Avon-by-the-Sea is a small oceanfront borough at the mouth of the Shark River, and much of it is made up of older homes from the late 1800s and early 1900s. A front porch is part of almost every house on these blocks, and so are the steps, piers and walkways that go with it. Over a century, sandy soil, salt air and countless summers of use wear all of those pieces down.
Porches from the ground up
A porch that sags, slopes or bounces usually has a problem below the deck, not just on top. Piers settle in sand, footings were often shallow, and wood framing near the ground rots. Pro One rebuilds the support first with proper footings and masonry piers, then handles framing and roofing so the whole structure is sound. Stone or brick column bases give the finished porch a solid look that suits an older house.
Steps that match the porch
Porch steps get the full force of rain off the roof and salt in winter. We rebuild them in poured concrete, brick or stone with bluestone treads, keeping the riser height even and the stairs as wide as the entry deserves. New railings are anchored into solid masonry so they do not loosen.
Walkways across small front yards
Front yards here are often short, so the walk from the sidewalk to the porch is a big part of the view. Pavers or bluestone with a contrasting border fit older homes well. On sand, we dig deeper and compact more so the walk stays level, and we leave the edges restrained so pavers cannot creep.
Things to know before a porch project
- Order matters. Footings and piers come before framing, and framing comes before steps.
- Coastal materials. Fasteners, railings and flashing should be rated for salt exposure.
- Flood zone lots. Some properties near the river and ocean have elevation rules that affect porch and step design.
Avon sits between Belmar and Bradley Beach, near Neptune City. See all of Monmouth County for the full list.
Thinking about bringing the porch back? Request a free estimate and we will look at it from the footings up.
