Spending even a few minutes in your backyard can be a boon to your physical and mental health, and increase your overall mood. One way that many people prop up their outdoor space is by introducing patio enclosures.
There are many different benefits to enclosing your patio and many different varieties of enclosures to consider. What types of enclosed patios should you consider for your home? Read on and we’ll walk you through what you need to know.
What is a Patio Enclosure?
Let’s start with the basics of this form of patio design. What are patio covers, or what does a patio enclosure consist of in the broadest sense?
A patio is usually located on the back of a home (not to be confused with a porch!) and is an extension of paved ground that extends from the back of a home. An enclosed patio is when a homeowner takes steps to add screens, walls, drop curtains, or any kind of supporting structure to the patio itself.
Patio enclosures provide shade and protection from the elements for residents of a home as they enjoy their outdoor space. It provides access to the outdoors – the fresh air and breeze – while protecting against some of the more unsavory elements of the experience.
It’s in this way that an enclosed porch differs from a sunroom. With an enclosed porch, you still get the experience of stepping out of your home into the outdoors, with a sunroom, you do not.
Different Types of Patio Enclosures
There are many different ways to enclose a patio space and many different reasons to pick out one design over another. It can be helpful to think about what you desire most out of your patio experience and let this desire guide you toward the best enclosure type for you.
Of course, keeping other factors like budget in mind will be important as you plan out this upgrade to your space.
Patio Screen Enclosure
This is perhaps the most common of all patio enclosures. The main idea behind this version of the upgrade is to allow natural airflow while preventing pests. If you’ve tried to enjoy your outdoor patio space but have been plagued by mosquitos and the like, you can understand why this would be desirable.
Most screen enclosures are made from a very thin aluminum screen mesh material. This makes it easy to still enjoy the views of your backyard area while enjoying the protection that the screen provides.
The screen can also hold back other elements of nature, such as rain. If you enclose your porch, you’ll be putting some sort of roof over it, allowing you to sit outside and watch the rain as it comes down.
Screen patio enclosures are generally quite durable and can hold up well to the elements. They’re also a great way to add value to your home.
These screens can also be installed as part of a larger aluminum frame, providing maximum durability. Some can be made with newer, high-quality materials such as alumawood.
Retractable Enclosure
There are many benefits to having an enclosed patio, but depending on your space, you may feel some reluctance at not being able to fully feel the outdoor environment.
The solution to this issue might be to look into retractable enclosures. These enclosures can provide a bit of a best-of-both-worlds scenario for the average homeowner.
Typically, these enclosures come in the form of frameless panels that move seamlessly along installed tracks. They are easy to manage and use, and fold out into proper enclosed coverage for your patio space.
That means in inclement or colder weather, you can easily create a more stable, enjoyable environment. On a perfect, warm sunny morning, you can keep the enclosure folded up and bask neatly in the sunlight.
This flexibility generally does come with a slighter bigger price tag, but the benefits are undeniable. It’s something worth considering if you want to be able to enjoy both sides of your outdoor space.
Glass Patio Enclosure
Big on natural light? You may want to consider a glass enclosure, which provides amazing access to light year-round. Typically, this type of enclosure is made of glass panels that allow some type of airflow to still enter the area.
That being said, glass patio enclosures are easily customized and can be easily designed to fit your tastes and preferences for this outdoor space.
You can even have a glass roof added to the structure to allow light in from all sides of the enclosure. Typically, these glass spaces can get a bit warm in the summer months if you live in a hot environment. However, depending on your location and the access to direct sunlight it might not be an issue.
Patio Enclosure Ideas For Your Outdoor Space
If you’re thinking of how best to spruce up your outdoor area, you may want to look into including some patio enclosures in your home design. These enclosures are a great way to get the maximum utility out of your outdoor space and to better enjoy what your home has to offer.
The above are just a few of the options available when it comes to this type of design work.
Have more questions about upgrading your home? Looking for an estimate on your dream remodeling project? Give us a call anytime for assistance.
