Outdoor Patio Covers | Carports | Gazebos | Furniture For …

Its the perfect time to be thinking about patio covers because its getting cooler and extending the use of your patio, deck, porch or garden area into fall and winter may require some added protection, perhaps a screen room, a sunroom or some kind of patio enclosure that allows the sunshine to still enter while keeping the wind and rain or snow out. There are some options for patio covers that may simply provide shade like the lattice patio covers and others that will offer more enclosed protection. Here are the main kinds of coverings you can choose from:

If you live in a region where its sunny all year you may simply need an open lattice patio cover to give a little shade, perhaps with a vine or some foliage growing through the lattice work. This open lattice patio cover design will give shade without cutting out too much light and they can be built from aluminum that looks like wood and is resistant to the elements and also maintenance free.

If you live in a cooler climate but one that does not get frequent snowfall or regular harsh inclement weather, then a solid lattice patio cover may give enough protection from rain and wind without totally enclosing the area. These solid patio cover designs may be ordered in cedar embossed aluminum that give a wood-like appearance but wont require painting and will never chip or peel like wood that is painted.

In regions where there is sun and many months of warmth, screen rooms may the perfect choice because they offer protection from insects, provide shade, and give a general shelter from the elements, however the area remains open to the natural breeze and sunlight that will come in through the screened area.

Total patio enclosures, perhaps using the newest aluminum patio covers may be the best solution to extending the use of your patio well into winter months in colder climates that receive snowfall. These solid enclosures can also be made from enamel finished frames and imitation wood that is actually aluminum and requires no maintenance. These types of patio enclosures offer 3 insulated walls, horizontal sliding windows (and a good brand to keep in mind is Millennium Windows) and perhaps you may wish to add some French doors. Additionally you may have added protection with thermally broken extrusions and all the materials can be made from wind and rain resident materials that are aluminum. You can add a full gutter system with downspouts and even have a fully insulated roof. The windows could be screened so that they can be left open to offer air on warm days and be like a screen room, yet able to close and be sealed on cold winter days. Adding a screen room or complete enclosure to a deck can not only add value to your home but allow to have extra livable space, and perhaps even be an area for a bright home office or a place for plants and an indoor garden.

Aluminum patio covers have come a long way from the days when they looked like cold industrial metal framework additions to residential homes. They are now elegant and can match wood or other materials from which your home may have been constructed. Since it is important that any kind of aluminum patio cover not look like an afterthought, you may want to consult a contractor regarding how to build a patio cover from the newest alumawood patio covers that are on the market today. However, there are some good patio cover kits that are sold through home improvement centers that allow you to build a patio cover on your own if you are a handy type person.

Here are same popular styles and prices for a variety of patio cover options:

Vinyl Pergola and vinyl patio covers are not what you might imagine. These lovely lattice patio covers look like metal or wood or can be pure white or painted or treated to have a variety of finishes. They are easy to install and usually come in vinyl patio kit packages that include galvanized steel inserts for beams and post bases, materials pre-cut lengths and all the instructions needed to erect in just a few days. These patio covers can be added to a deck or patio or can be made as freestanding pergolas near your house or even in a garden.

Vinyl patio covers are made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) that outlasts their wood patio cover counterparts because vinyl lasts a lifetime. Pergolas and vinyl patio covers are maintenance free and are only a little more expensive than wood, yet will never need to be replaced. Just to give you an idea of price, and 8X10 cover will cost about $2,000, an 20X14 will cost about $4,500. These are patio covers that are attached to the house. For ones that are freestanding pergolas, they will cost about $2600 for an 8X10 and almost $5,000 for a large 20X14. These patio cover kits include everything needed to finish your project.

Metal patio covers are not just for a patio or deck or porch but may also be useful as carport covers that double as a garage to provide shelter for cars and vehicles from rain, hail, snow and heat, or deck covers for country homes or even boat covers. Carport kits and patio cover kits (including the boat cover models) are usually prefabricated from aluminum or steel and come in single wide and double wide aluminum options. However, for deck covers you will probably need custom sizes to fit with your home, apartment or condominium.

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Outdoor Patio Covers | Carports | Gazebos | Furniture For ...