What You Should Know About Installing a Porch Roof

Adding a roof to an existing porch is a great way to make the space more usable. Putting a roof on the porch means you can sit out on sunny days and enjoy the shade. You can also leave shoes out on the porch on a rainy day and know that they won’t get soaked. Or you can sit out on the porch and watch it rain without getting wet.

Installing a porch roof is a project that homeowners often feel like they can tackle themselves. It’s a small enough project that anyone who’s relatively confident around power tools may feel inclined to take on to save a little money. But sometimes a project like this is best left to professional KC roofing contractors who have more experience with these types of projects.

Getting Started

Here are a few things you should know about installing a porch roof – before you begin the project. You may decide that calling in a Kansas City roofing contractor is your best bet, after all.

Evaluate what you have first.

Adding on a roof adds more weight to the structure of the house. Before you attach anything to your house, take the time to look carefully at your porch and the area around it to make sure it’s sound. Do you see any wood rot or dark spots that may be a sign of moisture intrusion? If so, those areas probably need to be fixed first – before you put the porch roof on.

Draw up a plan.

Come up with a plan for your project. Figure out what kind of roof you want on your porch. Do you want a metal roof, a wood shingle roof, or an asphalt roof? You’ll need to calculate the rise and run of your roof during this phase, because these measurements may limit the type of roofing material you use.

Will your porch roof be flat or peaked? Make sure you consider the overall appearance of the house so that what you build is attractive and fits in with the architectural style of your home. Also, think about whether you need electricity. This would be a great time to bring in an electrician to wire the porch for ceiling fans and outlets.

Find out what permits you need.

After you’ve drawn up your plan, check with the city to find out if you need a permit to build onto your home. Many cities have specific requirements about the projects that can be built, and often you can’t proceed without pulling a permit. Cities also have their own codes when it comes to roofing materials. Make sure your project complies with all the rules before you start.

Have You Decided to Use Professionals Yet?

All these must be evaluated before you begin your roof installation project. While many do-it-yourselfers are comfortable with all this, many opt for the help of KC roofing contractors instead. A professional Kansas City roofing contractor has the experience to handle all this and much more. They can help you evaluate your home, draw up a plan for the porch roof, and help you figure out the look you’re trying to achieve. KC roofing contractors are also familiar with city codes and permit processes. They’ll take care of all that for you, keeping you out of trouble with the city and with your subdivision.

Shamrock Roofing and Construction is a reliable Kansas City roofing contractor that’s been in business for over 55 years. We’ve worked on all kinds of houses, and we can help you design a porch roof that’s a perfect fit for your home. Give us a call today for a free estimate. We’ll make the whole porch roof installation project stress-free!