A page on Porch Principles might seem inconsequential after discussing big-picture concepts like the Transect and the Classical/Vernacular Spectrum. But this page is actually about a whole lot more than just how to detail a porch because it affects both the elevation of the house, and also how far back it sits from the street. Site houses in T3 and T4 so that front porches are close enough to the street that people sitting on them can hold a comfortable conversation with neighbors walking by, but protect them by elevating the porches (but not too much,) putting heavier railings on them, and protecting the property line with a fence, hedge or wall. We do this because people sit on porches only if they feel comfortable. People walking by on the sidewalk will stop and talk to them only if the people on the porches seem accessible enough. The charts below indicate the ranges of space within which people feel comfortable. This pattern doesn't matter in T2 because there are no sidewalks because nobody walks between farms. It also doesn't matter in T5 or T6 because buildings there usually sit right on the property line, with no room for porches. Even if space were available, traffic in T5 or T6 is usually so heavy that most people would not feel comfortable sitting on the porch. Porch Floor Height This diagram illustrates the height that porch floors must be above the sidewalk at various distances to the sidewalk in order to provide proper psychological protection so people will choose to sit on the porch. But the porch can be too high, too. This chart shows the proper range and is based on using no Frontage Fence between the porch and the sidewalk. Fence/Hedge/Wall Adding a Frontage Fence, Frontage Hedge or Frontage Wall allows the minimum porch floor height to be reduced according to this diagram because each of the three provides varying levels of psychological protection to people sitting on the porch. The maximum height remains unchanged. Railing The porch railing also provides psychological protection to people sitting on the porch. Removing the railing requires the porch to be higher, but it cannot be raised higher than 30" above the adjacent ground level using no railing because of building codes. Using heavier wood railings or masonry railings provides more protection and reduces the minimum height.