Measure the Space

• 1). Decide where in the front of your house you want to have the porch. Many times a front porch is an extension of the front entry way.
  
  
• 2). Measure the area where you want the porch.
  
  
• 3). Measure the outside of your house.
  
  
• 4). Draw the outside perimeter of your house on paper using the architectural scale and triangles. A typical house floor plan is drawn at a 1/4- or 1/8-inch scale.
  
  

Design

• 1). Decide on the design of your front porch.
  
  
• 2). Look at different magazines, books, and what is around your existing neighborhood to find out what options you have and what goes best with your style and the house.
  
  
• 3). Decide if you want an open porch design or an enclosed porch.
  
  
• 4). Draw the layout of the front porch on your floor plan using the same architectural scale as the floor plan.
  
  
• 5). Draw an elevation of the front porch so that you can show what it looks like from all sides.