Having an excellent patio is exciting for a number of reasons, the main one being that it enables you to host enjoyable parties outside without having to stray too far from the comforts of home.
A great patio is the difference between a good house and an amazing one, however, many homeowners make foolish decisions when purchasing patio covers that end up haunting them for years.
Patio covers don’t need to be fancy or adjustable – indeed, they’re usually simple and remain fixed in place, giving them a stoic beauty that also ensures they won’t come crashing down or mechanically fail.
Here’s how to choose a new patio cover that will enhance your home.
1. What is a patio cover?
Many homeowners seem confused by the idea of a patio cover, and all the different options out there. Retractable patio awnings, for instance, quickly grew in popularity over the past few years but are not the same thing as a patio cover.
Gazebos – that are more extensive than patios – have been added to homes that would have been better suited to a patio cover.
To put it simply, a patio cover is a fixed extension of your roof that covers the top of your patio but isn’t retractable or defined by walls.
Patio covers should be solid, stable, and good looking. City Seamless Patio Covers offers a wide range of options but be sure to do plenty of research to find the right one for your patio.
After all, no two patio covers are the same, as the backyards, homes, and patios they accentuate are inherently different from one another.
If it clashes with your home’s exterior design, you could end up spending a good sum of cash on a patio cover that makes your house look uglier instead of more beautiful.
You’ll also want to ensure that you find a patio cover which melds with your personality as well as your home’s pre-existing visual aesthetic.
Outlandish patio covers that are of a bizarre color or peculiar design should likely be avoided unless you’re deliberately trying to give your home an eccentric look.
Sometimes, homeowners like to dazzle and surprise their guests with such vibrant colors, but that’s quite rare.
Most people prefer tame, mild colors – a solid wood finish that goes well with the outside panels or brick of your house, for instance, will be generally popular and fit most home designs.
Talk to your spouse and the other members of your household to determine if you want a flashy patio cover with lots of colors, as this can be a big investment for any homeowner.
2. Which material is right for you?
It’s sincerely worth setting some time aside to review patio cover materials to determine which common options fit your home the best.
Don’t forget to ask your spouse for their opinion before you buy,, unless you want to make an expensive mistake that will also frustrate your relationship!
This is incredibly important for two reasons; the first is that the material of your patio cover will help determine how good your patio cover looks.
The second is that certain patio cover materials are better than others when it comes to things like standing up to the weather or wear-and-tear from everyday usage.
For those looking for the least amount of maintenance, wood is practically unparalleled, largely because it’s simple, sturdy, and not in need of fancy detailing or subsequent maintenance work.
Wood can crack or become warped with age, however, so options like aluminum or vinyl are certainly worth considering, too. Wood remains one of the most popular options among homeowners who don’t intend to stay for longer than a decade or two at their current place.
Certain designer aluminum covers can ensure that everybody who sees your patio recognizes its high quality and hefty value. They’ll generally last longer than wood, and won’t warp or crack in the same way.
The costs associated with installing an aluminum patio cover are generally higher than those associated with wood covers, though, so be sure to consider your budget and financial limitations when making this choice.
Contractors, especially, will charge you more money when it comes to installing the heavier and rarer aluminum covers over wooden ones.
3. How personal is your patio?
Finally, you’ll want to consider personalization and customization when finding the right patio cover for your home.
If you’re somebody who likes to add a little flair to every element of their home, finding a patio cover material that’s carve-able, paintable, or otherwise customizable will likely be important to you.
You may want excellent shade if you live in a hot area, for instance, but other places may call for a miniature sunroof in your patio cover.
The color, shape, and potential decorations of your patio cover are entirely up to you as the homeowner, but the more you detail it the more expensive it’s likely to be.
Some daring homeowners like wooden patio covers because they can be carved in an ornate and exotic fashion.
You can customize just about any patio cover, but wooden ones will be more malleable and moldable from the perspective of an everyday homeowner who may not be an expert with metalworking tools.
Regardless of which materials you settle upon, you desperately need to review common mistakes that far too many homeowners make when constructing their patios and patio covers.
Improperly building your patio on squishy footing can lead to serious construction delays and the eventual collapse of your structure.
Finding furniture that looks great but doesn’t hold up to outdoor weather is another element of patio design that too few homeowners pay attention to.
In addition to these mistakes, hiring shoddy contractors who do lackluster jobs will ensure that your patio cover looks bad regardless of how much money you spend on it, so you should vet your contractors carefully.
Before long, your home’s patio will look better than ever before thanks to its new patio cover. Keep the above tips in mind, and your house will soon be the best on the block.
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