Kingsport, Tennessee (PRWEB) May 03, 2013

The great American porch is back in style. A Census survey reported that nearly two-thirds of new homes built in 2011 had a porch (65 percent), compared to 1995 when only 42 percent of new homes had a porch. The Census data also revealed that porch construction has been on the rise for nearly 10 years.

A USA Today story hinted that the growing popularity of porches may have to do with how Americans want to live nowin smaller homes and denser communities that promote walking and interacting with neighbors.

Porch Allure Most often built facing the street on the front of the house, a porch naturally establishes a connection between the home and its surroundings. Porches offer privacy but also the option of interacting with neighbors as they pass by.

The fact that porches generally require less maintenance than larger, fully exposed outdoor living areas also adds to their appeal, especially given new building materials designed for longevity. An example is Perennial Wood porch flooring, which is a new line of real wood tongue-and-groove porch flooring. Made possible by a proprietary process called TruLast Technology, it is three times more dimensionally stable than unmodified wood and resists changes from moisture for decades. Without sacrificing the beauty of real wood, it resists the shrinking and swelling that can lead to separation between boards, cupping, and warping. The new porch flooring is available at select building materials dealers in New England and the South Atlantic states of North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.

Insight From the Past History can also offer insight into why porches are rebounding, as they have long been a distinctive feature of American architecture. Early in the 20th century, porches were nearly universal, reflecting the social values of the time: family and community. The porch was an outdoor living room of sorts, offering refuge from a swelteringly hot house while interacting with neighbors and friends.

In many ways, a porch was a semiprivate space that was also a social outletbenefits that may very well be contributing to their growing popularity today, said Brant Mitchell, market development manager for Perennial Wood.

Preserving History In addition to increased numbers of porches on new homes, vintage porches are also being preserved. The Historic Charleston Foundation (HCF) and Habitat for Humanity in Charleston recently partnered to restore a circa 1919 freedmans cottage on Romney Streeta historic street just outside of Charlestons designated historic district. Freedmans cottages are small, one-story homes built as affordable housing for freed slaves following the Civil War. One of their distinct architectural qualities was a side porch, or piazza.

The renovation included rebuilding the houses historic piazza, among other major improvements such as repairing and replacing windows and installing a new roof. HCF was eager to use a long-lasting material for the porch and chose new Perennial Wood porch flooring. The organization was attracted to the exceptional longevity and beauty of Perennial Wood porch flooring and felt it would be well suited for the intricacies of restoring historical buildings, as well as Charlestons wet, humid climate.

Dan Jones, the Charleston Habitat for Humanity construction manager and one of his key volunteer contractors, Herman Roden, were impressed with the porch flooring. The beauty and workability of Perennial Wood made it a perfect fit for this project, Jones said.

See more here:
Porches Experiencing a Resurgence of Popularity

Hallie Switzer talks porches
Toronto actress talks about why porches are important to her, and her special porch rituals. Hallie plays.

By: Alison Lee

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Hallie Switzer talks porches - Video

Pretty Porches and Patios
http://briggsfreeman.com http://updatethemetroplex.com Spring is blooming and summer is just around the corner, and these oh-so-pretty porches and patios are...

By: update dallas

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Pretty Porches and Patios - Video

Outdoor Solar Shades For Patios, Porches, Decks and Pergolas
Outdoor Solar Shades For Patios, Porches, Decks and Pergolas http://northsolarscreen.com/html/sun_guardian.shtml Transparent outdoor solar shades make patios...

By: NorthSolarScreen

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Outdoor Solar Shades For Patios, Porches, Decks and Pergolas - Video

Porches, NFSMW On-Line

By: frantds

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Porches, NFSMW On-Line - Video

STILL ON TREND: This color trend post goes back to February. Nice to see how on trend she was. From Colour Me Happy:

" 'Colour is going back to the 50s and the 60s,' says colour expert, author and stylist Maria Killam. "We're seeing so much bright colour out there.'

Killam singles out cornflower blue has her favourite from this emerging colour palette. Although gray remains a popular pick for walls and furniture, accent colours are getting livelier, which means layering brighter blues over your trendy neutrals." PORCHES & PROJECTS: These porches from Better Homes & Gardens are loaded with color, which proves so welcoming. Don't you just want to sit on down with a glass of sweet tea?

And these paint projects, also from BHG, will no doubt give you some ideas.

"Houzzers, we made the call and you answered, showing us the dramatic difference you've made in your homes with paint. Today we're looking at how paint has changed your rooms, from the kitchen to the bedroom, from the living room to the laundry room."

WHAT'S IT SAY: You painted your living room yellow because you wanted a bright happy spot. Is that what the room says? Check out the meaning behind the color from House Beautiful.

-- Bridget A. Otto

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Color Monday: Staying on trend; inviting porches; and 13 makeovers with paint

cool porches in london
London 2013.

By: ferrari jnr.

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cool porches in london - Video

What was it that inspired everyone to build a deck on the back of their houses? To get away from it all, is my surmise.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Every home around me has a back deck with the exception of one -- it has a front porch.

What was it that inspired everyone to build a deck on the back of their houses? To get away from it all, is my surmise. I always wanted a deck out back -- then got it when my house was remodeled. I loved sitting there. It was like being in the woods and ever so peaceful.

Then it became too peaceful -- unless people are here with me, I see no one.

Within the past several years, I have seen photographs of front porches, and I was instantly taken back to my grandparents' house, for it had a huge one. Everyone in the family sat out there, when weather permitted, and people would stop by and talk about this or that.

"Visiting" it was called, and it's not done much, if at all, in today's world. Trust me, I was a visitor to just about everyone's front porch in my grandparents' neighborhood. Kids played on them, people discussed events and problems, and even ate out there. It was a wonderful space for happy or lonely people.

In today's world, I would compare a front porch to therapy. And no, I haven't had therapy, but thinking back to front porches, so many problems were solved and friendships made on them.

I see a lot of them on much older homes in my city and have such a desire to go and sit down on one. But since I don't know the inhabitants that would not be a safe thing to do in today's world. Still, I long for a front porch, as probably many others do as well. Being out behind one's house on a deck is not interacting with people. It's isolation at its ultimate.

And yet in today's troubled world, unless you live in a gated neighborhood, a deck is about the only place you have to get away from it all and feel safe.

Therein is the shame of it all. Who wouldn't love to sit on a front porch and talk to passing neighbors? It certainly would heal a lot of wounded people, in that they could talk about their problems instead of hiding them deep inside.

Read this article:
Sherry Hill: Sadly, front porches are a thing of the past

Everyone Out On Their Porches

By: dallasangler

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Everyone Out On Their Porches - Video

NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR-- Indoor furniture on outside porches is an issue not sitting well with some leaders in North Little Rock.

Donald Warren put two recliners on his front porch for comfort.

"I got new furniture and since it don't rain on my porch, I sit out here and my back don't bother me," said Warren.

Veronica Candley has seats from her van sitting in public view.

"Everybody can't afford patio furniture. And some of these things are just another mans trash that became our treasure," said Candley.

The outdoor storage issue is set to be presented at Monday's city council meeting. The mayor says if passed, a task force would develop a plan to address the concern.

"It's going to be somewhat controversial and so when you dive into controversy like that, you certainly want everyone's opinion. So in a situation like this, a task force is probably necessary," said Mayor Joe Smith.

Warren supports the measure. By the end of our interview, he had the recliners moved to the backyard and plans to later send them to the garbage.

"Anything to help the community look better, I will move this to the back and just help beautify it," said Warren.

But Candley wants her seats to stay.

More:
Furniture On Porches Could Become Illegal In NLR