--- title: "It's Only A Porch: Why Does It Cost So Much?" description: "If you are collecting renovation photos with the idea of adding a porch to your home, consider this: the more beautiful it looks the more it will cost. There's a good reason why" image: https://www.gilday.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/DSC023851-225x300.jpg --- [![Gilday](https://www.gilday.com/hubfs/theme2021/images/gilday-logo-white.png) ](https://www.gilday.com/) [ 301.565.4600 ](tel:301.565.4600) - [About Us](https://www.gilday.com/about-gilday-renovations) - [About](https://www.gilday.com/about-gilday-renovations) - [Architects & Designers](https://www.gilday.com/architects-designers) - [Administration](https://www.gilday.com/administration) - [Production & Construction](https://www.gilday.com/production-team) - [Careers](https://www.gilday.com/careers) - [Awards](https://www.gilday.com/awards) - [What Our Clients Say](https://www.gilday.com/gilday-renovation-reviews) - [Press](https://www.gilday.com/press) - Service Area - [Arlington VA](https://www.gilday.com/home-remodeling-arlington-va) - [Alexandria VA](https://www.gilday.com/home-remodeling-alexandria-va) - [Bethesda MD](https://www.gilday.com/home-remodeling-bethesda-md) - [Chevy Chase MD](https://www.gilday.com/home-remodeling-chevy-chase-md) - [Cleveland Park DC](https://www.gilday.com/home-remodeling-cleveland-park-dc) - [Kensington MD](https://www.gilday.com/home-remodeling-kensington-md) - [McLean VA](https://www.gilday.com/home-remodeling-mclean-va) - [Potomac MD](https://www.gilday.com/home-remodeling-potomac-md) - [Rockville MD](https://www.gilday.com/home-remodeling-rockville-md) - [Washington DC](https://www.gilday.com/home-remodeling-washington-dc) - [Portfolio](https://www.gilday.com/portfolio) - [Additions](https://www.gilday.com/portfolio#additions) - [Kitchens](https://www.gilday.com/portfolio#kitchens) - [Baths](https://www.gilday.com/portfolio#baths) - [Whole House Renovations](https://www.gilday.com/portfolio#wholehouse) - Services - [Home Remodeling the Design Build Way](https://www.gilday.com/home-remodeling-the-design-build-way) - [Renovation Architect Services](https://www.gilday.com/renovation-architect-services-gilday-renovations) - [Whole-Home Remodeling](https://www.gilday.com/whole-home-remodeling-gilday-renovations) - [Kitchen Remodeling](https://www.gilday.com/kitchen-remodeling-gilday-renovations) - [Bathroom Remodeling](https://www.gilday.com/bathroom-remodeling-gilday-renovations) - [Home Additions](https://www.gilday.com/home-additions-gilday-renovations) - [Pricing & Budgeting](https://www.gilday.com/how-to-budget-for-a-home-renovation-project) - [For Realtors - Pre-Purchase Evaluation](https://www.gilday.com/for-realtors-pre-purchase-evaluation) - [Resources](https://www.gilday.com/renovation-resource-center) - [Renovation Articles](https://www.gilday.com/design-build-dc-blog) - [Contact Us](https://www.gilday.com/contact) x Search the site # It's Only A Porch: Why Does It Cost So Much? [Kevin Gilday](https://www.gilday.com/design-build-dc-blog/author/kevin-gilday) ![It's Only A Porch: Why Does It Cost So Much?](https://www.gilday.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/DSC023851-225x300.jpg) First of all it isn't "only" a porch.  In custom renovation there is no "only" anything.  It is all about details--studiously conceived and finely crafted details.  All those aesthetic accents you admire when you browse through a home design magazine?  Those take time and care to produce.  A recently completed [porch addition in Chevy Chase DC](https://www.gilday.com/p01-ccdc-lux-porch) illustrates this idea quite well. Our architect drew this addition to match the architecture of the turn of the late Victorian era main house.  A key feature of the house is the decorative rafter tails. ![porch addition to chevy chase victorian era home](https://www.gilday.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/DSC03252.jpg?width=1200&name=DSC03252.jpg "Gilday Renovations") To recreate the style our carpenters had to fabricate a template and then hand cut each board.  That took two highly skilled craftsmen three days to complete. Sometimes the cost of a custom renovation project seems like a lot. But consider this: The more drop dead beautiful a porch addition is, the more balanced and nuanced, the more you love it--the more it costs. All this proves is that you really do get what you pay for--and then some if you choose the right firm to design and build your project. [![decorative rafter tails of chevy chase porch roof](https://www.gilday.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/DSC023851-225x300.jpg?width=600&name=DSC023851-225x300.jpg "Gilday Renovations")](https://www.gilday.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/DSC023851.jpg) For homeowners who are considering [**home additions**](https://www.gilday.com/home-addition-portfolio) (a room or porch addition), you really want to align yourself with a company that is able to give you this kind of attention. Still have questions? [Contact one of our porch design specialists](https://www.gilday.com/#contact) and ask away. And prepare to make the most of that conversation by reading our eBook [Six Things to Ask Yourself Before You Call a Home Remodeler](https://www.gilday.com/six-things-to-ask-before-calling-home-remodeler).[![six questions to ask before calling a home remodeler](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/4060073/9496adae-59b6-4a5a-9f1e-f8d4879a873d.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/4060073/9496adae-59b6-4a5a-9f1e-f8d4879a873d)  ## Leave a comment We are architects We are interior designers We are builders Let us be yours Gilday Renovations 8820 Brookville Road, Silver Spring, MD 20910 © Gilday Renovations 2025 - [About Us](https://www.gilday.com/about-gilday-renovations) - [Portfolio](https://www.gilday.com/portfolio) - Services - [Resources](https://www.gilday.com/renovation-resource-center) - [Renovation Articles](https://www.gilday.com/design-build-dc-blog) - [Contact Us](https://www.gilday.com/contact) 301.565.4600 [info@gilday.com](mailto:info@gilday.com) [Privacy Policy](https://www.gilday.com/gilday-com-privacy-policy) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://www.gilday.com/#website", "@type" : "WebSite", "name" : "Gilday Renovations", "potentialAction" : { "@type" : "SearchAction", "query-input" : "required name=search_term_string", "target" : "https://www.gilday.com/hs-search-results?term={search_term_string}" }, "publisher" : { "@id" : "https://www.gilday.com/#entity" }, "url" : "https://www.gilday.com" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://www.gilday.com/#entity", "@type" : [ "Organization", "GeneralContractor" ], "address" : { "@type" : "PostalAddress", "addressCountry" : "US", "addressLocality" : "Silver Spring", "addressRegion" : "MD", "postalCode" : "20910", "streetAddress" : "8820 Brookville Road" }, "areaServed" : [ { "@type" : "State", "name" : "District of Columbia" }, { "@type" : "State", "name" : "Maryland" }, { "@type" : "State", "name" : "Virginia" } ], "image" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.gilday.com/hubfs/Gilday-Nov2017/Image/0e46f4_15daa73f94264bbd95eb4e173ad2d447.jpg" }, "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.gilday.com/hubfs/Gilday-Nov2017/Image/H_Logo.jpg" }, "name" : "Gilday Renovations", "openingHoursSpecification" : { "@type" : "OpeningHoursSpecification", "closes" : "17:00", "dayOfWeek" : [ "Monday", "Tuesday", "Wednesday", "Thursday", "Friday" ], "opens" : "09:00" }, "priceRange" : "$$$", "sameAs" : [ "https://www.facebook.com/gilday.renovations/", "https://twitter.com/GildayBuilders", "https://www.linkedin.com/company/gilday-renovations/about/", "https://www.pinterest.com/gildaycom/", "https://www.houzz.com/pro/gildayrenovations/gilday-renovations", "https://www.instagram.com/gildayrenovations/" ], "telephone" : "+1-301-565-4600", "url" : "https://www.gilday.com" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Kevin Gilday" }, "dateModified" : "March 08, 2012", "datePublished" : "March 08, 2012", "description" : "If you are collecting renovation photos with the idea of adding a porch to your home, consider this: the more beautiful it looks the more it will cost. There's a good reason why", "headline" : "It's Only A Porch: Why Does It Cost So Much?", "image" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 800, "url" : "https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/4060073/Imported_Blog_Media/DSC023851-225x300.jpg", "width" : 800 }, "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.gilday.com/design-build-dc-blog/its-only-a-porch-why-does-it-cost-so-much.html", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/4060073/Gilday-Nov2017/Image/H_Logo.jpg" }, "name" : "Gilday Renovations" } } ```