A Guide to Buying Patio Covers
Once you have built your dream home or you have brought one, you will always feel that the journey towards chasing your dream has been achieved. You would then want to sit back, relax and enjoy the good things in life. But many times, it is not that simple. At times, you might want to spend some leisure time outside the backyard or in the garden with your family or might even want to host a small outdoor party. In all these cases, you would need extra space or a separate area to make it appealing and special. Without having to get a new room constructed, you can add extra space i.e., by adding a patio cover in your home. A patio cover will not only provide you with an area to rejuvenate but will also save you a lot of money that you might have to spend by adding a new room.
The patio covers can be a perfect outdoor space. It can be used for a variety of activities such as cooking, reading, chatting, relaxing, or even working. You can do whatever you desire to do outdoors amid the lush greens. Even though you can engage yourself in the above-mentioned activities, without the patio cover, weather may ruin your plans. The uncertainty of weather will no longer spoil your plans if you get a patio cover installed at your place.
That is exactly where patio covers come into the picture. Selecting and buying a patio cover is a time-consuming and research-oriented process.
Many homeowners invest a lot of time planning their perfect sunroom, carport or porch but give less thought to what will go on the top of it.
Choosing the perfect patio cover should be an essential part of every additional project as it will not only offer protection from the outside forces such as heavy snowfalls and strong winds while beautifying the look of the outdoor space.
Your outdoor living space should be treated as an extension of your main home and must also be of similar quality. It can be a great investment where you will likely be spending as much time and money as you want. Having said that, you must also select the best structure that will work seamlessly with your home.
Now, let us see the patio cover buying guide. The first thing is to consider the types of patio covers. You should know how many shapes of patio covers there are and which one you would prefer.
There are different types of patio cover structures from which you can choose. Let’s see what those are.
Types of Patio Cover Structures
Simple Umbrella as Patio Covers
One of the most simple and straightforward options you can have for your patio is an umbrella. These are ideal options for a temporary and movable shade that is also cost-effective. Umbrellas can serve as the best choice for your patio cover if you foresee the constant movement in the outdoor space. It is better to choose an umbrella that covers maximum space.
Awning to Cover Patio
Awning patio covers have evolved in the past years to include designs that can be retracted automatically or raised depending on the weather conditions. These can also be used to provide shading for windows and lessen the passive heat within the home. Awning materials are either fabric or aluminum. Fabric awnings need regular maintenance and also come in a variety of designs.
Pergolas a Style Icon for Patio Covers
Pergolas are commonly used in landscaping projects. These can be used as a freestanding shading option for patios and decks. Apart from that, pergolas can also be used for afternoon teas, relaxing and reading a book. The best part about pergolas is that homeowners can choose from a variety of designs like rafters and columns. You even benefit by having additional support for plants and other decoration items. By adding more plants, you will be able to create a look of a garden and you will get privacy. Just understand that pergolas are those structures which might need a permit for construction. You can offset the costs by making use of high quality and low maintenance materials such as fiberglass, wood, so that you do not have to spend more time and money by doing frequent cleanup and repainting.
An Iconic Lattice as a Patio Cover
The lattice patio covers are perfect for homes that follow a contemporary scheme. Because they are rectangular in shape and can also be adjusted to match home designs, the lattice-type patio covers are the best to soften the look of modern homes.
Solid Patio Covers
If you want complete shade for your outdoor space, then solid patio covers will prove to be the best choice. These are also a great option for the protection of your home from uncertain weather conditions.
Budget — The Most Important
When choosing the type of patio cover, needless to say, you will have to consider the price range based on a lot of factors such as the material, installation process.
Professional Installer and Supplier
Always go for a supplier who can give you the best installation and the corresponding warranties. Make sure that you consider all the options before taking the final decision.
Materials for Patio Cover
Just like the structure, you can also choose from a wide variety of patio cover materials. Some of the most commonly available materials include wood, vinyl, and aluminum. In addition, there is one material which is scaled ‘alumawood’. This is a specially manufactured material that takes aspects of all three materials and combines them. For instance, StrongBuild Patio covers have a wide range of collection from awnings to lattice — you can choose from.
Style and Preference
When buying a patio cover, make sure that your choice beautifully blends with the rest of your space. Even though you can have a different take on your outdoor space, it should be aligned with the overall design of your home. You must also check the material that will work the best with your lifestyle. If you cannot afford to have regular upkeep, then you must go for an option that is durable and requires low maintenance.
Consider The Purpose
Also, you must consider the purpose of a patio cover. No doubt, it is there to provide shade when the sun is intense. It also keeps the rain from crashing into your barbecue parties.
Do you know that in some weather conditions, even the colour of a patio cover has an impact on its functioning and usage?
For example, in hot climates, light colours reflect heat away and keep your outdoor living space cooler. While dark colours keep the heat absorbed in the space. Even though it won’t matter as much, you must take this into important consideration.
To conclude we would say that you should not forget that your outdoor space affects the interior of your home. Ideally, the choice of your patio cover should protect your home from harsh weather and should make a beautiful addition to your space. Hope this guide helps you in choosing the best patio cover. If you think you are confused and are unable to make a good decision, then contact StrongBuild Sunroom and patio cover builders.
