Part of the Designer Classics Collection from Benjamin Moore, this door is painted in Miramichi CC-752, priced £46 for 0.94L
HOME IMPROVEMENT
A block-paving driveway that leads right up to a covered entrance can give your home instant kerb appeal. Prices start at £20 per sq m from Bradstone’s
ADD A PRACTICAL PORCH & BOOST KERB APPEAL Whether you’re looking to sell or you just want a nicer welcome for family and friends, there are plenty of ways to pep up the front of your property
Feature Hayley Gilbert
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ow that spring has sprung, it’s time to turn our attention to sprucing up the exterior of our homes. Projects like adding a porch, painting the front door and installing new outside lighting can all add kerb appeal while making your home more attractive to buyers if you’re thinking about selling up. A new entranceway will also give a warm welcome to visitors once lockdown is lifted, as well as putting a smile on your face when you come home after a long day. We take a look at the dos and don’ts of porches as well as other ways of making your property more attractive.
CHECK PLANNING PERMISSION
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If you want to add a porch to your house, chances are you won’t need planning permission. This would depend on factors including whether the ground floor area of the porch is three square metres or less; the highest part of the porch is not more than three metres above ground level and no part of the porch comes within two metres of the front boundary and the highway. Any porch exceeding these measurements will need permission, as well as porches for flats, maisonettes and converted houses. If your property is listed, listed building consent may be required, too. If the porch qualifies for permitted development, building regulation approval may not be required (assuming that glazing and electrics comply with the relevant regs). If you do need to submit a planning application, this currently costs £206 in England and £230 in Wales. If you’re in any doubt, contact your local planning department for advice.
Splash out on a new front door – like this from Thames Valley Window Company – to give your home the grand entrance it deserves
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Spruce up the front of your home with a few new purchases. Kingham planter, £100; Farringdon heart, £18; St Ives ship’s lights, £50 each; Original post box in charcoal, £30; Galvanised doormat, £35; Aldsworth welly store, £180, all Garden Trading
