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 Pinner?
In Pinner, a porch typically costs £8,500–£21,000 from a 3 m² porch to a small front extension, including VAT at 20% (standard rate). We start from a UK-wide guide and adjust it for London, where labour and materials are typically about 30% above average. Design, structural calculations and council fees are extra.
| Size or type | Guide range |
|---|---|
| From a 3 m² porch to a small front extension | £8,500–£21,000 |
| Higher specification | £21,000–£26,000 |
The biggest cost drivers are:
- Moving meters, drains or the doorbell and lighting
- Size and roof style
- Brick matching
- Whether building regulations apply
Use the guide price tool to see how size and specification change the figure, then ask for a written, itemised quote.
Do you need planning permission for a porch in Pinner?
Approvals for a porch in Pinner follow the rules for England. In England a porch is permitted development if its ground floor area is no more than 3 square metres, no part is over 3 metres high and it is at least 2 metres from a boundary next to a road.
Where work involves a shared wall, building on the boundary, or digging foundations within 3 metres of a neighbour’s building and deeper than its foundations (or within 6 metres for deeper work), the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies and notices must be served before work starts.
We check this for your address before design work starts, so there are no surprises later.
What we handle
From survey to sign-off, the job normally involves:
- Front door and windows
- Roof and guttering
- Design to match the house
- Plastering and decoration
- Foundations and brickwork
- Electrics for lighting
How long does it take?
Expect 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 Pinner
Victorian and Edwardian terraces dominate many London streets, which is why side return, wraparound and mansard projects are so common here.
We work across Pinner and neighbouring areas such as Ruislip, Harrow and Northolt. Postcodes we cover in Pinner include HA5.
How it works
- 01
Visit and measured survey
A free visit to understand the project, check access and take measurements.
- 02
Design and pricing
Design options, then a fixed quote based on the chosen drawings and 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 Pinner
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.
How much does a porch cost in Pinner?
In Pinner, a porch typically costs £8,500–£21,000 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.
Who approves a porch in Pinner?
Planning matters in Pinner go to the council covering your address, and the work needs building control approval. We prepare and submit the applications for you.
Does a porch need building regulations?
In England and Wales a ground-level porch under 30 square metres is usually exempt if the front door stays in place and the glazing meets safety standards. In Scotland the exemption is much smaller (around 8 square metres, with no new opening into the house). If the front door is removed, approval is needed. We check this for your design.
Will it match my house?
We source matching bricks and tiles where possible, or suggest a deliberate contrast.
