twelve feet is required for a
swing and several rocking chairs. Proper proportion
and scale, along with strict attention to detail
are also essential. Columns must be large enough
not only for structural reasons, but also for aesthetics.
If a column is too small in diameter, it may appear
that the porch is not properly supported, even though
it may be structurally adequate. If at all possible,
raise the porch at least 24 inches from the level
of the sidewalk. This elevation provides an amazing
sense of privacy and security. |
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It's been said that the demise of our neighborhoods
began when porches started to disappearing from the
fronts of our homes. While such a statement is obviously
an oversimplification, the re-emergence of front porches
does encourage interaction with neighbors. At the very
least, there's much to be said for just being able to
retreat to the rocking chair on a shaded front porch,
enjoying a glass of lemonade!
- Larry W. Garnett, FAIBD
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