What is the difference between a patio, a porch, a verandah, a deck and a balcony? | Hire a Hubby (2024)

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What is the difference between a porch, balcony, veranda, patio, and deck? ›

Just like the deck, porch and veranda, patio and balcony are also two extremely different outdoor structures. While a patio is an open space located at ground level, a balcony is an elevated platform constructed at least one floor above the ground level.

Though decks, patios and porches can come in all shapes and sizes, decks are typically raised, off-ground platforms, while patios are ground-level living spaces. Porches, meanwhile, are covered structures.

Patios and balconies are distinct structures that are easy to tell apart. Patios are usually made of stone or brick and are installed at ground level. Balconies are elevated structures that are attached to a building on the second story or higher.

It's usually spelled "veranda," but spell it with the h if you're in a Jane Austen novel. Verandah. In the US, veranda (without the “h”) is been standard since the 1850s, but British English kept the “h” for about 100 more years. These days veranda is more common everywhere.

Deck. There are no roofs on decks. Thus they're open areas outside. Many of them are made of wood to make them appear cozy.

Definitions: Curtilage - usually the area of land within which the house sits, but for some houses, may be a smaller area). A veranda - usually defined as a gallery, platform, or balcony, usually roofed and often partly enclosed, extending along the outside of a building at ground level.

What about patios? They're generally cheaper than decks. Because they're made out of less expensive materials, require less labor, and typically don't require permits or inspections to build.

A porch is defined as a covered area that typically has a roof and adjoins a building's entrance. Though porches often adorn the street-facing side of a home, that's not always the case: Many homes have side or even back porches. But the distinguishing factor from a patio is the roof.

The most common porch roof is a gable roof. The gable roof is a triangle-shaped roof that projects along a ridge down the center of the enclosure. The sides are sloped at a particular pitch rise over run to shed snow and water.

Unlike a deck, a patio is a flat slab built directly on the ground, is not significantly raised and does not have multiple levels.

What is a small front porch called? ›

A simple portico porch can protect guests while they wait at the front door and provide dimension to a flat-faced house. "But plan enough depth so you avoid your front porch looking like a "decal" on your home," says Dan Morales, an architect with the design firm Gilday Renovations.

The term patio cover is often used interchangeably with pavilion and pergola; however, the main difference is that they are attached to the home rather than being a freestanding structure. They are used to cover a patio or deck, and can have either a partially open or completely solid roof.

Veranda (also called verandah) and porch are terms used to describe outdoor areas attached to a home. Both are covered, and located on the ground level, and both can be used as a space to enjoy the outdoors.

The glass structure can make the room become as hot as a furnace on summer days, heating up adjacent rooms as well (nothing that can't be fixed with a sun awning, though). In the winter months, it's the other way around: without heating, verandas become too chilly to use.

What Is a Lanai? The term “lanai” comes from Hawaii and describes a room or larger space outside a house. Usually found at the back of a house, the lanai is often connected to an entrance and covered by the roof.

Veranda and balcony are pretty close to synonyms in their usage in descriptions of cruise ship cabin space.

Balcony decks are typically replaced using conventional methods of posts and foundations. Cantilevered decks or balcony decks without support posts is a controversial subject in the deck building world. This small 4' x 6' balcony provides a nice walkout area for the master bedroom.

Wall mounted porches, often called “canopy” porches. These are attached to the wall above a front or back door. Wall and floor mounted porches, which are attached to the wall above a door but also come with two wooden supporting legs, often called railings.

Patio Covers

The term patio cover is often used interchangeably with pavilion and pergola; however, the main difference is that they are attached to the home rather than being a freestanding structure. They are used to cover a patio or deck, and can have either a partially open or completely solid roof.