Cleveland, OH and Greater Cleveland
Covered Porches in Shaker Heights, OH
Proper cover above a timber platform, fixed and sealed to the dwelling so it appears part of the original build. Shelter from a lake effect downpour, relief from July glare, and a grill that stays usable when the weather turns.
- Footings below the frost line
- Permits and inspections handled
- Written scope before we start
Covered Porches planning range for Shaker Heights
Typical price range
From:$24,400To:$40,800
- Screened porch$24,400–$40,800
Planning range, not a quote. It assumes a typical deck; very tall decks and hard access need a site visit before anyone can give a firm price.
Cleveland Custom Decks plans covered porches in Shaker Heights, OH. A covered porch adds a roof load, a house connection and a water-management path to the deck work.
Design the roof as part of the structure
The scope must define footings, posts, beams, roof type, flashing, ceiling, gutters and how the new roof meets the existing eave. These parts determine whether the room stays dry and feels like it belongs to the house.
Settle headroom and rain control early
Measure the eave, windows and door clearances before a roof shape is chosen. The plan should also show where collected rain goes so it does not discharge against a footing.
What changes for covered porches in Shaker Heights
Shaker Heights has large historic homes on generous lots, where the look of an exterior change matters as much as the structure. A deck that is sound but does not answer to the house's original architecture can be held up in design review before construction is even scheduled.
Shaker Heights' Architectural Board of Review reviews exterior changes to existing buildings, and the city lists decks among them, with submissions made through its permit portal. For this address, the first useful decision is to settle the footprint, materials, railing style and colors as a drawing that can go to the board before the schedule or the price is promised.
Research checkpoint for this Shaker Heights project
A roof changes structural load and makes approval details more important than on an open deck. In Shaker Heights, that concern meets a specific local condition: large historic homes on generous lots, where the look of an exterior change matters as much as the structure. This changes the questions that belong in the first site visit.
Confirm the house connection, footing plan and drainage path before pricing a finished ceiling or screen option. The page research therefore asks one project-specific question: Which materials, colors and railing details will the Architectural Board of Review need to see?
Local source: Shaker Heights Architectural Board of Review. Checked October 11, 2026.
Questions for the first site visit
- Is there enough headroom under the existing eave?
- Where will the porch roof drain?
- Can the existing structure carry the new roof load?
- Which materials, colors and railing details will the Architectural Board of Review need to see?
Why homeowners pick Cleveland Custom Decks
Footings below the frost line
Cuyahoga County ground freezes and thaws through a long lake effect winter. Every post we set lands on a poured footing below the local frost depth, which is what keeps a deck level through a decade of heave and thaw.
Permits and inspections handled
We work out which department your address answers to, pull the permit, meet the inspector and hand you the signed card. An unpermitted deck becomes your problem the day you sell the house.
Written scope before we start
Materials, framing spec, hardware, timeline and price in writing before anybody swings a hammer. No verbal change orders.
Covered Porches questions we get asked
Does a covered porch actually help through a Shaker Heights winter?
A roof alone will not make an outdoor space usable in January, but it meaningfully extends the shoulder seasons either side of summer, keeping rain and early snow off a grill, a seating area or the path to a walkout basement door. Paired with overhead patio heaters, many households use a covered section well into November, which is not something an open deck offers.
How is the roof attached to the house without causing leaks?
The critical detail is where the new roof ties into the existing wall or roofline: step flashing, counter flashing and a properly lapped underlayment, installed in that order and sealed correctly. Done right it is invisible from both sides. Done wrong, water finds its way behind the siding and the damage shows up indoors months later, often nowhere near where the actual failure is.
Do I really need Architectural Board of Review approval for a deck?
In Shaker Heights, generally yes. The ABR reviews any new construction, addition or alteration that changes the exterior appearance of a building or property, and a deck qualifies. The board is made up of three architects licensed in Ohio who live in the city, and its review happens before the Building Department's own plan review and permit are issued. We submit an elevation drawing alongside the framing plan so both reviews see a complete package the first time.
How long does the whole approval process take?
Longer than a typical suburb without a design review step. The ABR meets on its own calendar, so allow for that meeting cycle on top of the Building Department's plan review and the standard permit turnaround. We ask about the board's upcoming meeting dates at the site visit so you have a realistic timeline in writing rather than an optimistic one.
What should be checked before hiring covered porches in Shaker Heights?
Settle the footprint, materials, railing style and colors as a drawing that can go to the board before the schedule or the price is promised. The builder should also confirm the scope, existing condition and the approval route before work starts. Confirm the house connection, footing plan and drainage path before pricing a finished ceiling or screen option.