And it’s not just the look - what about the practicalities!

It is an excellent way to ward off draughts and keep out the damp. Just closing the porch door behind you before you open the house door will help to cut heat loss, and stop that blast of cold air or rain getting indoors.

It is also an excellent place to come indoors and drop off the wet boots, coats and brollies without dripping rainwater through the house.

A porch is the ideal place to store the baby’s buggy, coats and shoes - anything that might just be standing in your hallway at the moment in fact!

I need a low-maintenance reliable material for my porch – What do I choose?

Over the last few decades PVCu has gone to the top of the list as a quality material for doors, windows, conservatories - and porches!

Good quality PVCu will not demand a regular coat of paint, or fade or yellow in the sun.

So why is it a good material for Porches

Around the world 50 per cent of basic PVC material is used in construction, which must say something for what the experts feel about it.

Before PVCu is made into frames a small amount of stabilisers and additives are added. These aid longevity, resistance to weather and harmful UV rays from the sun, and they also produce its trademark brilliant white colour.

How strong are PVCu Porches?

It is worth asking the salesman one or two questions. Make sure that the frames are made especially for the job and aren’t just window frames bolted together.

All PVCu frames should have a thickness of at least 55mm, the thicker the wall the more strength it has, some companies use frames of up to 80mm depth.

Ask to see a cross section of the wall. You may be surprised to see that it isn’t solid but has a multi-walled or chambered construction. That multi-wall must be strengthened with aluminium or galvanised steel to add extra strength and load bearing properties.

The strength and construction of the profile is also an important factor when comparing price. Is a low-priced version, which may look similar to a more expensive one, cheaper because the frame quality is less?

Look for the same kind of quality you would if buying a conservatory. It could pay to see if the profiles carry British Standards marks:

BSEN 12608 (Previously BS 7413) - means that the materials are of high standard, impact resistant, corners have great strength and are colour fast

BS 7412 - must meet tolerance requirements in construction, the standard also covers safety, security and weather-tightness.

Does my porch have to be white?

Does it have to be white? The simple answer is no, if you don’t want it to be. What will suit the style of your home best?

Many homeowners like a porch that gleams a brilliant white colour, but if that isn’t to your taste what about one coated with a foil - giving it the appearance of freshly painted white wood?

This version could find favour with some planners who do not like the use of bright white PVCu in conservation areas.

Alternatively, if you just don’t like white or the windows and doors of your house aren’t white - there are PVCu frames which resemble the deep rich tones of mahogany or the lighter look of oak.

What about the Glass?

You should specify that the glass is toughened to ensure the safety of anyone who might trip and fall against it.

Toughened glass disintegrates into small pieces without sharp edges on breaking. It does not have the terrifying long, sharp shards which can cause serious injuries.

Having laminated glass is another alternative, although quite expensive, as the two panes of glass have a plastic coating between again it means that the glass doesn’t shatter.

Just remember

Adding a porch to your home is an excellent way of gaining an extra facility and adding value.

But, like most things in life, you get what you pay for. Use our advice and look around, ask the questions to ensure you are getting good value for your money, and a PVCu porch that will live up to its claims of being virtually maintenance free, and will look good for years to come.

Planning Permission

The planning rules for porches are applicable to any external door to the dwellinghouse.

You need to apply for planning permission when:

1. the ground floor area (measured externally) would exceed three square metres.
2. any part would be more than three metres above ground level (height needs to be measured in the same way as for a house extension).
3. any part of the porch would be within two metres of any boundary of the dwellinghouse and the highway.

Building Regulations

Building a porch at ground level and under 30 square metres in floor area isnormally exempt from the need for building regulation approval.

This is provided that glazing and any fixed electrical installations comply with the appropriate sections of building regulations.

For a porch to be exempt from building regulations approval:

1. the front entrance door between the existing house and the new porch must remain in place
2. if the house has ramped or level access for disabled people, the porch must not adversely affect access.