(no subject)

[42itous]

What is the difference among* a porch, a deck, and a patio?

*The difference between "among" and "between" is that "among" is for comparing three or more things, while "between" is for comparing exactly two things.

Comments

[adrian_turtle]

If it's entirely flat on the ground, it's a "patio."

If one edge is against the house, and another edge is above the ground and held up by cantilevers or diagonal supports or posts, it's a "balcony" if it's small and way above the ground, or a "deck" if it's big and not very far up. (If there are steps from the ground to the edge away from the house, that points towards "deck.") Wooden flooring is more likely to go on decks than on patios or porches.

If one edge is against the house, and another edge is above the ground and held up by solid brickwork or concrete, it's a "porch."

Of course, a lot of people SAY, "Let's sit on the porch" if they grew up sitting on the porch behind their parents' house. Even if they currently live in a house with a patio or deck. Just like they say "I left my umbrella in my car," when they drive an SUV.

[coraline]

withoutmuch thought off the otp of my head:
a porch has a roof, a deck is larger and does not. They're both attached to a house, and are not at ground level, they're at least a few steps up. A patio is on ground level, has stone or brick, and probably has a sliding door from a house out to it.

[ceo]

What coraline said. A deck is also generally made of unpainted wood or composite and is open underneath, while a porch is painted or trimmed similar to the house and the underside is closed off by latticework or similar.