A patio cover can turn your backyard into your very own private sanctuary when you need a little R&R time. However, it can quickly become a place of great stress, too, if your patio covers haven’t been built properly and too many mistakes have been made. Turning your patio into a dream haven can only be done if you get the materials and the design just right. That’s why investing in premium quality patio covers here can be one of the best decisions you ever make. Premium products generally come from service providers who know their stuff, and you can rest easy knowing your patio is in the hands of the experts.
While the experts will certainly do a good job on your patio design and the patio covers you choose, there are some mistakes you could stay away from. Avoiding the following three mistakes, in particular, is how you get the most out of your outdoor experience. After all, if you’re going to be investing quite a bit in your backyard, it should be a place that puts a smile on your face every time you step out onto your back porch.
There’s a reason why they say you should leave your patio covers and design in the hands of the experts. Not all patios are created equal, and if for some reason, one aspect of your patio or your patio cover isn’t constructed properly, that could lead to the risk of damage or leakage when the unpredictable weather strikes. Here are three mistakes you should avoid when you’re working on creating your perfect patio:
- You forget to do your research – The research you do is going to be one of the biggest factors behind a successful outcome in this case. One reason why research is necessary is that you don’t want to end up choosing the wrong construction company or patio cover installer for the job. There are many good companies out there, but there are also a lot of businesses that only care about money rather than customer satisfaction. Before you decide on your preferred patio company installer, you want to spend as much time as possible doing your research. Look at the reviews and recommendations for the companies you shortlist. Does the company you’re thinking of hiring come highly recommended? If you know anyone who has recently installed their patio, talk to them and ask how their experience was. Word of mouth recommendations are always a lot more reliable than the Internet alone, but it doesn’t hurt to read some of the online reviews and feedback from the customers. Once you’ve selected your preferred company, talk to them, and ask as many questions as possible during the consultation process. This will tell you a lot about what the company’s priorities are. Are they all about the money? Or, do they genuinely care about customer satisfaction, too? Do they listen to what your needs are? Or, is the salesperson far too pushy and only interested in making a sale?
- You forget that this is an outdoor space – Although it might seem like your patio will be a direct extension of your home, the truth is that patios are still considered a separate space. Many homeowners make the mistake of treating their patio like their indoor space because they forget that the patio isn’t an extra room. Yes, technically, it does make your home bigger and creates an extra space for you to enjoy, but when you’re furnishing the place, it’s crucial that you still focus on buying outdoor furniture or even water features for your patio. This is still an outdoor space, even if it does have patio covers, and you’ll need to buy furniture that’s specifically designed for the outdoors to avoid dealing with frequent replacements and damages. Indoor furniture isn’t built for the outdoors, even if this outdoor space will be covered. Treat your patio as an outdoor space with a shade over it because that’s what it is.
- You’re not covering your patio entirely – Covering your patio is always a good idea. Some homeowners prefer to shade only part of the patio because they want to enjoy some sense of being outdoors, and they choose a patio cover that only goes partway. While there’s nothing wrong with that, if you’re planning to have furniture in the unshaded areas of the patio, don’t forget that the furniture still needs to be protected. Moving it back and forth between the shaded and not-shaded areas can be a hassle, but the good news is, there’s a solution. If you still want to have only part of your patio cover, then consider investing in a retractable awning as one of your coverage options. This way, you get the best of both worlds. You get to enjoy your sunny days, and still get the shade your furniture needs when the weather starts to get crazy.
Another quick tip to keep in mind is that it’s good to invest in materials like bricks and paving stones when you’re constructing your patio. Bricks and paving stones are fantastic for patio construction, and if it’s done properly, it will save you a lot of money down the road because they don’t need to be replaced as much. A patio that’s well-planned and carefully thought-out is a patio that’s going to last a lifetime. There will be the occasional maintenance and wear and tear involved, but at least, you can keep those moments few and far between.
Another quick mistake to avoid is to try and stay away from overcrowding your patio space. It should still maintain a sense of openness as an outdoor area, and you don’t want an environment that’s too cluttered. That will only make you feel like you’re boxed in and no different from your indoor space then.
