How do you budget for a patio cover?

Summer’s gone, yes, but… That doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy your outdoors. On the contrary! Perhaps you’ve thought about installing a patio cover ? Then you also ask yourself the fateful question: what’s the price?
price
. In this article, we explain how to define and evaluate your budget for a beautiful covered terrace.

What is a patio cover?

The first thing to do is to be sure of what you’re looking for! There are many different ways to cover your outdoor space. However, with a patio cover, you can enjoy your patio all year round. So, what’s it all about?

From the simplest to the most sophisticated: the pergola

One of the best-known ways of covering a terrace is with a
pergola
. The roof protects you from UV rays and rain. But you’re still outside. A pergola is by definition an open structure, unlike a veranda.

Now imagine: you want to protect yourself from the wind, ward off your invasive neighbor’s gaze or simply drink your tea in the warmth. In this case, you’ll probably want to add walls to the simple pergola. Installing sliding glass doors is the ideal way to enjoy the outdoors, without the inconvenience. What are the consequences of this addition? Well done, the budget is increasing! In this case, it may be more advantageous to turn to apatio enclosure.

The most complete: the terrace enclosure

When we talk about apatio enclosure, we’re also talking about what’s known as a ” cold veranda “. Unlike conventional verandas, which are a real extension of your home, the cold veranda not only covers your terrace, but also lets you stay outside while enjoying the comfort of an interior! Retractable, the cold conservatory opens at roof and sidewall level. This means you can open and close your patio enclosure as you wish, depending on weather conditions. Now that we know exactly what it involves, let’s see how much it costs.

Four key criteria to assess your budget

Structure type

The first question you need to ask yourself is the structure of your veranda. Two solutions are available: the traditional veranda and the retractable veranda. The first is a genuine new build, which will require major work, particularly on the foundations. The second, on the other hand, involves installing sliding rails on your existing slab to open and close it as required, and attaching the structure to your facade, without undertaking any major construction work.

Desired dimensions

Also, the cost of the shelter will depend on the exact surface it will protect: your entire terrace or just part of it? You might want to cover your garden furniture for autumn tea, for example, while leaving your dining table in the open air.

The larger the shelter, the less it will cost per square meter. This is one of the reasons why many restaurateurs opt for the cold veranda to offer their customers the possibility of dining on the terrace.

To give you an idea, a pergola costs between 300 and 500 euros per^m2. A traditional veranda, on the other hand, costs the same as a house per^m2. Between the two is the terrace shelter, which costs between 1,000 and 1,500 euros per^m2.

Selected materials

It goes without saying that the budget also depends on the choice of materials for the structure of the patio enclosure. Above all, you need to think about the durability of the materials. This will reduce your maintenance costs.

Aluminum is often recommended for the structure of patio enclosures, because of its high strength. It’s an expensive material, but aluminum profiles have an unlimited lifespan and are easy to maintain. It’s also a good insulator.

The same is true of wood. Slightly less expensive than aluminum, it is nevertheless more difficult to maintain, not least because it is more prone to certain insects that make a feast of it! What’s more, wood and humidity don’t mix…

Finally, PVC is the least expensive option, but this material deteriorates more quickly because it is sensitive to climatic conditions.

Desired options

Your telescopic patio enclosure can be made entirely to measure! What’s more, a host of options are available to make it your cozy, comfortable little space.

For example, you have the option ofintegrating blinds into the glazing, installing various types of lighting or even an automatic opening system. It is also possible to install heating or air conditioning. Of course, all these factors will weigh on your budget. So make sure you do your homework.

Conclusion

To conclude, building a patio enclosure certainly represents a budget, but it’s generally customizable. All its components must be carefully thought out in order to correctly evaluate the price of your patio enclosure.

What’s more, patio enclosures offer great possibilities: more customers in your restaurant, the creation of a pleasant winter garden or a perfect place to enjoy the sun when outside temperatures are low…

For further information, please contact our specialists. We’ll design your project to your exact specifications and provide you with a free estimate. This will give you a precise idea of the budget you need for your patio enclosure.