PORCHES

RECOMMENDED

• Repair and retain original porches.
• If rebuilding is necessary due to structural instability, reuse as much of the original porch and decorative details as possible.
• Assess the significance of a non-original porch before considering removing or altering it. A porch added to a building at a later date should not be removed simply because it is not original. It may have its own architectural or historic importance and is evidence of the evolution of the building.
• Original porch floors should be repaired or replaced to match the original.
• If a porch is missing, a new porch should be based on as much evidence as possible about theoriginal porch design, shap, size, location and details. Check the following sources for evidence:
  • Old photographs
  • Historic Sanborn maps
  • Paint lines defining porch roof outlines
  • Paint lines defining porch post design
  • Remnants of the porch foundation
  • Similar houses in the neighborhood (helpful but not always dependable)
  • Oral descriptions from previous owners
• Where little or no evidence of the original porch remains, a new porch should reflect the typical porch form of the era while being identifiable as a recent addition not original to the building.

NOT RECOMMENDED

• Avoid alterations to historic porches, especially on primary facades.
• Avoid replacing original stone steps.
• Avoid replacing original wood floors with concrete.
• Avoid placing new porches in locations which never had porches, especially on significant elevations.

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