skip to main content

Building a Home Porches & Decks Design Dilemma

Front Door Steps

12 days ago

New build. The front door is pretty high compared to the ground. Original plan was for concrete steps and platform at front door. However, because the door is pretty high, a concrete set of steps would end up looking giant due to the height from ground to the front door and slope of land. Option of using trex deck instead with lattice on the sides to close it off. Thoughts on this or alternatives?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (8)

Yvonne Martin
12 days ago
We need photos to show the lay of the land as well as the front of the house.
skmom
12 days ago
We just moved into our new build last fall. Our yard is very steep, though you can’t tell from this photo. But our home is 3 floors and our front door is between the top and middle levels. It was a literal nightmare to get the driveway slope correct given the limitations of our site (incorrect measurements, and not wanting to go back to the county to start over...) and compromises had to be made. We always knew we were going to end up with stairs up to the front door, but they were originally supposed to be higher. The garage was originally supposed to be level with the middle floor, but that’s not what we ended up with, and instead we have 4 steps down to the middle floor on the inside of the garage. All that to say, we ended up going with cedar steps and small decking for our front door area. It matches our cedar deck which is on the back and side of the house (not pictured) and a very prominent part of the design of the house. We also have two cedar structures at the top of our property that coordinate... a very nicely built trash enclosure/ mail drop enclosure, and a custom sign built with our street numbers. When looked at as a whole, the cedar porch fits in.
Related Discussions
Front door step ideas please
Q
Comments (28)
Want to see a picture of my 'custom' step? Are you ready? Ok....promise not to laugh. ok..ok...you have the right to laugh. I won't hold it against you. Actually, this is the original stoop to the house that we're remodeling this year. We had a contractor over and he kept complaining because the concrete platform sits uncomfortably low under the door, the distance obviously not up to code, so he built this for us on a whim...a temporary wooden step. I painted it and threw some of that rough tape on it to prevent us from slipping....LOL...it's really a pathetic looking thing, but temporary. Trust me, I can't wait to see it go. Especially after seeing your beautiful Teak! BTW - that's my old dog Cody (17 yrs) and the Chi is my beloved Chewy - I had to put Chewy down this past weekend due to congestive heart failure. I miss him dearly, he was such a little lover boy. He hadn't a clue to his own size...he'd charge Pit Bulls though he weighed all but 4 lbs! LOL.
...See More
How to add drama to cookie cutter front door/steps
Q
Comments (27)
The point is to repeat the same color so that together you get a bigger dramatic effect rather than something hodgepodgy. I agree painting your door, storm door, and side lights the same as the shutters will help. As others have noted, a magnetic wreath hanger (2 piece) or large command hook will hold your wreath to the glass. Make sure to get one that can hold at least 6 lbs. As shown above, sweet potato vine "marguerite" (the lime green one) always adds drama and it gets very large if you don't cut it back, adding more drama! It's ubiquitous but very effective, especially if you plant it with purples, black, and whites. The key with plants is OVER SIZE and overplant in the containers or you lose the street effect. Don't think about what looks good to you while standing 5 feet away from it on your porch, or looking down on it--go down to the street and see it from 20 or 30 feet away, and looking UP to it. Does it register from the street? Can you see it driving down the road? Yes! If not, it isn't eye catching enough yet and you need more and bigger. Don't be afraid to go huge as long as it's natural and elegant. Instead of 1 pumpkin on a box, you could do something like this: It doesn't all have to be about plants and pots. You can get super creative. My neighbor has a dress form on her porch (which is no bigger than yours). This isn't hers, but she does similar things to it seasonally: Kind of the same idea as decorating an old bicycle with flowers. As long as you're the first in your neighborhood to do it, it's interesting. Also PS: Don't use iron planters if you get a lot of sun there--your roots will fry. You can get fiberglass ones that look like the iron ones though (and they'll probably be cheaper too.)
...See More
1954 brick ranch - update with black trim?
Q
Comments (7)
Its a very nice looking house. The things that will improve it most are 1. A new door. 2. Some new landscaping. Also the porch looks a bit unwelcoming. Maybe power washing it will help, but, it just looks a bit dirty. I would do those things, before painting anything, because, everything looks to be in great shape. No black garage door, that will stick out like a sore thumb. In fact, although, black is a favorite color of mine, I just cant see black anywhere on your house.
...See More
Ideas needed for front yard
Q
Comments (12)
mad_gallica (z5 Eastern NY) Wow, you sure are angry at me for seemingly nothing. My comment about low maintenance is relative to what my landscaping looked like before. I realize there is no "before" photo included but maybe take that into consideration before you lash out about which "planet" I'm on. That's not even close to funny. Have a great day!
...See More
skmom
12 days ago
Here’s a further back view of our house, hubby was still building our sign at the top of the driveway that our house numbers go on. You can better see how the porch relates to the rest of our home.
Frank
Original Author
12 days ago
The stairs would be straight out from the front door with a small concrete area and then down to the ground. The builder is basically saying if they do concrete stairs with a platform, the concrete will look enormous from the sides because it will be high up and sticking out. At the top of the stairs will be a pad where two posts come down from an overhang. They recommended we do a trex deck instead so, not sure what is the better option.
PRO
Mark Bischak, Architect
12 days ago
last modified: 12 days ago
What does the designer of the house recommend?

What do the drawings show?
Frank
Original Author
12 days ago
They recommended the trex because concrete would end up looking like a tall block on the front of the house. Just don’t know how I feel about lattice on the sides of the steps to enclose it
vinmarks
12 days ago
Why does it have to be lattice? Look into deck skirting ideas. Will you have landscaping that might camouflage the sides?
littlebug Zone 5 Missouri
12 days ago
Agree with vinmark 👆. Lattice reminds me of our first house (50 years ago). There are more options than lattice today. You can’t even see the sides of these steps below.

Related Stories

REMODELING GUIDES 6 Steps to Planning a Successful Building Project

By Ventana Construction LLC

Put in time on the front end to ensure that your home will match your vision in the end

BATHROOM WORKBOOK A Step-by-Step Guide to Designing Your Bathroom Vanity

Here are six decisions to make with your pro to get the best vanity layout, look and features for your needs

CURB APPEAL 5 Bright Palettes for Front Doors

By Jennifer Ott Design

Splash bold green, blue, orange or red on your front door, then balance it with a more restrained hue on the rest of the house

FRONT DOOR COLORS Front and Center Color: When to Paint Your Door Orange

By Jennifer Ott Design

Bring high energy and spirit to your home's entryway with a vibrant shade of orange on the front door

COLOR Front and Center Color: When to Paint Your Door Purple

By Jennifer Ott Design

From grapelicious to lavender, a front door cloaked in the color of royalty might just reign supreme in the neighborhood

CURB APPEAL 9 Daring Colors for Your Front Door

By Jennifer Ott Design

Stand out from the neighbors with a touch of neon green or a punch of hot pink

FRONT DOOR COLORS Front and Center Color: When to Paint Your Door Blue

By Jennifer Ott Design

Who knew having the blues could be so fun? These 8 exterior color palettes celebrate sunny-day skies to electric nights

CRAFTS Step Up to a Work-of-Art Doormat

By Lauren Donaldson

Stomping your feet at big-box-store mats? Paint a plain doormat for your entry to exactly match your style

LANDSCAPE DESIGN 7 Questions to Ask Before Laying Stepping Stones

By Joanna Tovia

These broken-up pathways invite you to put a spring in your step — while adding functionality to the garden

HOLIDAYS Show Us Your Decorated Front Door

By Annie Thornton

Nothing says, ‘Come on in’ like a front door decorated for the holidays. Share pictures of your decorated door in the Comments

Sponsored

More Discussions

Reliable outdoor security camera for 2-story home (new build)

9

what to do with house exterior

28

Critique Our Architecture Plans!

34

thoughts on this houseplan?

21

Need opinion on the new plan

12