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Nonesuch, that's interesting. Personally, I wouldn't want a three season porch my guests couldn't use.
cvetters, thanks, but we have porches here, so I know what a porch is. I assumed she meant deck, because she mentioned patio. Porches are generally part of the structure of the home, unlike decks and patios that are usually added later.
Back when I was building the house and posting here, someone noted that given the surroundings, I didn't have to worry about people looking in my windows.
You're very lucky to have that behind you! I wish I backed into a forest.
So the questions are, why do people have patios? What's the difference between those and porches? Are patios more of a thing when there is more of a house and less of surrounding botanics?
To me, a porch is covered and on the front of the house. A patio is typically uncovered or has a pergola, is located at the back or side of the house, and is installed on ground level (versus a deck which is raised). It can be connected to the house, an extension to a deck, or it can be an area away from the house.
Both can be enjoyed in the same way or different ways depending on the lifestyle of the user. IMO, patios are used for entertaining more than porches.
So the questions are, why do people have patios? What's the difference between those and porches? Are patios more of a thing when there is more of a house and less of surrounding botanics?
Grilling. Also, cost.
I don't see the point of a patio if I have a porch. But a porch as decsribed in the "wraparound front porch" sense where it's covered, wood, and part of the contstruction/footprint of the house, costs more than a poured outdoor concrete pad where you can grill, walk out of the back of the house without walking in grass/dirt/mud, etc...
Some areas, such as Florida, have virtually all houses built on slabs close to the ground level. I'd assume the same goes for the southwest, etc.......
In these cases there is no height for a frame porch in many cases....or for a deck. A patio is really the only choice for something at the same level or lower than the house floor.
We had a deck in back and replaced it with a paver patio. It’s basically an outdoor family “room.” We cook and eat out there, relax, read, watch the kids play in the yard, enjoy nature, etc. It’s especially nice to have friends and family over for entertaining at sunset. It’s fun to add furniture and plants, etc., though costly. We love it.
I guess I always s thought of a porch as a covered entrance, a patio as some kind of “improved” backyard space.
A good, natural backyard is fairly rare. If you have one, great!
Having a patio connotes “the good life”, putting human stuff over your more natural backyard. That can be really nice, but never be convinced that it’s necessary.
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