Porches

Porches in Godstone& Surrounding Areas

A well-built porch adds a warm buffer at your front door, somewhere for coats and boots, and a frontage that looks finished.

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Free no-obligation survey · FENSA approved · 10-year insurance-backed guarantee

Since 2005

Family-run in South Godstone

9.83 / 10

191 Checkatrade reviews

FENSA

Approved installer

10 years

Insurance-backed guarantee

CHAS

Accredited contractor

Recent installations

Porches we have fitted

Overview

What porches involves

A porch does three jobs at once. It stops weather and draughts blowing straight into the hallway every time the front door opens, it gives you somewhere to leave wet coats, muddy boots and parcels, and it changes the way the front of the house reads from the road.

We design and install porches in UPVC and aluminium, sized and styled to the frontage rather than dropped on as a standard box. Small draught lobbies, full enclosed entrances, porches with dwarf walls and glazed side panels: the right answer depends on the property and how you come and go.

As with everything else we fit, the quotation covers the whole job, the work is done by our own installers, and the installation is guaranteed for ten years.

Who this is for

Front doors that open straight into a cold hallway
Families needing somewhere for coats, boots and buggies
Frontages exposed to wind and driving rain
Houses where parcels currently get left in the rain
Owners wanting to improve kerb appeal before selling
Properties needing an extra secure layer at the entrance

Why it matters

What happens if it is left alone

Without a porch, every opening of the front door dumps cold air into the hallway and up the stairs, and the heating works against it all winter.

Driving rain on an unsheltered front door works at the threshold and the door seal over years, and a front door left constantly wet ages far faster than one under cover.

A cluttered hallway is not just untidy. Coats and boots by the door on a wet day put water onto the hall floor, which is the most-used floor in the house.

Common mistakes we are called in to fix

Building a porch that is too shallow to close the outer door before opening the inner one, which defeats the point of it.
Choosing a style that ignores the proportions and materials of the frontage.
Forgetting where the electricity for a light or a bell needs to come from.
Not checking whether the porch size and position needs planning permission.

Our process

How we run the job, step by step

Step 1
Free survey
We visit, measure and look at the existing openings, lintels, cills and reveals. The survey is free and carries no obligation.
Step 2
Specification and quotation
You get one clear written quotation covering frames, glass, hardware, fitting, making good and certification; no hidden extras added later.
Step 3
Manufacture
Your frames are made to the surveyed sizes in UPVC or aluminium, with your chosen colours, glazing specification and hardware finishes.
Step 4
Installation
Our own installers fit the job. The work area is sheeted up and protected, materials are kept tidy and debris is cleared away each day.
Step 5
Making good
All making good is completed internally and externally, so the finished opening looks right from both sides before we leave.
Step 6
Certification and aftercare
You receive a FENSA certificate for replacement glazing, full product care advice and a 10-year comprehensive insurance-backed guarantee.

Benefits

What you actually get

Warmer hallway

An air lock at the front door stops the hall losing its heat every time someone comes in.

Storage where you need it

Coats, boots, umbrellas and deliveries stay out of the weather and out of the hallway.

Extra security

A second locked door at the entrance is a meaningful additional barrier at the most common point of entry.

Protects the front door

Sheltered from driving rain and direct sun, the front door and its hardware last considerably longer.

Kerb appeal

A well-proportioned porch makes a frontage look finished and cared for, which matters when you come to sell.

Low maintenance

UPVC and powder-coated aluminium need cleaning, not repainting, however exposed the frontage is.

In detail

Porches: the detail

Styles and materials

Porches can be fully glazed, built off dwarf walls, or a mixture with solid panels below and glazing above. UPVC is the economical, low-maintenance standard; aluminium gives slimmer framing and a more contemporary look, and pairs naturally with an aluminium front door.

Roof options include pitched tiled roofs that match the house, glazed or polycarbonate roofs where light into the hallway matters, and flat roofs where the space above is limited. We match the style to the existing frontage so the porch looks like part of the house rather than an addition.

Doors, glazing and hardware

The outer door can be UPVC, composite or aluminium, with multi-point locking as standard. Glazing in a porch is fitted with toughened safety glass in the critical locations required by regulation, and obscure or patterned options are available where the porch is close to the pavement.

Handles, letterplates, knockers and hinge finishes all get chosen at survey. Where the existing front door is staying, we match the new hardware to it as closely as the ranges allow.

Practical considerations

Depth matters more than anything else. A porch needs to be deep enough that the outer door can close before the inner door opens, otherwise it never functions as a draught lobby. We check this at survey with the actual doors and the actual step.

Lighting, bells and any electrical work need planning early. We will identify what is needed and what falls outside our scope so there are no surprises on the day.

Regulations

Many porches fall under permitted development, but size, height and proximity to the highway all matter, and listed buildings and conservation areas have their own rules. We will flag anything that looks like it needs checking with your local authority before the work is priced and ordered.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

How much does a porch cost?

It depends on size, materials, roof type and the amount of groundwork needed, so we quote after a free survey rather than publishing a figure that would not apply to your frontage.

Do I need planning permission for a porch?

Often not, as many porches fall within permitted development, but this depends on size, height and how close the porch sits to the highway. Conservation areas and listed buildings have additional rules, and we will tell you when it needs checking.

How long does a porch take to build?

Most domestic porches are a matter of days on site once the frames are made, depending on the groundwork and roof type. We confirm the programme in writing with your quotation.

Will a porch make my hallway dark?

Not if the glazing is planned properly. Glazed side panels and a glazed or translucent roof keep the light coming through to the hallway while still giving you shelter.

Can I keep my existing front door?

Usually, yes, provided it is in good condition. We will look at it at survey and tell you whether it makes sense to keep or whether replacing both doors together gives you a better result.

Is a porch secure enough to leave parcels in?

A porch with a locking outer door gives far better protection than a doorstep. How you manage deliveries is up to you, but the second locked door is a genuine additional barrier.

What guarantee comes with a new porch?

All of our installations carry a 10-year comprehensive insurance-backed guarantee underwritten through InstallSure. Replacement glazing is also covered by a FENSA certificate, so there is no council notification for you to arrange.

Is the survey really free?

Yes. The survey is free and carries no obligation. We measure, discuss the options and send a written quotation; if it is not for you, that is the end of it.

Which areas do you cover?

We work from South Godstone across Surrey, Sussex, Kent and South London, with Godstone, Redhill, Reigate, Sevenoaks and Crawley as our core territory. Our trade counter is open Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm.

Also from us

Other services

Add shelter, storage and kerb appeal

We will measure the frontage, check the depth you need for the porch to actually work, and quote the whole job in writing. Free survey, no obligation.