Steel Patios Provide the Ultimate Outdoor Space

People who love to spend time in the outdoors know how important it is to have a space that provides a place to rest in the shade. Adding a beautiful and relaxing area to the property will add market value to the home. Achieve it easily by installing a steel patio.

Steel structures require little maintenance, allowing owners to spend the time saved in enjoying the comfort of their structure. Offering privacy and protection from the sun or rain, the structures can be freestanding or attached, giving unlimited options for placement. The structures can be customized to fit in with the area. Unlimited styles allow for size and color choices to blend in and enhance the look of the home without worry for years to come.

Protection, privacy and shelter can easily be added to any home with the installation of a steel patio, veranda or carport. Display a unique style and combine a patio with a veranda and enjoy the practicality of your space. Designs can be customized to cover wide spans. The addition will still look graceful and streamlined, yet the structure will remain stable even if the design calls for the removal of intermediate posts. Choose a roof design that best compliments the surrounding property, picking from roof pitch, colors, styles and even post thickness.

A steel patio gives the best of all worlds. The additions add value to the home at an affordable price. Low maintenance allows the property owner more time to be able to relax in the comfort of the structure. The beauty of the area is enhanced with the design that highlights the home and property.

Enjoy a Shady Retreat with a New Verandah

During the mild temperature months, many homeowners wonder how they can improve their home's energy efficiency while at the same time enjoying the pleasures of the crisp weather and fresh air. One way to do this is to have a verandah built along the garage or back of the home. By creating this outdoor retreat, a homeowner can take a "staycation" this fall right in their own back yard.

 Energy Efficiency 

 Because a verandah is like an extension to the home, it offers a shady escape without the need to run the air conditioner. The roof of the structure helps to decrease the amount of sunshine that gets into the house, which can boost the home's energy efficiency. As a result, homeowners could see their electricity bills decrease by a significant amount of money.

A Place for Rest and Relaxation

A verandah is the perfect place for rest and relaxation without having to get into the car and drive somewhere. A quiet morning with a cup of coffee or tea and some good reading material is all that a person needs to enjoy a slower pace of life. The new area will be an obvious place for company to congregate as well. Evening cocktails while watching the sunset and striking up a lively conversation will be the highlight of the weekend.

Verandahs have a long history in the architecture of homes around the world. From the hot, arid climes of Australia to the plantations of colonial times in America, homeowners included these spaces as a way to extend their living space without the expense of adding an additional room. This wisdom holds true even today as homeowners seek to improve the aesthetic and monetary value of their homes.

3 Add-Ons that Increase the Value of Your Home

Your home is your most prized asset.

It's where you spend time with your family, where you relax on the weekends, and where you eat, shower and sleep.  It provides all the amenities your family needs to live a productive, happy life.

For these reasons and for another reason we'll get to in a second, it's important to make the most of your home.  With add-on structures that provide entertainment, comfort and aesthetic appeal, your home lives up to its true potential.  It provides everything you need it to provide, plus more.  It's a place to sleep and eat, but also a place to enjoy.

In addition to improving your family's lifestyle with various additions, you also improve the monetary value of your home.  This is important for re-selling and investment purposes.  Much like how investing in a reputable stock or trade improves your personal monetary worth, investing in your home increases its resell value.  Because of your impressive home, your land becomes a highly desirable piece of real estate.

If you're confused where to start adding things, we've listed three of the most popular home add-ons people invest in everyday to increase home enjoyment and worth.

Deck or Patio

A deck is perfect if you have a house that is two stories or greater.  Adding a deck to your second or third floor gives you and your family the opportunity to enjoy the outdoor weather in the comfort of your home.  You're not technically "in" your home, but you get the point.  There are many things that a deck affords including outdoor parties, grilling, sunbathing and sun-drenched reading.

The patio achieves the same purpose of the deck, only it's no supported by beams.  It's makes complete contact with the ground and is good for one-story homes and houses with yard space to spare.  A built-in fire pit and patio roof or awning are accessories that give a patio an additional element of value.

Swimming Pool

Our natural attraction to water makes this add-on the most popular.  There are two types of pools – aboveground and underground – that appeal to families with different yard spaces and budgets.  Aboveground pools tend to be circular in shape and exposed while underground pools take many forms and are concealed.  The former are less expensive than the latter and, although exposed, can be equipped with a pool deck.

When it comes to pools, underground pools add the most value to your home. If you want a pool but can't afford an underground, it's wise to wait until you can.  They are more visually impressive and more valuable.

Gable Roof or Awning

As previously mentioned, these can be added to your patio, but they can also be added to any outdoor space or structure: the outside of your home, guest houses, horse stables and more. Roofs and awnings provide sources of shade from the hot sun and also cover from rainy days.  They allow you to enjoy the grandeur of nature while not being directly under her skies.  If implemented appropriately, these add-ons can contribute a significant source of comfort and value to your home.

Find the Perfect fit with a Combination Roof Carport Design

Carports are a convenient and stylish way to add more living area to a home. A combination roof carport is one of the best designs because it offers two different types of spaces: one area will have a flat roof that can shade the side of the house and protect a car from the hot sun or rain; the other area can have a gabled roof for a stylish appearance and more height. Carports make for a good patio and entertainment area, or a place to park a caravan or boat. The structure can also be freestanding or attached to the home, for greater convenience.

A structure that combines a flat and a gabled roof adds interest to the appearance of the home and also increases in resale value. The colour, roof pitch and size can be customised to suit any unique requirements. Some of the options and accessories available include the following:

• Insulated Roofing- Insulated roofing is an all-in-one product that is energy efficient, durable, hygienic, fire retardant, aesthetically pleasing and easy to install. It comes in several colours, such as pale green, grey and sand.

• Skylights- Skylights are a good way to provide natural illumination over work tables or in a carport where there is no electric light. While the carport is used to shade the house from direct sunlight, a skylight can be placed near a window to allow natural light into the house. Carport designs include transparent or tinted roof panels when shade is not necessary, but protection from wind and rain is.

• Customisable Colour- Twenty available colours can be powder-coated to roofing sheets, beams, brackets, gutters and posts. There is a shade to complement any home or create a contrast for a designer look and colours can be mixed and matched, as well.

Combination carport designs are suitable to use for everything from storage to vehicle protection. Part of the structure can be enclosed to store items and the other part left open for parking a car or boat. With a combination roof carport, homeowners can have the space that they need for everything. Check out the colour and design options today!

Top 4 Factors to Consider When Adding Shade Awnings to Your Residence

Awnings have been used by homeowners for centuries and as a way to enjoy the outdoors, protect a structure or enhance an existing patio, they offer many benefits to a home. Our awnings come with many options and features to suit the needs of any family. There are many factors to take into consideration when planning the installation of a new shade awning:

Function

The first factor to consider is what function the shade awning will provide. Will it be used to protect the patio, offer relief from the outdoor heat, provide a sheltered area for children and pets, or something else? Our awnings are perfect for all of these functions and more.

Local Weather Patterns

Consider what type of local weather conditions impact the area around your home. Our shade awnings are resistant to many weather conditions, including moderate winds, rain and intense sunshine.

Colour

Our awnings come in many colours to coordinate with the style of any type of home. Even if the homeowner's association requires that certain guidelines be met, our structures can accommodate nearly any need.

Freestanding or Attached

We offer both freestanding and attached awnings for residential use. This means that areas that are in need of shade that are not directly adjacent to the home are just as eligible for coverage by one of our awnings.

Adding shade awnings to your residence extends your living space for a fraction of the cost of building a permanent addition to the structure. The new outdoor space can be used throughout the year for a variety of gatherings, making it a cost-effective way to fill the need for an additional family or entertainment area.