When talking about outdoor structures, there are plenty to choose from, and they may all sound similar enough to be confusing. The main three kinds of outdoor structures are decks, patios, and porches.
However, even when looking at these three, there are enough varieties that you may not be sure how to tell them apart. This article covers the main differences between a deck vs porch vs patio and some details about each of them so you can be an expert in no time.
About Decks
Decks are outside structures that are generally level and made of a solid base like wood, vinyl, or composite materials. They offer a place to do outdoor activities or just sit and relax.
There are many different kinds of decks. Some are attached directly to a home, others are standalone, and some are even attached to a pool. If you want to get very unique, you can even get a rooftop deck on the top of your home.
Most of the time, decks are designed to be one level, but there are types of decks that take advantage of a slope on the property by making multiple levels, or by raising a part of a deck to make a central seating area.
Unless you are using one level of a deck right above another, there are no permanent roofs. You can use umbrellas, shades, and pergolas to protect your deck. Your furniture generally needs to be designed to handle the outdoor elements and sun. Railings are usually required, but full walls are also a possibility.
Most of the time, decks are elevated above the ground in some way. Since they are off of the ground, they do usually require a railing of some sort for safety. Some decks may be only a few feet off of the ground while others can be up a few stories.
This can create a unique opportunity to have a deck and space under the deck that can also be used, to allow for more space. This can be beneficial for smaller yards.
About Porches
A porch is another kind of outdoor area. However, it tends to have a more indoor feel to it. Porches tend to have a solid roof to them and are almost always attached to a home. Porches do have the opportunity to be open on the sides, or screened in to protect against bugs.
These are great options for hotter parts of the world, where having direct sun may be too hot, but fresh air and a breeze may be appreciated. It also protects against weather like rain.
With a porch, you can leave furniture and items outside without them getting directly damaged by the sun or rain. You also can stay outside while it is raining, still getting fresh air, without getting wet as often.
Porches can be added onto homes later, but they are most often built along with the rest of the home and are part of the original design plans. Many times, they are connected to the house in the front or back, and cover the main door.
Since they are made around the same time as the home for the most part, they also tend to be made from similar materials. They can be made from wood, metal, cement, drywall, bricks, and more.
If a porch is large enough, then it can also be known as an open-air living room. These may have bigger pieces of outdoor furniture like a couch. They may also have ceiling fans and even an outdoor kitchen.
These are most often installed on the same level as the house. So they may be mostly on the ground level with a foundation underneath, or maybe just a few steps above the ground. Some can be lofted, especially on sloped houses, but they aren’t as common.
About Patios
Patios are often independent structures from the house. They may be placed right outside of a home, but aren’t usually connected. This is because patios are usually placed level on the ground, and aren’t raised in any way.
Most of the time, patios are made from hard materials like stone, gravel, cement, or pavers. They are often uncovered, though umbrellas and shades can be used to provide some protection.
There are covered patios, but these usually aren’t solid roofs. Sometimes, you can see pergolas, arbors, and pavilions above patios.
This means the furniture and decorations on the patio have to be heavy and secure to keep them in place. They must also be able to handle lots of heat and rain. There are usually no railings, walls, or permanent coverings.
If a patio does have walls, they are often called a courtyard instead.
Deck Vs Porch Vs Patio: The Differences
Location in Comparison to the Ground
While patios, porches, and decks can all be built on the ground level, that isn’t always the case. There are ground-level decks, but it is more common for them to be raised a little off the ground. They often surround pools or go up a few levels, which means they also often have stairs and railings.
Porches aren’t always high off of the ground, but since they are usually built on the same level and at the same time as the rest of the home, they should usually have a solid foundation underneath them.
Porches can be put off of the ground and be attached to the second or third floor of a home, but those aren’t as common.
Patios are not attached to anything usually and aren’t up off of the ground. They are made from stone or concrete and may have enough material under them to make them level, but not to raise them far off the ground.
Amount of Levels
Decks are really the only ones that have multiple levels. Since patios are generally built straight on the ground, there is no need for them to have multiple levels. Patios could potentially have a few steps, but it also isn’t very common.
Decks can be one solid level, or multiple, depending on the purpose and the needs. For example, you can have decks that follow the line of a slope or hill, or you can have raised decks with an indent in the center for a fire pit or seating area.
They are hard to do alone but can be nice to have if you don’t want to have one big, open deck.
Materials
Porches, patios, and decks all have slightly different materials they used. Patios tend to be made with heavy materials since they don’t have to be supported off of the ground. It is common to see a patio made out of cement, gravel, stones, slabs, or pavers. They can be made from virtually any material that can handle outdoor weather, but stones are the most common.
A deck is usually wood, or some material meant to mimic wood. Decks can have multiple levels, are usually raised, and can be connected to a structure so they need to be light. Sealed wood or wood composite are the most common materials, but you may also see them made with vinyl or covered in a vinyl layer.
A porch is often made from similar materials as the home. This is especially true when it comes to the roof. Since they are made at the same time, the porch and the rest of the home are often made at the same time, and the roof is the same for both.
There are usually screens or glass as well to let in light and fresh air. They are also often made from a similar material as the outside of the home, such as wood, paneling, or brick.
Coverings
Decks and patios usually have the same sort of coverings, if any. Neither decks nor patios have to have coverings, though they can. Sometimes, the roof or sun shade is something temporary and movable such as a sun shade, shade sail, umbrella, or awning.
Sometimes, more permanent structures are built. These can easily be added on later and are often things like pergolas.
However, porches are different. They have a roof far more often than not. These roofs are usually the same roof that covers the house, or they are attached to the roof later and made from similar materials including the shingles.
Where They Are in a Yard
Porches are always attached to the house. They are usually accessible to the inside via a main door, and may also be a walkthrough to the outside. For example, a front porch usually lies between the front yard and the front door.
Back porches are also a thing and may offer you access from the back door to the backyard, or they may be sealed off so you can only access them from inside. Some side doors can also have porches.
Decks can be attached to homes. They can be placed on any level of the home, including the roof. Most often, they are placed on the side of a home or the back of one if they are attached, and not the front.
They can also be connected to another structure, like a pool. They usually offer an area to hang out near the pool at the same level and can look a little nicer than just a set of stairs.
They can also be stand-alone, just in a random area of the yard. Since they offer level flooring, they can be used somewhere the yard is sloped or maybe where water sits and still allow the space to be used.
Patios are never attached to a home or other structure. They may be placed right next to the home or right outside of a door, but they aren’t connected in any way. They also work as stand-alone structures in the yard to offer a level place to hang out and congregate.
