If you’re looking to improve your home with the natural, long-lasting beauty of oak, you may find yourself torn between a DIY oak porch kit and the convenience of using a fitted oak porch supplier to erect it for you. We here at Oak Porches UK offer both services to our clients, so we’re perfectly placed to help you make the right decision for your needs and budget.
Whichever installation option you choose, an oak porch offers your home a host of advantages. From increasing the available space you have on hand, to insulating and providing a communal space where memories will be made, you’ll soon grow to love your new extension. It will even add property value to your home, too, and is one of the easiest aesthetic tweaks you can make without too much hassle from the planning department.
So which oak porch option is right for you- DIY porch kit or fitted oak porch? They both suit different circumstances, so deciding which route you’ll take is an important first step on the road to getting your porch up hassle-free. While you can, of course, hire a professional installer at any point if you decide a DIY job is too intimidating for you, it’s better to plan properly from the very start. So let’s take a closer look.
Why do people choose to use a full installation from their fitted oak porch supplier?
When it comes to choosing between a fully-installed porch or using a DIY kit, there’s one obvious reason to choose full installation- ease. Of course, you’ll need to select your design, and there will be some administration and oversight needed through the installation process, but if you favour a hands-off approach to home improvement nothing could be simpler than having it installed start-to-finish.
Erecting an oak porch kit isn’t a simple matter of inserting a few screws, for all it is still relatively beginner-friendly. While all of the oak components you need are included in the kit, you’ll need to find a suitable tradesman to help you install the concrete footings and brick/wall components of the design, and basically ensure the groundwork is properly prepared for a safe and stable structure. You would also be responsible for the tiling and lead flashing if you opt for the DIY route.
With a full installation, there’s no need to wonder about any of that. You simply order and confirm your choice, and the installation crew handles everything else. At the end of the installation, you have a ready-to-use oak porch extension to your home, hassle-free.
While our DIY oak porch kits come with full instructions and everything you’ll need in the kit, it’s important to be realistic about your DIY capabilities, too. Perhaps you just don’t enjoy DIY, and would rather let someone else handle it for you. Or maybe you’re worried about the installation not being made safely if you handle it yourself. Knowing you have experts on hand to ensure everything goes right can bring a lot of peace of mind.
What advantages does a DIY oak porch kit offer?
Obviously, if you’re someone who enjoys DIY work, this is a bit of a no-brainer. You’ll have a chance to stretch your skills, and add immense value to your property when you’re done. You love the thrill of DIY, and there’s no need to convince you to take a look at this option!
If you don’t live for the time you spend knee-deep in home improvement, however, what would the value be in installing a DIY oak porch kit, instead of opting for a fitted oak porch supplier? One of the primary reasons driving most people’s decisions to go DIY is, of course, outlay. While fully-installed oak porches can be done relatively cheaply, there’s still a noted price saving when you opt to handle all the labour yourself.
Additionally, there’s a lot more room to balance creativity and ease of use. With a kit, there’s no risk of suddenly finding yourself short of needed supplies- or that your homemade design is a DIY disaster. Yet by putting the work in yourself, you’re able to creatively control the whole process and ensure the resulting work is just perfect for you, even if you choose to make a tweak or two along the way.
Installation time can also be easily adapted around your schedule. Your installer may only have certain appointments open, and they will work during business hours. A DIY install can be done as and when you need it to, around your chosen times.
In short, there are definite advantages both to having your oak porch fitted by specialists and to using a DIY oak porch kit to fit yourselves. It depends strongly on your budget, time constraints, and your own capabilities which will be the perfect solution for you. With the team at Oak Framed Porches UK on your side, however, you’ll be able to choose the ideal solution for your property and needs- so don’t hesitate to get in touch today!