Pro4mance Roofing & Home Improvements builds and repairs porches from our office at 333 N Main St, Suite D, in downtown London, Kentucky. We build new front porches, covered porches with a roof tied into the main roof, and screened porches, and we rebuild porches with rotted floors, posts, railings, and steps. Because we are a roofing company, we handle the porch roof and the flashing where it meets the house, which is where most porch leaks and rot begin. We work in London, Corbin, and all of Laurel County, plus nearby Whitley County. Every job starts with a free estimate. Call (606) 401-9922, Monday through Friday, 8 to 6.
What kind of porch fits my house?
Most homeowners choose between an open front porch, a covered porch with its own roof, and a screened porch. The right one depends on how you plan to use it and how the roofline of the house is laid out.
An open porch or stoop gives you a landing at the door and a spot for a couple of chairs. A covered porch adds shade in July and keeps rain off the front door and the people standing at it. A screened porch keeps the bugs out on summer evenings. We look at the house first, then sketch a porch that matches the existing roof pitch, trim, and siding so it looks like it was always there.
| Open porch | Covered porch | Screened porch | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof | None | Tied into the house | Tied into the house |
| Weather | Full sun and rain | Shade and rain cover | Shade, rain cover, no bugs |
| Upkeep | Floor weathers fastest | Floor lasts longer | Screens need occasional repair |
Why does a roofer matter for a covered porch?
Because the weak spot on a covered porch is almost always the joint where the porch roof meets the house. If that joint is not flashed correctly, water runs behind the siding and into the wall.
A porch roof either ties into the main roof or attaches to the wall with a ledger board. Either way, it needs step flashing and counter flashing lapped the right direction so water stays on top. Porch roofs often have a low pitch, and low-slope sections need different underlayment than a steep main roof. We frame, sheathe, and shingle or metal the porch roof ourselves, matched to your main roof, then hang gutters so the water lands away from the steps. Low porch roofs also catch leaves, so gutter guards are worth a look.
If your main roof is near the end of its life, it often makes sense to plan both together. See roof replacement in London, KY and metal roofing, a common choice for porch roofs.
Should I repair or rebuild my rotted porch?
If the rot is limited to some floorboards, a railing, or a step, repair is usually enough. If the joists, beams, or post bases are soft, a rebuild is the safer choice.
Kentucky humidity and freeze and thaw cycles are hard on porches. Water sits in the end grain of posts and boards, freezes, and opens the wood up a little more every winter. We pull up a few boards and check the framing before recommending anything, so you are not paying to put new decking on rotten joists. Watch for these signs:
- Floorboards that feel spongy or bounce when you walk
- Posts that are soft or dark at the bottom
- Railings that wobble when you lean on them
- Steps that have cracked, split, or pulled loose
- Stains or peeling paint on the porch ceiling
- A porch floor that has started to slope toward the house
A stained porch ceiling usually points back to the roof or flashing, which is exactly the part we fix every day. A porch rebuild is also a good time to update the siding or windows behind it.
Is a screened porch worth it in Laurel County?
For most families who like to sit outside, yes. Mosquitoes and gnats make a lot of Kentucky summer evenings hard to enjoy on an open porch.
An existing covered porch can often be screened in without rebuilding it, as long as the posts and floor are sound. A new screened porch needs a solid roof, a floor that drains, and a screen door that closes tight. If you would rather have open sky and room for a grill, a deck may be the better fit, and some homes get both.
What affects the cost of a new porch?
Size, whether it has a roof, and the site matter most. A covered porch on a hillside lot with tall posts and long steps costs more than a low stoop on flat ground.
Other factors include the decking and railing materials, how the porch roof ties into your existing roof, tear-out of an old porch, and extras like screens, ceiling boards, or lighting. We handle permits where required. If a storm damaged your porch roof, you file the claim with your insurance company; we inspect, document the damage, write the estimate, and can meet your adjuster. Read more on our storm damage page.
We build porches for London and Corbin homeowners. See all of our exterior home improvement work, including seamless gutters and gutter cleaning, and learn who we are.
What customers say.
"We couldn't be happier with the work Pro4mance Roofing & Home Improvements did on our home. They replaced our roof, gutters, decking boards, fascia, and siding, and the entire project turned out better than we expected." — Ronald Rotondi, Google review
"They came out, gave us a great deal! Did the job quickly and it looks great! Super nice people! I definitely recommend!" — Christy Whitis
Porch questions, answered.
Who builds porches in London, KY?
Pro4mance Roofing and Home Improvements builds and repairs porches in London, KY from its office at 333 N Main St, Suite D. The company builds new front porches and covered porches, ties porch roofs into the main roof with proper flashing, adds screened porches, and repairs or rebuilds rotted floors, posts, railings, and steps. Because Pro4mance is a roofing company, the porch roof and the joint where it meets the house are handled by the same crew that builds the porch. The company works in London, Corbin, and throughout Laurel County, as well as Whitley County. Estimates are free. Call (606) 401-9922.
How much does a new porch cost in London, KY?
The cost of a porch in London, KY depends mostly on size, whether it has a roof, and the site. The main factors are the square footage of the floor, whether the porch is open or covered, how the porch roof ties into the existing roof, the decking and railing materials, the number of steps, how high the floor sits off the ground on a sloped lot, whether old framing has to be torn out, and whether you add screens or lighting. Because those details change from one Laurel County home to the next, Pro4mance measures the house during a free estimate and gives you a written price instead of a guess over the phone.
Do I need a permit to build a porch in Laurel County?
Often, yes, especially for a new porch, a porch roof, or a rebuild that changes the structure. Whether a permit is required depends on where the property is located and on the size and type of work, so the answer for a house inside London city limits can differ from one out in the county. Pro4mance checks what applies to your address before work starts and handles permits where required, so the porch is built and inspected the right way.
Visit our London office.
333 N Main St, Suite D, London, KY 40741. Porches for London and Laurel County. Call (606) 401-9922.