How to Design Patio Covers
It's easier to use outdoor living space if you have a patio cover. A porch-like covering can be made of wood, metal or fabric. A patio cover keeps out excessive sunlight, rain and gusts of wind. Use your outdoor area on more days of the year if you install a patio cover of some type. If your city or country requires a building permit, check with officials for a list of building codes and requirements. Never assume your plan for a patio cover will be acceptable. Have your building permit in hand before you start construction. Invite inspection from authorities at every stage of construction. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Salt-treated lumber
- Exterior fabric
- Sheets of metal
- Pre-made awning
- Stain
- Waterproofing sealer
- Electric screwdriver
- Metal nuts and bolts
Instructions
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Measure the area of your patio you wish to cover. If budget permits, you might order a pre-made factory patio cover. Or, design and build one from scratch. A patio cover should have a support structure that harmonizes with the architecture of your house. Design a roof for the patio cover that extends beyond the framework of the top perimeter by several inches. Corrugated metal painted with exterior paint can work well.
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Make the patio cover in three heights for visual appeal. For example, build one section 10 feet tall. Make another section 9 feet and another 8 feet. Use 8-by-8-inch square wooden posts for supporting your patio cover. Create a framework to support all of the patio roof area and bolt together. Attach wooden framework to a concrete or wooden deck. Use angle iron and bolts as well as nails and screws.
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Install wooden lattice patio roofing in one or two areas. Or, place strips of salt-treated lumber across the top of the patio at one end. This will allow for sunbathing without direct sunlight. It gives the patio area an open and airy feel as well. A patio roof that serves as a shaded area may receive more use by your family than a totally covered area. Staple or nail nylon fabric over a wooden lattice patio cover to provide more sun protection. Cover raw stapled edges of fabric with salt-treated strips of wood.
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Install a solid roof of wood or metal over the grilling area. Ideally, the grill will be a few feet from the wall of your house in case of fire. Design the patio cover with a side wall for storing items in recessed shelves if you do a lot of outdoor cooking. A wooden or metal side wall in the design will help create more stability for your patio cover if it's not attached to your home's roof line.
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Tips & Warnings
It's difficult to align a patio cover you make from scratch with fascia boards already in place on your house. You may wish to make the patio slightly taller or shorter to avoid tapping into an existing roof line. Think in terms of creating separate living spaces in your patio area. Design one area for cooking, another area for eating and other areas for activities or relaxing. Don't destroy the out-of-doors feeling by enclosing too much of the overhead space.
Keep the grilling area away from wooden framework. Flames can easily jump upward and catch a wooden patio framework on fire. Install a fire extinguisher near the grilling area.
