Let’s break it down a little bit further.  Say, for example, that you would classify yourself into the ‘lounge lizard’

This little patio set up highlights features like a pergola, some comfortable furniture, a chiminea and a nice patio floor.

category.  This means that you are more likely to be interested in patio accessories that allow for a more relaxed time.  Items like cushioned patio furniture, a hammock or patio swing, maybe even some patio misters to cool the place down for a more enjoyable ‘extended patio experience’.  They can drop the temperature in your outdoor space by up to 20-30 degrees!

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Now, what if you have more of a semi-formal or entertaining patio style.  That is to say you would prefer to have more of an outdoor living type of space.  Maybe you want a place to cook in, dine in and then relax in with guests over an evening cocktail or glass of wine.  A different type of patio space would be more helpful in each of these styles of patio enthusiast, wouldn’t you say?

Which Patio Ideas Are Right for You?

The design of your patio can be unique or you can go with something more like a kit for ease of installation and construction.  The patio cover kits come in a variety of materials, some wood, some metal and even vinyl materials.  While wood patio covers are the most popular, they do require maintenance to keep them looking and functioning good for years to come.  Vinyl is a popular choice and now comes in different color choices, white, brown and colors that resemble some classic wood stains.  These aluminum patio covers, made famous by Alumawood™ actually have real wood grain characteristics embossed into them.

These are good ideas for the classic pergola, a great framework or structure upon which to design your dream patio.  You can utilize a pergola in order to create a simple patio space or something more exotic or elegant type of outdoor room.  These outdoor rooms can support any number of features that the entertainer can appreciate.  Consider how you could add some great outdoor dining furniture to create an amazing setting outdoors.

Perhaps your style of eating outdoors is cooking out there as well.  This is where the men are separated from the boys, so to speak.  Sure, there are outdoor grills in a variety of styles, but there are also outdoor kitchen designs that could rival the best commercial kitchens out there.  Pair this with a nice bar set up and you are sure to wow your guests!

This is in contrast to the type of patio fireplace over which a lounge lizard might enjoy cooking.  This kills two birds with one stone.  They can sit out by the fire in their swing or hammock and then jump out to turn the burgers.  There is no type of design that is right, just what is right for you and your lifestyle.

Patio design ideas range from having an open patio roof to something either more fully closed or semi-closed, like a lattice cover.  This lattice structured roof is like what the pergola offers.  There are also covered patio designs that are more suitable for climates with wetter weather or for those settings where one doesn’t want their kitchen or dining areas to be exposed to the elements quite so much.

Other considerations for outdoor patio designs include things like having the structure attached to one’s home or free-standing structures in your backyard space.  Again, pergola style patio covers are great for these applications as they can be used effectively in both ways.

Building  A Patio Cover

There are some key points to consider when constructing or building a patio cover.  You’ll need to know the space or dimensions that are available to you.  How much space do you have to work with?  This will help determine the best type of structure for your needs.

Next, you can also determine the shape of the space you have.  Is your patio area more of an oval shaped area or do you have a rectangular or square dimensions?  These, again, will help prepare for your other landscape design features.  Whether you have a pool landscape feature you are incorporating or a desert xeriscaping plan, both the size and shape of your space will give you a better sense of your design options.

Then, there are the soil and ground features themselves to consider regarding building.  In terms of the plot, you’ll need to ensure that the grading is such that your patio is level and stable.  Now, you can also slope your patio in a way to give you proper drainage and flow away from your home’s foundation.  This is dependent on where you build, too.  You may have some other more complex patio design ideas that will give you multiple levels and dimensions to your patio space.

There are plenty of basic outdoor patio designs that could work great in your yard, but if you want the space to be considered special to you, you should research some custom patio designs to see what you do and don’t like. The best place to start this process is by flipping through some outdoor magazines, going to local contractors who can show you work they have previously done, and talking to friends and neighbors to get a glimpse of their patios.

You will have to decide on the type of material you would like to construct your patio from.  That is to say, the ‘flooring’ of your patio space.  Brick patios are the most common choice – using any number of patio pavers – but you have other options too.  These include things like concrete bricks, stamped concrete forms, cobblestones and flagstone, just to name a few. You’ll also be able to add a custom patio cover to your outdoor space in order to protect your furniture and stay cool in the scorching sun. There are endless covered patio designs that you can choose from, and you should go about the same process to find a cover design that is best for you.

If you’d like, you can go above and beyond a standard patio by making it extravagant. Ways to do this include installing an outdoor kitchen, making the space more useful as if it was a room inside your home. You could also install a patio fireplace or fire pit, which would be a great way to warm up cool outdoor nights.

Once you have a general idea of what you would like the end product to be, you should start to make a rough plan of dimensions, locations of objects, and materials that will be needed to construct the patio. The best way to end up with a professional backyard patio design is to hire a builder or contractor to do the work for you.  The pros know what they’re doing and their expertise will save you a lot of stress and leave you with a marvelous outdoor space that will become the hallmark of your home.

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Submitted by your friends at yourpatiocovers.com!

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?

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 is how a patio cover can add elegance and ambiance.

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…

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.   Photo Credit

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.

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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Patio Cover Designs and Ideas

Often, what gives such an elegant look is what they leave off as much as what they are made of.  For example, the wooden beams that can cover the patio or deck, depending on where it is built, can provide just the right amount of shade, while letting just enough sun in to grow beautiful plants or climbing vines.  When these plants become more mature, they crawl all over these covered patio structures and look like some old-world Mediterranean or Spanish villa.  The posts that support the patio cover may be made of concrete, stone or even more expensive and exotic marble or limestone.  While these may be for the lifestyles of the rich and famous now, it’s really all that was available hundreds of years ago in many cases.  The point is, you can still capture the essence of these more expensive patio cover designs because of the plethora of man made and cultured materials these days.  The popularity of the outside room has made this type of patio easily accessible to all.  With a very modest budget, you can create quite a nice look.

Rustic Patio Covers Can Be Elegant Too

Patio designs range from rustic to refined.  Rustic appearances can be achieved by using newer materials manufactured to look old.  Some patio cover kits are sold this way.  These can also be made of newer cement block post structures that are covered with cultured tumbled stone facing material.  These appear like the posts are made of stacked rocks that support a nice wooden top or even a metal roof.  The pillars can also be finished smooth and have a Venetian plaster look to them creating quite a refined old-world style.  When you add lights, some awnings and patio canopies you’ve got an area that you and your guest will enjoy to relax and even dine under.

Patio Covers Designs and Inspiration

How would you know if you had taken all of the factors into account?  This is where a professional designer could help.  Your patio cover designs will take on several different characteristics of both your home and your personal style and preferences.  We’ll get to a few of the options below, rest assured, there are many more than you will see here.  These just reflect a representative sampling of basic designs.  The way that you can improve or enhance these is almost infinite (and budgetless it seems at times).  In other words, imagining what you would like your patio cover to look like and be is up to your imagination and budget, because literally almost anything is possible with the type of building materials and equipment available to today’s builder.

General Covered Patio Plans

Before we go any further, let’s briefly describe the covered patio types you might encounter or want to have designed, they fall into some broad general categories.  First of all, there is the category of open or closed patio roof styles.  This is simply a reference to the fact that some allow you to see the sky and allow rain to get through, others allow partial light and/or rain and others would block all light and water or other elements from Mother Nature.  Then, you need to consider the type of building material:  wood, metal, vinyl, fabric or some combination of all of these.   Another choice concerns free standing versus attached structures.  Finally, you would need to decide if you wanted to have shades or awnings as part of your cover as well.

This is a lot to consider.  So, in order to make the process simpler, you can simply view the pictures below and read the captions.  In most cases, the picture represented is a good reflection of the type of patio cover you can expect to see or have built within that style.  Patio covers are like any type of home remodeling project in this way; what you see for your use and taste can be reflected in your home.

Following Are Some Patio Cover Ideas

Here is an example of an attached – with posts – pergola type patio cover.  That is a mouth-full.  See how the beam on one end is mounted to the house?  This adds strength as well as making it look tied into the home.  This type of cover is also open as you can see.  Wood patio covers like this would also include styles that would have more slats across the top and then even plants and vines growing atop it.  This provides more shade and a softer appearance, all while adding a splash of color or aroma from any flowering plants.  Photo credit

Then, there is the image of this much larger pergola or trellis used in a park.   You could achieve a similar look, using a

This is an example of an open patio cover - pergola, with vines.

metal material and having a variety of vines or climbing plants growing.  This has been discussed, but it is a nice way of softening the appearance of the harder lines of the pergola or other patio structure of your choice.

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Finally, there is this example using a patio cover kit.  There are both vinyl (vinyl coated aluminum) that use embossed patterns to give them that wood grain appearance.

Photo courtesy of http://austinpatio.com

The reason why patio cover plans are important is that to enable a livable, even workable space, consideration needs to be given to what needs to be covered. What is the climate like? Is there likely to be a lot of entertainment and gatherings there? How often is the area going to be used? All of these questions can and will influence the final decision on what the cover will look like when it is finally constructed.

Construction usually takes the form of either an open or enclosed structure, with a roof.   This patio roof, depending upon how it is designed can function as pure shade cover or provide a bit of mixed shade and sun, the perfect combination for plants below.  There are many variations on the theme and there are lots of varieties of hybrid structures that can combine both methods.  An area that is open for when the weather is beautiful and plants are flowering, and an area that is more sheltered so that the patio is still usable – even when conditions could be a little better.

As can be seen, there are so many different and varied patio cover ideas that it becomes vitally important to start the search by coming up with some needs and wants. The first of which should be, what is going to be the primary use of your patio cover. Is a lot of time going to be spent out there? If so, possibly a large cover would be suited. What material is the home made out of? It would look a tad awkward having a beautifully constructed brick design next to a mostly wooden home.  However, it is quite possible that this mix could work, given the proper planning and design.

By asking these sorts of questions, it becomes possible to envisage how the final design will turn out. Warm climate most of the year round? Then perhaps open patio cover designs are what are needed. Are you going to be doing lots of entertaining during the nighttime in a variable climate? An enclosed cover could be called for.  Likewise, if your weather is prone to a lot of rain or other weather, then you might opt for a covered patio that is simply an extension of your home’s roof.

Certainly, covered patio ideas start flowing thick and fast when a little bit of thought is given to what role they will ultimately play in the living area!  The main aim of covered patio designs is to find the best example of what is needed so that more time can be spent outdoors! Just think about all the fun and relaxation that will take place in the future when the cover is up.  Enjoy the design process as it comes to life for your new patio!

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Before choosing the right material for your patio cover designs, you must first decide how you will use your patio.  There are many uses for a backyard patio from a dining area, a sort of spa retreat complete with a hot tub, or a private secluded haven.  The use of the patio will help you come up with realistic patio cover plans that will help you make the best use of your space.  When you are brainstorming covered patio ideas, remember there is not just one kind.  There are a variety of patios and each serves its own purpose.  Patios include open patios, patio or sunrooms, poolside patios, retreat patios and entry patios.  Review the specs of these patios to decide on which will utilize your space and suit to be most beneficial to your lifestyle.

Now that you have chosen to proceed with your idea, you must make patio cover plans such as where in your backyard you would like it built and how many people it will need to comfortably sit.  These factors will have a large influence on the size and designing of your patio.  Remember the small details, because every little bit counts.  Adding patio accessories such as patio furniture, the flooring of the patio, patio doors and a hideaway deck box, are all important and decorative features you should consider.  Most importantly is the patio roofing design.

As stated before, patio covers and roofs can be made out of many materials.  Aluminum and acrylic patio covers may not be as aesthetically pleasing as some, however they require much less maintenance and they are very affordable.  Natural wood covers create a very refined patio and can compliment any design, however they are quite a bit more costly to install and to maintain because the wood must be weatherproofed and treated often to prevent water damage.  For the best of both worlds, there are artificial wood grained or synthetic covered patio designs.  These designs offer the charm of natural wood, and the durability and limited upkeep of an acrylic or aluminum cover.

Whatever your needs, there are patio cover designs for you.  Whether you are creating the ultimate getaway in your backyard, or just a plain and simple outside dining area, you can find a charming design to fit your whole family’s taste.

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The key to the whole party planning thing is having timelines and project to-dos.  That way, you can just look up on your calendar and see what needs to be done that day to ultimately be ready for the big day.  Plus, there is always some cleaning and preparation of your space to be done.  This is where we can talk about how your patio covers vine covered seating area will be the talk of the party.  But, not now, we’ll get to that.  First things first, we have to decide who is coming to the party.  This is among the first steps. You’ll need to come up with a guest list.  This helps to not only get a head count, but also to plan for special seating or food choices.  Hey, who knows, maybe even additional wine, beer or other spirits planning as well depending on the type of crowd you hang around with.  This can all be done about two weeks ahead of the party date.

Your Patio Cover Will Come Into Play, Just Wait

At the one to two week mark, you’ll want to start thinking about hardware.  In other words, do the grills or other appliances work, or do they need some repairs?  Do you need to buy charcoal or gas?  Are all the tablecloths where you think they are?  Have you got the plates and any special order food items taken care of?  This is where you can also do a first stage of cleaning of your patio.  You can start high and work your way down – just like a window washer.  This could mean knocking down any cobwebs that have found their way into or around your patio cover.  Maybe your hanging pergola vine garden is in need of some trimming.  This would be a good time to fix and broken bricks or misplaced pavers and such.  You can also ensure that all your outdoor lighting is working properly.  Check to see if your garden lights or strung patio lights all work.

At about the two to three day mark, you can start shopping for your everything but the perishable food items.  Make sure you know what food you’ll be cooking and when to avoid the frantic serving at the last minute to starving guests phenomenon.  You can clean your grill (again) if you haven’t done this step.  Finish the lighting do another cleaning of your outdoor patio furniture.  Get those patio furniture covers off and make sure the chair cushions are in good shape.  You probably could have done this at the week ago mark.  In any event, do another sweeping of your covered patio and you can hose down any areas that are particularly dusty.

One More Day and the Patio Covers Ultimate Purpose Will Be Revealed

Here's a party that moved outside because a great patio area.

You’re almost there!  On the day just before your big party arrange the furniture and pick up any items that you are borrowing or buying as far as seating, tables, umbrellas, patio heaters and lighting goes.  This is when you can shop for the perishable items that you want to be as fresh and crispy as possible for your guests.  You’ll probably want to do another re-cleaning of your house and the patio area.  It might just require some quick spot or attention cleaning.

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After you (or a teenage child) gets the cleaning done, you can prepare as many of your recipes and ingredients as possible.  Thaw what needs to be thawed in the refrigerator.  On the morning of the party, buy the ice, fill the coolers, decorate the tables and lay the table cloths.  Prepare your foods as you have scheduled and make sure your patio is not going to be too hot or wet from your sprinklers turning on in the middle of the whole thing.  You can invest in some patio shades for the areas that your patio cover just doesn’t help you with for shade.  Just before guests begin arriving, you can turn on the music (if you haven’t already been jamming this morning in excitement), set the lighting and get the appropriate drinks open.  Now, sit back relax and enjoy the party with the rest of your guests out on your patio.  You can take the time to enjoy all the hard work and planning that went into your party as well as your patio cover designs that helped create this wonderful setting.

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, building free standing patio covers will be your best bet.

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 or girders.  Sometimes, two are used and other times four.  This can be a personal taste issue as well.  The beams will support the cross members or rafters, which are usually lighter (width and weight) in stock.  Pergolas that use four girder beam are typically more substantial and hold more rafters.  Two girders work just fine for most applications.

Finally, putting your top rafters is really just a matter of placement.  Closer spacing will provide more shade and better structure for your greenery to grow on.  Some pergola plans call for spacing of your rafters to be at 24″ and then using a lattice roof to provide even more shade and substance to your roof.

You don’t need brackets for each rafter.  The preferred method is to toe nail each one to the girders.  A bracket for each rafter not only gets expensive, but also takes away from the look.  Besides this, it isn’t necessary from a structural standpoint.  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.  The typical pergola patio cover built this way, by the owner, can provide not only years of enjoyment but years of bragging rights as well.

Great Patio Cover Designs Are More Than Just Expensive Patio Furniture Covers

In other words, hopefully who ever you have build a patio cover (unless you plan on doing it yourself you brave soul) had better have some taste that you trust or has a very good idea of what you want done.  If not, you’re in danger of having a very expensive and probably boring looking cover for your patio furniture.  That’s fine, you need covers for your chairs and benches and all that stuff too.  It’s just that you might not necessarily want it to be just for that purpose.

In most cases, when there is an expensive patio set, the owners will have separate covers for those pieces or simply use them in the outdoor environment when entertaining and then move them back into a more protected area when not in use.  This is a pain, so most people opt for the covers.  So, when you are building this patio and making decisions about how or what you will use for a cover, remember how you will be using your furniture and the type of space you’d like to create.

The Simplest Of Outdoor Patio Covers

Pergolas like this can support growing vines and flowering plants.

Probably, one of the simplest in design and often most elegant in appearance are the pergola type wood patio covers.  Often mistakingly referred to as a gazebo, a pergola has more of an open patio roof structure to them.  Many gazebo covers are more roof-like in appearance.  They may not be a solid, water shedding type structure, but often it lets much less water fall directly beneath it.  In the case of a pergola, the roof or cover has more of a criss-crossed beam structure to it.  It’s not quite like a garden lattice, but it may employ a lattice piece in its design elements.  Overall, the pergola is more versatile as well.  You can plant climbing vines or other greenery that will grow up the posts of your pergola.  A cool, shaded patio cover can be created by using these climbing vines planted in the ground near each post of your pergola.  Or, you can opt to have them in large pots near each post that can also help create that exotic look.   However you choose to cover your patio, make sure you keep these design elements in mind.