It is not for nothing that metal serves as a symbol of strength and durability. Where the wood rots and the concrete crumbles, the metal structure will stand unshakably. In addition to physical advantages, metal has many significant aesthetic advantages.
All kinds of grilles, fences, forged furniture, stairs and canopies made of this material look delicate, elegant and rich. The porch of a private house, which you can make yourself from a steel profile, is no exception.
We will consider the features, important nuances of its assembly and optimal design options in our article.
Purpose and advantages of a metal porch
The main purpose of the porch is to organize a platform in front of the front door to the house. It is the porch that creates convenient conditions for entering the interior. Namely, it protects the entrance from precipitation and sunlight. If the front door is located at a certain height above the ground, then you cannot do without a porch with a staircase.
Now about the advantages of a metal porch:
- High structural strength. Such a structure will last for decades if it is properly and promptly cared for. It will not be corroded by insects, the structure will not burn or collapse on its own.
- It is located in the golden mean in terms of cost between wood and concrete. That is, more expensive than a wooden product, but cheaper than a concrete one.
- High aesthetic qualities. Of course, a simple design cannot be called a masterpiece. But if you turn to specialists, you can actually get a wonderful structure that uses forged elements.
- This is a universal design. That is, iron will look great in a wooden, concrete, or brick house.
- Metal can also be combined with other materials. For example, install wooden railings for the porch. You can use plastic, glass and other materials. Metal has a “trusting relationship” with everyone.
Combination of metal porch and concrete Source sadovnik33.ru
What kind of foundation is needed?
If the porch is planned to be light - wooden or metal - the foundation is most often made of piles or columns. Specifically chosen based on geological conditions. On well-draining soils with a low groundwater level, a columnar foundation is sufficient; if there is a tendency to heave, a pile foundation, possibly a TISE, is needed.
For a heavy porch - made of brick or monolithic concrete - a strip foundation or monolithic slab is made. The type of foundation is most often similar to the one on which the house is built.
Types of foundations for a porch
Next, you need to decide whether you will connect the porch foundation to the house foundation or not. Decisions are made based on the planned mass of the extension and the type of soil. Both options have disadvantages. If there is no connection, cracks often form at the junction of the porch and the house; due to frost heaving, the porch may become warped. Owners of dacha plots often face this problem - usually the porch to the dachas is made of wood and is disconnected. After the ground thaws, it may “sit” in place on its own, or it may require some additional measures.
When installing connections, it is also possible for cracks to form, but not only at the joint, but also in the “body” of the extension. This happens if the reinforced connections installed cannot compensate for the uneven load created by the house and the extension. Therefore, a connected foundation for a porch is made if it is attached to a heavy house and is itself heavy and massive, made of reinforced concrete. The second difficulty with this decision is to make the connection high-quality. To do this, use ribbed reinforcement with a diameter of 12-16 mm, for which holes are drilled in the foundation with a given diameter. Reinforcement is hammered into them and a frame for the porch is knitted on its basis.
Technology and rules for making a metal porch
You need to start by determining the shape and size. The first is determined by the taste preferences of the owner of the house. When it comes to dimensions, there are certain standards that must be taken into account during the design process. This mainly concerns the stairs. But there are also dimensional standards for the area in front of the door.
The thing is that, according to fire regulations, the front door must open to the street. That is, during the evacuation of people. Therefore, when opening the door, there should be enough space so that a person can freely remain on the platform without retreating back. This means that the size of the area will depend on the size of the door leaf. There are minimum recommended dimensions for the platform: length 2 m, width 1.5 m. But to be more precise, it is better to use this ratio - the width of the door leaf multiplied by 1.5.
Sketch of a porch with exact dimensions Source jimcdn.com
Now the dimensions of the stairs to the metal porch.
- The angle of inclination relative to the ground is 23-45 degrees. No one forbids making it steeper, but in this case the safety of moving along it decreases. Especially in the winter season, when the structure is covered with ice and snow.
- Step sizes: length – 30-36 cm; height – 12-18 cm. Experts believe that for the most ergonomic staircase, the sum of the two parameters should be equal to 45 cm.
- Width of the flight of stairs: 80-110 cm. But for the porch this is just the minimum size.
- Metal staircase structures almost always have railings. So their height should vary in the range of 90-100 cm. The distance between them: 10-15 cm.
- There is one more size that must be taken into account. This is the distance from the porch area to the bottom end of the front door. The platform should be located 2-3 cm lower.
A porch for a private house made of metal can be assembled from different metal profiles. Today, profile pipes 40x60 or 60x60 mm are increasingly used. To make steps, you will need a 25 or 30 mm corner, as well as sheet iron, if we are talking about a purely metal structure. The sheet will cover the landings of the steps, as well as the area in front of the front door.
Porch made of profile pipe Source tildacdn.com
As mentioned above, a metal porch is a universal structure, so steel sheets can be replaced with boards or concrete.
Recommendations
A compact and cozy spiral staircase is not at all an advertisement from the cover of a magazine or the fantasy of an expensive designer. Experts keep several effective secrets that help bring all this to life with minimal material costs. The only thing that is required to the maximum extent is desire, diligence and scrupulous adherence to instructions. To make it easier to cope with this task yourself, re-read the main recommendations for this process.
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The length of one turn of the staircase must be at least two meters so that it is comfortable for a person of any height to move along it. When finalizing wooden structures, pay special attention to the painting process. If you are more than satisfied with the natural pattern of the material, then you can get by with a two- or three-layer coating of yacht or parquet varnish.
Before you start painting or varnishing the surface, be sure to clean it of construction debris, dust and other types of contamination.
Then you will get a durable, high-quality coating. Pay attention to the angle of the steps. Ideally, they should be parallel to the floor so that there is no risk of feet slipping and injury. Materials for the manufacture of stairs must be of high quality, strong and durable
When selecting, take a close look at all the components and components.
- Fire safety is paramount. All materials must have heat-resistant impregnation and treatment.
- Moisture is also a bad companion for spiral staircases of various materials. Therefore, you should immediately clarify the question at the selection stage whether the structure is treated with a special moisture-resistant coating.
- All fastening tools must be in place and securely screwed in, driven in, and fixed. The plane of the steps should be perfectly smooth without any unpleasant protruding additions.
- In the process of marking and creating drawings of the future structure, be sure to take all measurements several times and double-check yourself. Incorrectly specified dimensions can lead to uncomfortable operation: misalignment, creaking, and rapid wear of components.
- If there is a need to replace a step, fastener, railing, baluster, etc., do so immediately. Otherwise, both the entire structure as a whole and the person climbing or descending it may suffer.
- Constantly take care of your spiral staircase: clean it on time, paint it, repair it if necessary.
Brief step-by-step instructions for making a metal porch
First of all, you need to make a sketch indicating the exact dimensions. Taking them into account, the elements are cut using a grinder.
Depending on the size of the porch, its design may include four support posts. Wells are dug under them, where crushed stone is poured into the bottom. Each rack is installed and concreted. As soon as the concrete solution has dried, they proceed to tying the posts and forming the porch area. Here it is important to connect all the supports together so that the stability of the structure is high.
Concrete porch posts Source yandex.net
See also: Catalog of companies that specialize in the installation of metal structures of any complexity.
Now the stairs. It can be assembled separately from the platform and then welded to it. Assembly can be carried out directly on site. For example, the second option.
- We determined the installation location.
- Knowing the width of the march, install two stringers. These are inclined supporting elements on which the steps will be laid. It is at this stage that the angle of inclination of the flight of stairs is set.
- Important point. The lower edges of the stringers must be secured. The easiest way is to drive two pins into the ground for each stringer. Then weld them to each other. There are other more complex methods.
- Now the steps are formed. There are a huge number of options here. Let's look at the simplest one.
To do this you will need a 25 or 30 mm corner. A rectangle is made from it according to the size of the steps. This product is welded on one side to the stringers. And under the other, racks are installed either from the same corner, or from reinforcement with a diameter of 10-12 mm, or from a pipe with a diameter of 15-20 mm. The racks are attached by electric welding to the stringers. The photo below clearly shows how the steps are installed.
Steps on a metal staircase Source svarka-sibir.ru
The next operation is the installation and fastening of the platforms. It all depends on the chosen material. Metal products are fastened with electric welding, wooden ones with self-tapping screws, concrete is simply poured, installing a sheet of iron under the platform.
And the last thing is the installation of railings. We need to talk about the porch railings separately, because this element creates the design of the entire structure.
Where to begin
The creation of a design begins with the development of a project. It can be simple, executed on a sheet of paper in the form of a drawing with dimensions, or it can be made in the form of classic design documentation.
The project determines the most important parameters of the entrance group:
- The method of connecting the porch to the main building.
- Dimensions of its parts: platform, stairs and canopy.
- The amount of inclination of the flight of stairs.
Special financial and technical calculations are made, a sketch is drawn, and then a design drawing, materials are purchased, and a set of tools is prepared.
Railings for a metal porch
First of all, you need to choose the material. Usually it is either metal or wood. Stone or concrete products are rarely used. Therefore, we will talk about porch railings made of metal and wood.
Metal railings
As for the material, there are several of them:
- Aluminum. This type of railing is distinguished by its attractive appearance. The metal does not corrode. It is flexible, which makes it possible to bend it into any shape. But this is also a drawback - aluminum railings cannot withstand heavy loads.
- Steel. The most popular metal for making railings, especially for porches. Durable, withstands atmospheric loads well, does not require special care. There are a large number of technologies with which you can create beautiful products from steel profiles. This group also includes stainless steel railings. An expensive option, but with an unlimited service life. There is no need to paint such railings. Their appearance creates the design itself.
- Cast iron. It is used in casting, hence the huge range. You can come up with any shapes, patterns and sizes, make castings, modify them and get magnificent products.
Aluminum railings for a metal porch Source remontnik.ru
Building codes
During construction work, any structure must meet certain standards.
The same is the case with the stairs. It must be strong to withstand human loads, and safe so as not to be injured when moving.
And also, it should provide convenient and comfortable movement to the required floor of the building.
You must make the steps with certain parameters, since a narrow step will interfere with the comfortable placement of the foot, which can cause injuries. If the step is very high, then it is inconvenient to step from one to another.
Therefore, such a project must be approached according to the rules, everything must be accurately calculated and defined in the drawings.
Metal porch design
Anyone who has chosen a porch for a house made of metal should understand that the variety of this design is so huge that you will have to sweat to choose something unusual. We need to start with functionality. That is, it could be a small spot in front of the front door. This can be a serious, large structure where you can organize a recreation area.
In shape it can be a rectangle, a semicircle, or a multifaceted design. In this regard, there are practically no restrictions. Today, more and more often, owners of private houses use closed structures using glass. That is, a terrace or veranda is made from the porch. You can also create a patio by installing a canopy or a whole roof.
Making a porch-terrace from metal and wood Source amarant.ru
For a small house, a small porch in the form of a platform is suitable. Essentially, this is a metal structure attached to the front door. The photo below shows one of the options.
Small metal porch Source yandex.net
Lucky are those who own a big house. This is where your imagination can run wild, since there are many offers on the market.
What else you need to consider: recommendations from professionals
For those who have decided to create a staircase structure for the first time, experts recommend choosing flight stairs (rotary or straight). These types of stairs are simpler both in calculations and in manufacturing. More complex designs, especially asymmetrical ones, should not be done by beginners, as they may have to call in professionals to redo them.
In addition, professionals advise the following:
use patterns to create stringers; it is better to tighten structures on a bowstring with metal rods to give strength; It is very important to carry out the final processing of wooden structures (after installation, clean all parts with sandpaper, vacuum) and only then varnish.
Metal protection
For metal to last a long time, it must be protected, mainly from moisture. The market today offers a large number of different paint and varnish products, but I would like to mention anti-corrosion paint. And although all types of paint cope with their duties, anti-corrosion paint surpassed all in terms of service life.
Firstly, this type of paint contains special additives and resins. Secondly, the technology of its application is no different from conventional ones. That is, they use spray guns, brushes and rollers. Before application, metal surfaces are cleaned of dirt, rust and other materials.
Note that manufacturers offer another variety - anti-rust paint. This is a unique material. Before applying it, it is not necessary to clean metal structures and products from corrosive areas. You only need to remove dirt and dust. The paint adheres well, covering the rust and preventing it from spreading further.
Anti-corrosion paint for rust Source gidpokraske.ru
Safety precautions during welding work
If the welder does not comply with the technology or rules for carrying out welding work, there is a possibility of getting an unreliable structure that can collapse under the influence of external factors. Therefore, it is necessary to fully comply with the welding technique: observe the modes for selecting the current relative to the thickness of the metal; produce seams that meet standards.
When carrying out welding work, it is mandatory to use a protective mask. Clothing should be made of dense material capable of repelling flying sparks, and canvas mittens should be worn on the hands. There should be water and sand in the immediate vicinity of welding work to combat unexpected fires.
Briefly about the main thing
A metal porch is a design for easy entry into the house. It has high strength and long-term operation.
You can combine metal with other materials: wood, concrete, glass and plastic.
Today, more and more often, private developers are installing a porch made from a profile pipe, decorated with designer inserts in the form of railings and balusters. This metal profile is easy to manufacture, which reduces the cost of the structure.
To increase service life and give the porch a designer look, the metal elements are painted.
For railings, you can use forged products, welded, prefabricated or cast.
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Canopy Covering
The materials for covering visors are also striking in their diversity. Most often they are selected under the roof of the house, but it is not necessary to adhere to this rule.
A lightweight and durable material suitable for almost any coating is polycarbonate. From this material you can easily make a canopy over the porch with your own hands. It is flexible and plastic, which allows you to make canopies for the veranda of any shape, even arched.
Canopies over the porch made of polycarbonate have a wide range of colors, which allows you to implement any design design
Coverings made from corrugated sheets (corrugated sheets) look very practical and beautiful. This is a sheet of galvanized steel, profiled for greater rigidity. It is used for external coatings. Canopies over porches made of metal tiles have similar qualities. But since this roofing material is quite heavy, structures made from it are made mainly of supporting ones, one or two slopes.
Advice: when making a canopy over a porch made of metal tiles, take into account the pressure of the roofing material when making the frame.
Profiled sheet, canopy over the porch, photo
