The subject of books, songs

and millions of fond memories, the porch truly is an icon of American

life. As we enter the warm summer months,

families across the country will gather on their homes' front, rear

or side porches to sip lemonade, relax and watch the world go by.

If you've been envying your neighbors as they lounge in their hammock

or porch swing for a post-dinner doze, don't despair. With good

planning and a little luck, you too can be relaxing on your porch after

dinner long before the end of summer.

- Planning your porch. Designing the right porch for your house

is one of the most important steps in the building process. How large

should your porch be? If you hope to dine al fresco during the summer,

you'll want to plan for a porch that's at least eight to 10

feet deep, to accommodate a good-sized table and chairs. On the other

hand, if you just want to place a couple of chairs outside, six feet

or so should be sufficient.

Plan carefully when deciding which way your porch should face. A south-facing

porch will take advantage of the summer warmth; sunset buffs will want

to ensure that their porches face west, and if you love luxuriating in

the early morning sun as you read the paper, place the porch on the east

side of your home. In addition to the sun, take into account other natural

phenomena that may affect your enjoyment of your new porch. For example,

if you live in an insect-friendly area, consider installing screens.

As you design your porch,

make sure to take the rest of your home into account. The porch is

an accessory, so shouldn't overwhelm the main

structure of the house; however, it should be large enough to look like

part of your home instead of an afterthought. In order to ensure aesthetic

continuity, try to use the same materials to build your porch as you

did when you originally constructed the house. This includes coordinating

millwork and other design motifs so that your new porch integrates smoothly

with the rest of your home.

Finally, before you break

ground, take a good look at your home's

landscaping. Decide which landscaping features you'd like to save,

and which ones are superfluous. Make an effort to preserve surrounding

trees; they not only will shade your porch but also help blend your home

with its natural surroundings.

- Building your porch. Whether you plan to construct your porch

yourself or hire an experienced contractor, the first order of business

will be to draw up your plans and have them approved by your local zoning

board, homeowners' association and other relevant parties. After

your project has been approved, you'll need to apply for a building

permit, which should be displayed near the construction area throughout

the building process.

Most building codes require any new structure attached to a home to

be supported by a foundation extending below the frost line, generally

three to four feet below grade. Before you dig, contact your local utility

companies (including your cable and DSL providers, if applicable) to

determine if any lines will be affected by your construction. If so,

ask the company to shut off and reroute the lines as necessary.

After you frame the floor,

stairs, railing, walls and roof of the porch, you'll need to open up your exterior wall to create any new entrances

to the porch; for example, French or sliding glass doors. Make sure that

you and your contractor have carefully considered how to prevent dust,

dirt and intruders from entering your home. Hang clear plastic dust curtains

to guard against debris, and protect valuable or difficult-to-clean items

work is complete; a good way to block entry, as well as inclement weather,

is to nail sheets of plywood over the gap.

The final phase of building your porch is the installation of wiring,

insulation and any supplemental appliances and fixtures. Remember that

the walls need to remain open until the work has been certified by a

building inspector.

Once construction is complete, you and your family can begin to relax

and enjoy the summer season from the comfort of your new porch. Consider

purchasing a porch swing, hammock or comfortable outdoor furniture to

complete the experience, and invite friends and family over to sit on

the front porch and celebrate the new addition to your home.

For more information on home additions or to find a builder in your

area, please contact the Home Builders Association of Midwest Georgia

at 770-716-7109.

(Mac McKinney, who is owner and president of McKinney Builders Inc.,

is president of the Home Builders Association of Midwest Georgia, which

serves a membership of approximately 550 builders and associate members

in Fayette, Coweta, Spalding, Meriwether, Heard, Pike, Upson, Lamar,

Butts and Jasper counties.)