It is true that you can build one yourself or have help from friends.  What makes your patio more enjoyable in the quickest amount of time possible is hiring the pros.  Not only will you have your patio covered more quickly but you will know that it is built to code – if that is even an issue depending upon your design – and is as safe as possible.  Because of the several different types of structures you can build and the materials you can choose from, having it done right is important for not only your safety but long-term investment as well.  The last thing you want is for your patio to be a health hazard each time you go out there or when there is a slight change of inclement weather that will threaten the integrity of your structure.

So, What Type Of Patio Cover Did You Have In Mind?

This is the elegance and ambiance patio covers can create.

You may not have given it too much thought and you found our site as a way of researching the topic itself.  Would you believe that are almost an endless amount of ways to cover your patio as there are to designing a home or landscape area?  Well, it is true.  The reason is that as long as your plans are within the guidelines of your city code or home owner’s association covenants and regulations – almost tougher than pulling permits sometimes it seems – then you can probably have it built.  You may even be able to tackle the project yourself or with the help of a small crew of your friends for the heavy lifting.  As you read on, you’ll learn why.

The broad categories of patio cover designs include open, roofed, and enclosed.  As the names suggest, you can almost get an idea of what the structure will look like, at least in concept.  How you execute the details of your project will allow for much personalization, customization and range of design ideas.  As outdoor spaces become more and more popular with home owners, it is being increasingly easy to find contractors that can work with your plans to build you exactly what you are looking for.

Learning About ‘Open’ Covered Patios

This sounds a bit confusing at first.  Open covered patios?  If you are thinking about having a more open patio concept, then you are probably inclined to be thinking about gazebo or pergola types of structures.  These are similar in nature.  A gazebo is usually a structure that has more of a roof-like element to it.  It may also be more of a Victorian style with benches built into it.  Gazebos have more of a closer, intimate feeling to them.  A pergola has more of a criss-crossed type lattice structure to its ‘roof’. The term roof here is in quotes because it is more of an open structure, usually having trained vines or plants growing up and over it providing shade and ambiance.  This can also be quite intimate, but because of its open nature has more of a restful feeling about it.

Both types of open structures can be enjoyed much of the year depending upon your climate and weather of course.  Many pergola builders have mastered the craft in all corners of our country as the various designs can highlight the flowers and outdoor experience of the seasons.

The open patio styles are what are more classic for the popular surge in outdoor room spaces.  With these rooms, entire kitchens or entertaining spaces with kitchen appliances are made to bring the indoors out.  Many products and manufacturers are now offering items that are made to be exposed to the elements.  Stainless steel and stone items are the most common choices.  The partial covering offered by the plants or vines does provide some relief from mother nature to the appliances.

What About Other Covered Patio Designs?

While a gazebo structure may technically qualify as a “roofed patio”, what we are really discussing here are more formally covered patios.  In this case, patio covers that use framed members, with sheeting, and roofing materials like felt paper, and shingles.  This is definitely a job for the professional builder.

These types of covered patio areas are like the traditional ranch house styles of the 1970s – where the patio area is an extension of the rear part of the home.  The key to updating this look is in the post options and using paint and furniture items to bring a more modern feel to that outdoor space.

Now, How About Those Enclosed Patios…

Look at all this glass - that's an enclosed sunroom.

These types of rooms are more commonly called sun rooms or sitting rooms.  More popular in times gone by, but like all things, making a comeback.  Similar to the type of patio covers mentioned above, these spaces are very customizable offering each customer to personalize their space.  These porch-like spaces can provide a more enjoyable outdoor experience for longer periods in the season because of their enclosed nature.  Being screened in or enclosed with the use of retractable awnings or motorized awnings can provide another level of protection.  Enclosed areas can also be made to look and function as an indoor room with the use of pillars and draperies.             Photo Credit

Remember, what you are really after with any type of outdoor patio space is to be more able to spend some quality time outdoors.  You may just need some down time after work.  Maybe you have children and want to watch them play outdoors without the pounding sun.  Entertaining outdoors will leave your guests impressed and rejuvenated.  No matter what type of option you choose, your patio cover will help you enjoy your time  with friends and family.

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Even if it is as simple as having an arbor-gate that brings you into your courtyard or patio area, the look and feel is both welcoming and warming.  If you have ever experienced this, then you know the feeling.  There is just something about walking beneath a vine or flower-covered arbor that brings you into the space you are entering.  It makes that space seem like a special place to go.

A great shot of an arbor over a garden bench.

There are different types of arbors, as mentioned.  Some are just simple two post and beam structures that have a few stringer beams up top for the support of your greenery.  Others are more extravagant creations with many more posts and beams to support a much larger array of flowers and vines.  In this respect, an arbor is very similar to a pergola – occasionally the terms are used interchangeably.  A pergola is another type of patio cover.   Pergolas are usually four post and beam structures with a lattice roof.  Often, a pergola is made of wood – though metal and vinyl options are available.

Similar in some respects to the pergola is the gazebo.  While the pergola has a more ‘airy’ openness about it, the gazebo is more closed.  This is because gazebos have a more formal roof-type structure to them.  Like other covers, they can use metal roofing materials or some other traditional type of wooden roof or shingle.

At Patio Covers Place, our preferred choice of wood for outdoor projects is cedar.  It is not only a gorgeous looking wood, but has many additional properties that suit it best for outdoor applications.  Its ability to age gracefully and be sustainably harvested are two features that immediately come to mind.

Now, there is yet another garden and patio element that confuses this issue – the trellis.  A trellis is more of a two dimensional structure, so to speak.  Typically, they are made of smaller lumber pieces with lattice work between the ‘posts’.  Then, they are often used along fences or as small fences, to allow delicate flowers, vines or other garden herbs and plants to grow on.

The most important thing you can do is find the type of patio or garden structure that will work best in your space.  Don’t worry about what it is called.  You’ll probably hear many of these names used as synonyms anyway.  If you don’t already have a good idea of what you are looking for, you can just browse images online, search in fine home magazines or just look over your fence if you like your neighbors’ ideas.  The beauty of this project is that arbors can even be built by hand by the avid DIYer.  If you’ve got one in your home, this is a great project to work on.

Photo credit

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Now, what about for that backyard patio party?  What are you doing there to make a bigger impact and remodel to allow for more functional space and a better entertaining area?  The choice many people make first is to get some type of patio cover.  If you don’t have much experience with these, then getting some patio cover ideas will be in order.  These ideas could come from several different sources, online is the first and most simple way to come about doing your search.  In fact, it is likely how you found our site.  There are pictures online to browse, fine home magazines you can look through or you can even have an architect and designer sketch some patio cover plans for you to look at.  You will obviously pay for the professional help, but it will be well worth it in the end, because they will be able to match your landscape features and home design to that of your new patio cover – what ever style that happens to be.

This is a great example of a pergola. This is a great patio cover idea for hot tubs and spas.

As a brief introduction or outline if you aren’t familiar, there are a few patio covers that stand out as the most common and simple to build.  It doesn’t mean that they are not very handsome and elegant features to add to your space, quite the contrary.  Often, the simplest designs allow for the beauty of the landscape and other backyard features to come forth.  The pergola is likely the most common type of free standing patio cover.  There are other styles, including the gazebo and attached pergola.  The attached version simply has a header beam mounted to the wall of your home and may extend out the roof line a bit to ‘form’ a little patio area.

The pergola and gazebo have some similar features in that they are both usually constructed of wood and are meant to provide an intimate area to relax or entertain.  The pergola is a bit more of an open structure, with a ‘ribbed’ roof that can support a variety of roofs or climbing vines and plants.  Patio roofs could include a metal roof like a folded seam steel or even a nice copper.  Additionally, the roof of your covered patio could be made of a stone product like a Mediterranean tile or cement tile.  The gazebo is more of a semi-closed structure with a wooden roof and some railings, often with built-in bench seating.  Gazebos usually have a bit more in the way of detailing where a pergola has more craftsman styling and simple lines.  Your patio cover ideas should include what type of theme you would like your space to have.  This will greatly help determine what materials will be used and what type of structure you will have built.

Photo Credit

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With the right tools, you can handle the job.

Even before you figure out how you’re going to build a patio cover, you should get some plans set out.  This will help you to decide what needs to be done before you even start buying material and getting your patio all set up.  The first thing I would recommend is searching for the style of patio cover that you want online or in fine home magazines.  As we’ve discussed, getting patio cover designs can be free or they may cost you some money.  If you hire a landscape designer or architect, you should probably think about spending several hundred to a few thousand for these.  It will be well worth it if your plans are for an elaborate or intricate type of cover.  For simple pergola or gazebo designs, I wouldn’t worry about spending this kind of money (thousands).

Once you’ve got your plans in hand, you can set out to create a materials list.  Obviously, this article is for those who are a bit handy.  If you don’t know how to swing a hammer (or use a nail gun) you should hire a professional contractor or someone who can do this type of work.  Your local handyman can probably tackle this type of project with little difficulty.  Much of the hard work is in the plumbing and squaring of your posts.  Oh, and the lifting of beams and such.

Building A Pergola

The pergola is one of the most common types of patio covers and you will find it much simpler to build than any other style.  They can be built free standing or attached to beams along your home’s outer wall.  In the southwest, you or your contractor will likely have to take down some stucco and wire to get access to the beams.  For this reason alone, I recommend building free standing patio covers.

Step one is really to find the position of where to put the posts.  Depending on your climate zone, the footings may need to be deeper for your frost lines.  Some climates, you can get away with a 12 – 18 ” depth.  Your posts can either be set into your concrete or be mounted on top after curing.  This style is easier to do and more forgiving.  Once your posts are placed in the concrete, moving them is impossible without digging up.  Mounting them on top will allow you to modify the ends to get a true plumb and square frame upon which your beams and top members can rest.

Once your posts are set and plumb, you can begin to hang your beams.  Sometimes, two are used and other times four.  This can be a personal taste issue as well.  The beams will support the cross members, which are usually lighter in stock.  Patio covers that use four beams are typically more substantial and hold more joist members, we’ll call them.  Two beams work just fine for most applications.

Finally, putting your top joist members on is really just a matter of placement.  Closer spacing will provide more shade and better structure for your greenery to grow on.  You may not need brackets for each member and this is the preferred method.  A bracket for each cross member gets expensive, but also takes away from the look.  You will likely only need brackets for attaching your posts to the beams.  Your project should take about 2 -3 weekends worth of work.  One will be due to curing of your concrete, but you can stain and treat your wood that weekend so you don’t lose time.  Patio covers built this way, by the owner, can provide not only years of enjoyment but years of bragging rights as well.

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