Enclosed Patio: Design Considerations

Imagine drinking your first morning coffee in the open or hosting a barbecue dinner for all your friends and family. Both of these things, and many more, are possible if you have a patio. 

This space can also be enclosed and turned into an indoor area so you do not have to alter your plans due to unexpected changes of weather. Here is how you can do that.

Plan, Sketch and Design

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First of all, you need to plan everything first, put all your ideas on paper and start sketching what you would like your enclosed patio to look like. Decide how big you want it to be, what you want it to include, how you plan to spend time there, etc. Consulting an interior designer and a general contractor would be helpful, so you should do that, as well.

After that, start tackling the details such as the roof and the windows. When it comes to the roof, you need to decide whether you prefer an angled one, in sync with the existing roof of your house, or you want something more extravagant. As far as windows are concerned, if you choose to install them, the best choice are probably double glazing retrofit windows because they regulate temperature and minimize the outside noise, which is always welcomed in an outside space.

Roofs and Frames

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Besides choosing a certain roof style that will make your new patio special, finding the perfect roofing material is also extremely important. With so many options on the market, the easiest way to go is using the material that is already covering your roofs at the moment. This can, however, be quite a problem with older houses because shingles that were used 30 or 50 years ago may be hard to find today. Also, if your house is equipped with a steel roof, you must make sure that your new patio roof comes from the same manufacturer due to a specific and unique rib pattern.

After you have settled on the roof, you can move onto the frame. Since an enclosed patio is an addition to your house, it can be slightly different from the rest of it, but not too much – you do not want it to look like it was added to it by accident. Therefore, hiring an architect is a must at this stage.

Walls and Floors

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If you want your patio walls to endure rain, snow, wind and high temperature, you must pay close attention to their construction. Should you choose screening, your enclosing project will be completed easily and quickly because screening comes in rolls you can cut and fit using a staple gun. If, on the other hand, you decide to go with complete walls and use bricks, you will get a more finished solution that will allow you to install insulation as well. This way, the patio become almost undistinguishable from the rest of your house.

Finally, it is time for the floors – most patios have concrete flooring and this is not something you want to keep once it is enclosed. What you need to do is approach this problem like it was an indoors job and install floors you would like to have in your living room or bedroom. Most people opt for wooden planks, but there are other options as well.

Besides providing you more living space and raising the price of your property, an enclosed patio will also allow you a ton of enjoyment. You will be able to spend time in the outside, yet still remain inside your own home – and that is something worth investing time, money and effort into.