Approximately fifty percent of Americans have made some form of upgrades to their outdoor space in the past year.
If you’re one of these people, you’ve probably had multiple choices to make regarding your outdoor space, both in terms of the decoration and the function of your space.
If you didn’t have a formal sitting area before, you probably do now. But do you know what kind of sitting area you have (porch vs patio vs deck)?
Read on to learn more about the differences between these outdoor lounge spaces and determine which one you have.
What is a Porch?
A porch is the only one of the three structures discussed here that must always attach directly to the house. While a porch may or may not have screened-in sides or walls, it always has a roof.
Porches can technically be anywhere in relationship to the house. However, they are most likely to be found in front of or on the sides of the house. They can also be placed on the ground floor or higher and can be made of wood, stone, and many other materials.
Because porches are covered, they are useful for multiple seasons throughout the year and in various forms of weather, either for relaxation or to serve as a mudroom or entryway into your home.
What is a Deck?
Decks are like porches, except they don’t have roofs covering them.
If you’re trying to determine if something is a porch vs deck, ask yourself, “Does this structure have a roof?” If it does, it’s a porch; if not, it’s a deck.
Like porches, decks attach to your house and are generally found in the back of the house. They are occasionally located on the side of the house.
Like porches, decks can be on the first floor or higher. Depending on how strong of a deck you have, you can use it for dining, entertaining, and even for grilling.
What is a Patio?
In contrast to decks and porches, patios are not always attached to the house, although they can be. These paved areas are directly outside an entrance to the home and get used for entertaining, dining, and general relaxation.
You can make a patio out of cement, stone, brick, or any other pavement. While you don’t have to, you can also cover the pavement with a decorative chip or some other form of concrete coating.
Because you must make a patio out of paving material, you can only place it on the ground floor of your home. While patios sometimes have an overhead covering, the covering cannot be attached to the roof of the house.
Know the Difference Between Porch vs Patio vs Deck
Now that you know the difference between a porch vs patio vs deck, you can determine which one you have. Use this knowledge to utilize your outdoor space to its maximum potential!
Looking for information on how to take your garage space to the next level? Read this article about how to enhance your this outdoor living space.