Adding covered porch

[latina]

I am purchasing a new manufactured home. Eventually I would like to add a covered porch. Many manufactured homes have a peak in the front right above the door. Would this be a problem? I would like for my porch to have a peak also...any suggestions? Should I get one w/out the peak. it's a deer valley home(www.deervalleyhb.com....blazer)

[Alan Smith]

From a lender's point there are a few things that you need to make sure of for the over all future of your home. Make sure that any porch that you construct is independent from the home itself. In other words you need to make sure that the structure does not adversely effect the integrity of the home. This will prevent damage to the home and or the foundation. Hope this helps.

[rmurray]

Actually the term is dormer...it is always above the front door...Our store has more than 1 covered porch builder...One will NOT build a roof with out the dormaier..The other says he feels better building to a straight roof always with a pitched roof...Saddle roof style porches are gaining in popularity...They cannot be built over a dormer...Ask your dealer for his advice..

[Donald]

Alan is correct in telling you to insure that the porch is independent of the MH. This can be accomplished using 2-2x10's nailed together to make a header that will not span more than 9'. You would use 4x4 or 4x6 as post and then you can extend the porch to any lenght you wanted so long as you don't exceed the 9' foot span. Check with your inspection dept to ensure correct span and load requirements. If you don't have a dormer (A) on the front of your home then you could build a shed roof which is very easy. With a shed roof make sure you keep a 3/12 pitch if you are covering with shingles so water will run off. Also with the shed roof you would use headers to make the porch indepentent of the MH and cantilever over to the MH roof. Good luck with your project.

[Mary]

We have a modular home with a 3 pitch room, and a builder we had out over the weekend told us that we could not add a covered porch to the front that has a shed roof because we didn't have enough pitch. Is this true?

Thanks!