Flower Love
Good patio cover can add a brand new sunroom to your home, a great addition that you can make plenty of use of. But how do you enclose your terrace?
There are many factors to consider and many options out there. You need to think about the size of the patio space, the type of patio space you want, the insulation, the patio windows, and the floor.
All of this has to fit into your budget, in addition to the manpower. Here are some patio cover and porch ideas that can help you create a great patio space.
What is a patio cover?
Image source: Fine Design Interiors, Inc.
A patio cover can be many things. Typically, a patio canopy is a simple awning attached to your home that provides shade for your home.
At its simplest, it is a surface that is supported on one side of the terrace by its fixing toys of our house and on the other side of the terrace supports two posts or pillars. Terrace rooms or winter gardens are created by a terrace covering that surrounds the entire terrace.
Where to place a patio cover
Image source: DWY landscape architects
Regardless of whether you are creating a patio cover or just want to provide some protection from the sun, you should place it so that it serves as an extension of your living space. Usually this is a place right outside your back door with easy access.
If you have a large sliding door, you can even open it up to add more space to your attached room if necessary. You should speak to a landscape designer to get the most out of your patio ideas.
Image source: Preferred Builders, Inc.
Sometimes people build patio covers or partial patio coverings over their outdoor fireplace or built-in grill, as well as over the patio.
How big should you make the patio cover?
Image source: Design studio 22
The size of the patio cover depends on the area you want to cover. If you plan to build a dining area or living room, make sure that it is quite large and that people have room for furniture.
The normal height of your patio cover is 8 to 12 feet. Higher covers offer less protection if it is not patio cover. However, a high roof on your patio cover means that you now have an extra room with a high ceiling.
Image source: Affordable Shade Patio Covers
Consult with a landscape designer to determine a height that will work well with the length, width, design of your home, and budget. Depending on your home and the type of patio cover you want, you may need a custom patio cover.
Open patio covers against solid patio covers
Image source: Patio closures
Open patio coverings have a mesh roof that allows light to filter through, resulting in an area that is partially shaded. Massively roofed patio covers offer complete protection from sun, rain and snow. Often they are made of aluminum, but it is also common for them to be roofed over to match your home.
Closed patio design
Image source: bspk design inc.
Terrace roofs have many different design ideas. They can be complete, essentially giving you an additional interior or partial space so that you can enjoy the outdoors while still having a high level of protection from the elements.
Winter garden
Image source: Penelope Daborn Ltd.
A winter garden, also known as a four-season room, is an extension of your home. Building a conservatory is essentially an extension of your home. Conservatories are fully insulated. Many have double-glazed windows as well as heat and electricity. Your roof and foundation are solid.
Image source: Cover in game
Glass patio coverings are very common for winter gardens. In a winter garden there are many terrace windows that give the feeling of sitting outside and still feel good. Try to get energy efficient windows as this will make it a lot easier to maintain a constant temperature in the conservatory.
pergola
Image source: Kiyohara Moffitt
Shade structures such as pergolas are ideal for creating a patio cover in an environment with very pleasant weather conditions.
Instead of a complete patio cover, a pergola is a simple shadow structure that forms a latticework. In most places they are made of wood, but you can find them made of metal or a combination of both.
Shade sail
Image source: Bob Hooks
For even easier and more minimalist coverage, get a shade sail. These simple patio coverings are made from a piece of durable fabric stretched between three or more poles. These are good patio covers for climates with fairly tame weather.
They don’t hold up well in more extreme snow or wind conditions. There are very simple, cheaper versions, but nicer shade sails cost as much, if not more, than a pergola.
Patio housing materials
Image source: Affordable Shade Patio Covers
Patio canopies are often made of aluminum and / or vinyl. Aluminum is also the cheaper material for your patio cover. It is very strong and can be installed with either single windows or double windows.
Image source: Patio coverings
Vinyl costs a little more, but requires less maintenance and is also very thermally efficient. This is the best choice if you want to heat and cool the patio housing to a constant temperature. Use it in combination with energy efficient windows for the best result.
More ideas and tips for patio enclosures
Image source: Patio closures
- Keep the air moving. Conservatories and patio coverings with many windows can get very hot from the sunlight. Add a ceiling fan to make sure the air stays moving and doesn’t turn the patio cover into a stove.
- Include lighting. While you may not need artificial light in the patio during the day, it gets dark at night. Floor lamps and table lamps are good additions that don’t require a lot of extra work.
- Add curtains or other window coverings. Let the residents of the patio housing moderate how much outside light falls into the room so that it is more comfortable. It also opens up a new way of decorating.
Image source: Phantom screens
Final thoughts on patio coverings
A patio cover gives your home a little more personality and creates a new meeting place that you can use at any time of the year. Take a look at the options outlined above and see what works for you.