There is nothing like spending a quiet summer evening outside watching the sun slowly set or entertaining a group of friends. Outdoor living spaces are very popular and in order to take full advantage of your property, you want to consider a dedicated space which can accommodate seating, dining, and even cooking. Two popular choices are porches and patios. A porch is physically attached to the exterior of your home, whereas a patio is usually detached from your home and built into the ground. In the sections below, we will explain the important differences between each one.

Type of Flooring Required

Porches can be built of brick, tile, or stone laid over poured concrete supports, or they can be wood framed and finished with either wood or composite. The material used for wood flooring will often be smaller in width than what would be used to build a deck. This gives a more “finished” feeling and closely resembles the interior of your home.

The material used to build a patio is typically poured concrete, brick, stone, or another type of masonry. Because a patio is built directly on the ground and exposed to all kinds of weather conditions, harder, water-resistant materials are best.

Costs

The cost to build a porch is significantly higher than a patio because more labor and material are required. The materials for a porch may include concrete footings ³, wood joist and trusses ⁴, asphalt ⁵ shingles ⁶, and electrical wiring. For a covered and enclosed 16 x 20-foot porch, expect materials to cost around $4,000. Labor costs will impact the final cost significantly, and you will need to hire several different contractors, including a carpenter, painter, and electrician to complete your project. In this case, labor costs average $17,000 with the total project cost being just over $21,000.

Patios require significantly less material and labor and can be relatively inexpensive, depending on the size. The average cost for a 16 x 12-foot concrete patio using heavy cement pavers will be around $700 for a DIY project. Typically, professional installation of the same-sized patio made of poured concrete will cost between $2,000 and $4,000 for materials and labor.

Maintenance and Repair

Depending on the type of material used to construct the porch, maintenance and repair differ. For wood-framed structures with wood flooring, regular sanding and either staining or painting may be required. This step can be skipped if using pressure treated wood or composite materials. Replacement of damaged or worn wood framing or flooring may be a challenging for some homeowners, so a professional is recommended to perform this work. Porches with stone, brick, or masonry will need regular inspection for cracking or other damage.

Patios are quick to clean and can often be sprayed down with a hose. Maintenance is relatively easy and involves checking for cracks or other damage that may jeopardize the patio material or the ground underneath. For example, a large crack may allow water to seep under the patio and erode the ground surface along with weakening the patio material. Repairs may require total removal and replacement of the patio, depending on the severity of the damage.

Durability

Durability is dependent on the type of weather your porch or patio is exposed to and the amount of wear and tear you put on the space. Porches are susceptible to water damage and if you live in a damp climate, wood rot may be an issue. Under extreme conditions, especially in colder climates, patios are susceptible to cracking and heaving, the upward movement or expansion of the ground. Care must be taken to ensure that materials selected for the patio are appropriate for your area and can withstand local weather conditions. It is also important to remember that the ground surface your patio is built on may undergo changes due to erosion, ground settlement, or other events which may affect its durability.

Insects

When you’re using any outdoor living space, you’re going to contend with insects. Porches can be screened on the sides with mesh netting to prevent mosquitos, flies, and other irritating bugs, while still allowing air to circulate. If your porch is wood framed and uses wood flooring and roofing materials, there is always a risk of termites and other insects which could jeopardize the structure if they’re not dealt with immediately.

Patios can accommodate free standing mosquito curtains and other netting solutions. With either a patio or porch, you can enhance your surroundings while also repelling insects by planting things like citronella grass, catnip, rosemary, and lavender nearby.    

Remodeling Terms Cheat Sheet

¹ Vinyl: A synthetic plastic made from ethylene and chlorine. Vinyl has many applications in the construction industry and it is widely used in sidings, window frames, roofing and gutters, among others

² Rebar: A mesh or bar made of alloy, used in construction projects to reinforce concrete

³ Footings: A support for the foundation of a house that also helps prevent settling. It is typically made of concrete reinforced with rebar, but can also be made of masonry or brick. It is usually built under a heavier part of the house like a wall or column, to distribute the weight of the house over a larger area.

⁴ Trusses: Structural framework used to support a roof

⁵ Asphalt: A viscous, black mixture of hydrocarbons often used for roofing and waterproofing. It is also used in asphalt for paving roads

⁶ Shingles: A smooth, uniform, flat piece of construction material, available in a wide variety of materials and laid in a series of overlapping rows, used to cover the outside of roofs or walls to protect against weather damage and leaks.

⁸ Pergolas: An arched structure with an open roof and cross rafters, supported by posts or columns, typically installed in a garden, park, or backyard and usually covered with climbing plants or vines.

⁹ Built-in: An item of furniture, such as a bookcase or set of cabinets, that is built directly into the structure of the room. Built-ins are therefore customized to the room and not detachable