With every new architectural innovation being introduced on the market, people’s options for home upgrades also increase. You’re lucky for having lived in this era of breakthroughs because you have countless ways to enhance the appearance and functionality of your home. Even more exciting is the fact that every bit of upgrades you make takes your home’s value up a notch.
Whether your house is a single-family building or a townhome, as long as it has a side that overlooks a garden, lawn, or underutilized space, you can always consider adding a patio. This can be as simple as a covered pavement with a roof and railing or a fully-enclosed space with large windows and looks almost like a sunroom. A patio can be a perfect place for afternoon tea, reading time, or even outdoor family barbecue.
As simple a structure as it is, a patios requires some skill to construct efficiently. There are several critical considerations that have to be made so that the final outcome not just matches your preference but also conforms to all building standards. To help you make the right choices so your patio will be no less than the one you have in mind for a long time, here’s a quick guide you can follow.
Key Elements of a Patio
The first step to building the perfect patio is to identify its key elements. Your project could easily fail if you put in an element that isn’t supposed to be included or not designed for outdoor settings. Remember that even though a portion of the patio is usually covered, the rest is totally exposed to the elements. Patios, after all, are extensions of the indoors to the outdoors, so the elements you should put in it must provide a smooth transition.
- Floor
- . One thing that sets a patio apart from a simple garden is the existence of a stylish pavement. Unlike indoor flooring, this pavement can be built with rough material, such as brick, cobblestone, or flagstone and in the most artistic layout possible. Depending on your desired output, it can be a continuous or interlocking paver with a few extra elements on the side.
- Seats
- . Chairs and benches play a quintessential role in the design and construction of the patio. Not only do they provide a resting place for anyone who wants to relax out in the sun, but they also serve as part of the centerpiece that strikes a balance in the whole patio. The seats can be made of any of the variety of materials available, such as wood, wicker rattan, metal, or even concrete. Some homeowners even pair the seats with cushion to make sitting more comfy, but of course they have to be well protected from the elements, too.
- Outdoor Fireplace
- . While it’s not exactly standard for a patio to have an outdoor fireplace, it’s definitely a fantastic addition, especially if you live in Chicago where evenings can be quite chilly. A fire pit allows you to comfortably congregate with family and friends outside. Depending on your preference, your fireplace can be made with the same material used for building indoor fireplaces—concrete core and brick veneer. When it comes to fuel, you can always opt for natural gas, propane or traditional wood, whichever you think is easier to handle.
- Lighting
- . You will be using your patio a lot at night, that’s for sure, especially since summer has already kicked in. You will need your patio to be well lit both for beauty and safety. There are quite a handful of lighting options you can choose from, but that would essentially depend on your desired motif. You can even change the lighting feature according to the season or the special occasion you want to celebrate on the patio.
How to Select a Patio Door
As unassuming as it may seem, the door to your patio has a huge impact on the overall appeal of your patio. Especially if your patio has a portion that is enclosed, you have to put a little extra effort in choosing and caring for its door. After all, it isn’t going to be the same as your front and interior doors but something fancier. Here’s a quick patio door buying guide you might want to consider.
- Pick a Door Style
- . There are a handful of types of patio door that you can choose from, but you would definitely want to veer away from the standard framed and paneled door. Go for a bigger and more elaborate style like the swinging French door or the folding door. They have to come with large single glass panes and high-quality frame. If the typical single-panel door can’t be helped, at least decorate it with multi-color stained glass that partially provide a view of the patio.
- Pick a Frame Material
- . This can be a bit tricky because each of the available door frame materials has its fair share of good qualities. Vinyl, which is the most popular choice, boasts unparalleled flexibility and energy efficiency. Wood is also a timeworn favorite but because it’s so expensive and quite hard to maintain, many prefer vinyl, which, by the way, can be manufactured to mimic the basic qualities of wood. Quickly gaining reception are the more modern choices, such as aluminum and fiberglass. They are aesthetically appealing as well as durable. In the end, your choice of frame material should depend on the theme you want for your patio. You don’t want to choose an aluminum door only to add another awkwardly out of place element in your patio. Choosing a patio door requires a little bit of creativity.
- Pick a Glass Type
- . So you’re done selecting a style and material for your patio door. It’s time to choose the right type of glass. When choosing a type of glass for your patio door, it’s not just the looks you should worry about, but the energy efficiency as well. Consider using a low-emissivity glass that keeps out as much ultraviolet light from the sun as possible, especially since your patio may be facing the direction where the sun rises or sets. Of course, you don’t have to hold back when it comes to the design of the glass though; as long as it matches the overall theme of the patio, it would definitely be worth trying.
Should You DIY the Whole Project?
Because a patio reflects so much the homeowner’s personality, building your patio by yourself is a quite tempting proposition. After all, it’s just natural to feel a little bit scared and skeptical about the ability of a hired builder to turn your dream patio into a reality. However, between those inexperienced hands of yours and the experienced hands of a builder, the latter are more capable of pulling it off.
Especially when it comes to the installation or repair of your patio door, only a professional like Muller Exteriors can do a great job. It doesn’t matter how big or complex the structure of your patio door is; they can handle it with superb workmanship. You may, however, try to build the rest of the patio on your own, considering that it doesn’t require highly specific expertise. You can combine your horticultural knowledge with the basic construction skill you may have to come up with a lovely patio.
