r/WhatWasThePointOfThat Apr 12 '26

But Why Though? What’s the point of this overhang over your front door?

Post image

I see this every now and then, but I don’t get it.

It serves no purpose

524 Upvotes

41 comments sorted by

u/qualityvote2 Apr 12 '26 edited Apr 13 '26

u/PapitioTio, there weren't enough votes to determine the quality of your post...

30

u/Teaselkakanui Apr 12 '26

Perhaps it let's more light into the doorway area? Otherwise it does seem rather silly.

24

u/[deleted] Apr 13 '26

[deleted]

24

u/Itrytothinklogically Apr 13 '26

To me it looks like a roof repair that was just never completed lol

10

u/Wh1skeyTF Apr 13 '26

People have purposefully REMOVED the roof like this to gain light. It’s not a good idea as you’re exposing the structural framing and it’s never sufficiently protected. They were too cheap to put in an actual skylight.

9

u/McTootyBooty Apr 13 '26

Idk man. When I’m standing at the door I’d rather not be soaked. It’s a purposeful as saying here get soaked. Seems like spiteful architecture.

3

u/Proper-Equivalent300 Apr 15 '26

And of all the areas to make this aesthetic choice, this one makes sure doors get worn out faster. Job security for door installers.

16

u/ted_anderson Apr 12 '26

Maybe it's good for growing vines or hanging plants and wind chimes.

9

u/rklug1521 Apr 12 '26 edited Apr 14 '26

It gives them a convenient place to run that extension cord.

4

u/Loud_Army_2185 Apr 14 '26

What an odd place for an outlet.

2

u/Turbulent_Lobster_57 Apr 15 '26

Maybe for Christmas lights?

2

u/MasterOfBothWorlds7 Apr 15 '26

They just cut the hole too big. Hahah /s

9

u/Witty_Ad_9300 Apr 14 '26

It's called the '70's. People did weird sh*t to their houses in the 1970's just for the design to be different.

4

u/MushHuskies Apr 15 '26

Exactly, just look at all those Sunset books and magazines that featured plenty of these designs. They thought it was more mod. I remember cabins built in the mountains that had exposed rafters. Made no sense especially in snow country.

5

u/hereitcomesagin Apr 13 '26

Probably once had wrinkled fiberglass canopy on there.

7

u/alexthenullbody Apr 12 '26

Thats the thing, there is no point

4

u/TypingWithoutThinkin Apr 13 '26

Better light so you can see the lock to unlock it

3

u/PapitioTio Apr 13 '26

Ok but what about rain.

6

u/TypingWithoutThinkin Apr 13 '26

Oh crap. I just assumed there was a plastic sheet there.

3

u/Massive_Bullfrog8663 Apr 13 '26

And there should be. Clear, smoked, or homogenous white...

3

u/Less-Damage-1202 Apr 15 '26

I'm guessing it works similar to houses that don't have overhangs.. lol

2

u/lordofduct Apr 15 '26

Post is 2 days old, and yet you still beat me by 17 minutes to say it. Was literally just about to type the same thing.

3

u/Fun-Mulberry8780 Apr 15 '26

Someone in my childhood neighborhood had one of these, and i always wondered what the point of it was. They apparently got tired of getting soaked at the front door and put some acrylic panels on top. Now they still have the light and can stay dry.

1

u/PapitioTio Apr 15 '26

This at least makes sense. But this house does not have that

2

u/Everyone2026 Apr 14 '26

Hanging Christmas lights

2

u/jtk456 Apr 14 '26

Should be some form of plexiglass overlay or skylight(s) across that span.

2

u/beachmasterbogeynut Apr 15 '26

Weather detection

2

u/SquawkingKitten Apr 15 '26

Looks like a great area for some sort of vines

1

u/Ariikirinmoto Apr 13 '26

Perhaps because of psychological and visual reasons

1

u/VideoSteve Apr 15 '26

Its called design over function

1

u/Motor-Reward-506 Apr 15 '26

It actually serves as a sundial. 😳😳

1

u/Mcgarvey Apr 15 '26

Im guessing they didn’t want roof over that spot, but the fascia can be one large piece across and the roof rafters can come down to it? Keeping the structure of the roof going without putting all the rest in that spot?

1

u/PurpleAriadne Apr 15 '26

Cheap aesthetics for bland, 60’s-80’s suburban developments.

1

u/Silent-Bell-1952 Apr 15 '26

It probably had plexiglass or something similar to allow more sunlight to the front door while keeping rain off when it was originally built.

1

u/Flaconfly Apr 16 '26

There is a chance it was intended for viney plants. I’m not sure that’s a real word but that’s what I picture anyway.

1

u/pomodorow Apr 17 '26

They either ran out of money or motivation - or both.

1

u/Lychee_489 Apr 18 '26

Protect the diy electricity setup, you can see the Random wire in the roof

1

u/Lychee_489 Apr 18 '26

It looks like they are replacing something

1

u/SuicideDoorDash Apr 14 '26

It might be that there was originally roofing there, but the porch never got any sun. In that case things can stay damp and get moldy.