Patios are extensions outside the main architecture of a building that serves several recreational purposes. Derived from a Spanish word meaning courtyard. The construction of patios has a lot to say about its main function, purpose, etc. Some of which involve providing outdoor relaxation, resort, extra room for engagements, barbecue & grilling, familial occasions, an outdoor venue within the homestead, and fencing.
Patio Covers
The patio cover represents the highest point of the patio fabrication. This makes its construction important as it is a reference point to the outside climate; the sun most importantly. A good cover should perform a function of being a good reflector of the sun’s heat, thus providing a good shade and a cool environment. However the climate and prevailing weather conditions on the side of the country matter. Light penetration and waterproofing are other factors considered for patio covers. Resistance to abrasion, mechanical action, corrosion, durability and styling are other considerable determiners for the type and design of patio covers employed. Middle income earning inhabitants in cities and the countryside usually employ vinyl and wooden covers, perhaps because of their low maintenance cost, accessibility, durability, and affordability etc.
Affordability of Patio Covers
Vinyl patio covers might not be attractive as wood but it offers durability, low cost, little or no maintenance. It is a polymer of ethylene and similar materials, it is cheaper than aluminum, which is a metal quite resistant to corrosion. Thatched patio covers are less expensive than awnings and pergolas but are less durable and could require maintenance. This provides a stress vinylcovers do not pose.
Areas with the natural scenery of wooded landscape, a patio cover made of wood could improve aesthetics and give harmonious scenes. Wooden covers could also offer a deal of structural strength. However woods and termites are inseparable. Wood is also subject to environmental degradation from water, biological agents, microbes, etc. However, it generally presents an affordable option
Affordable patio covers could help save cost, energy, and emissions. Aluminum roofing and sheets undergo several treatments and could be demanding to customize. Vinyl on the other hand is flexible, amendable, and stylish during fabrication and installment. They are also quite resistant to atmospheric photo-oxidation, abrasion, and corrosion.
Types Of Patio Covers
The nature of the patio cover used is also easily influenced by cost, choice, and community. The most common types of patio covers include aluminum, vinyl, thatch, tarpaulins, and wood.
Thatched covers would be more common in hot, sunny, and beach-like areas which have an abundance of Palm trees, which is not common to areas evergreens.
The patio covers could be constructed as awnings, canopies, thatched roofs, pergolas. These can be supported on a concrete framework, retractable or fixed, on wooden beams, etc.
The patios can be located at different locations within a house, hence the application of different materials and construction. Patios can be at front yards, courtyards, by a garden, central to buildings, verandas, passages, etc.
In hotter climates the patio cover must be chosen carefully to give the necessary protection from the sun and provide a cool shade by the reflection of the sun’s heat. In cooler climates less attention could be given to the effective reduction of heat. Allowance for more light penetration and absorption of heat could be of greater priority. The color of the patio cover could be made darker with more hue.
Vinyl covers are common where residents could experience low and high temperatures at some point.Awnings provide an option of retraction but could obstruct the aesthetics of a view.
