Patios are one of those useful, hybrid additions to a home that can make an enormous difference to the way you can use your space – for normal everyday living, and for entertaining. They’re not walled, so they’re not a room, but they’re solidly roofed, so they offer a great, weatherproof indoor/outdoor space for all sorts of activities.
These days, there is a large range of patio roof panels on offer. There are options that will fit just about any purpose and/or style you have in mind. Here are some things to consider when you’re choosing your patio roofing options.
- Which side of the house is the patio located? North-facing patios will be much more comfortable if you use insulated patio roofing. That’s the aspect that will get the most sun throughout the day, and can get very hot over the warmer months.
- Noise – the insulated panels also offer a degree of sound proofing, which may be useful, particularly if you live in a densely populated area.
- Is this to be a basic area for general living, or a place for entertaining? There are different finishes and colours available, which offer different looks depending on how much of a statement you want to make or whether you want to blend the patio in with the rest of your home.
- What is the style of your house? This can be a factor in deciding on the profile of the roofline. An older style house may suite a gable, while more modern houses can look good with a flat or sloped roofline added on.
- Consider the airflow under the patio. A gabled roof offers more space for air to move, and hot air to rise.
- Waterproofing. Again, the pitch of your patio roof can be instrumental in helping deflect water from the area underneath. It is well worth researching prevailing wind and rain direction, so you can choose the best option to give you maximum weather protection.
- Don’t forget about light. A single skin option for the patio cover can reflect more light, and there’s also the option of inserting clear panels that allow some natural light through.
The range of options in patio roofing allow for a patio to be a much more considered addition to a home than it might once have been. Your patio needn’t look like a temporary or stop gap effort – you can create a space that will have long term durability and effect, where you’ll be proud to host family and friends for years to come.