What is a porch?

A porch is a small extension built around the front door, giving a lobby for coats and shoes and stopping draughts reaching the hall. Most are brick with a pitched tiled roof to match the house, though glazed and timber porches are also common.
How much does a porch cost in Argyll and Bute?
In Argyll and Bute, a porch typically costs £6,250–£15,500 from a 3 m² porch to a small front extension, including VAT at 20% (standard rate). Prices in Scotland sit near the national average for this kind of work, and the range for Argyll and Bute reflects that. Design, structural calculations and council fees are extra.
| Size or type | Guide range |
|---|---|
| From a 3 m² porch to a small front extension | £6,250–£15,500 |
| Higher specification | £15,500–£19,500 |
What moves the price most:
- Size and roof style
- Moving meters, drains or the doorbell and lighting
- Front door specification
- Brick matching
For a figure based on your own measurements, try the guide price tool, then book a free home visit for a fixed quote.
Do you need planning permission for a porch in Argyll and Bute?
Whether you need planning permission depends on your house and its location in Scotland. In Scotland a porch is permitted development if its footprint is no more than 3 square metres, it is no more than 3 metres high and more than 2 metres from a boundary with a road, outside conservation areas. A building warrant may be needed depending on the design.
In Scotland a building warrant is needed before work starts on most extensions, loft conversions and conversions. It is issued by the council’s building standards service. When the work is finished, a completion certificate is submitted and accepted by the council after inspection.
At the survey we check your house’s planning history and any restrictions, and tell you which route applies.
What we handle
Handled as part of most porches:
- Electrics for lighting
- Front door and windows
- Foundations and brickwork
- Roof and guttering
- Design to match the house
- Plastering and decoration
How long does it take?
The build itself usually takes 2 to 4 weeks on site. Before that, surveys, drawings and approvals usually take 6 to 12 weeks, longer if the council asks for changes.
Building in Argyll and Bute
Scotland’s housing ranges from sandstone tenements and villas to post-war and modern estates, and the building warrant system shapes how projects are planned.
Towns we cover in Argyll and Bute include Helensburgh, Dunoon and Oban.
How it works
- 01
Survey and brief
We visit, discuss your ideas and budget, and survey the property or site at no cost.
- 02
Design and fixed quote
Drawings, structural calculations and an itemised, fixed price for the agreed specification.
- 03
Permissions sorted
Applications, building control and neighbour arrangements, all before the start date.
- 04
Build and sign-off
We run the build to a written programme and hand over the completion certificate.
Questions about porches in Argyll and Bute
Do I need planning permission for a porch in Argyll and Bute?
In Scotland a porch is permitted development if its footprint is no more than 3 square metres, it is no more than 3 metres high and more than 2 metres from a boundary with a road, outside conservation areas. A building warrant may be needed depending on the design.
How much does a porch cost in Argyll and Bute?
In Argyll and Bute, a porch typically costs £6,250–£15,500 from a 3 m² porch to a small front extension, including VAT at 20% (standard rate). Your fixed price depends on the survey and drawings.
Can you move the gas or electric meter?
Meters belong to the supplier or network operator. We coordinate their move as part of the job, which can add time.
Do you build porches in Argyll and Bute?
Yes. We build porches across Argyll and Bute, including postcodes FK17, G82, G83, G84 and PA20. Every project starts with a free home visit.
How long does it take?
Usually 2 to 4 weeks on site.
Will it match my house?
We source matching bricks and tiles where possible, or suggest a deliberate contrast.
