Wondering about the cost of adding a covered patio? A covered patio not only enhances your outdoor living but also provides valuable benefits like reducing sunlight, protecting furniture, and lowering energy bills. Whether you choose a DIY approach or hire a professional, understanding the factors influencing the cost is crucial for a year-round enjoyable space. Let’s delve into the details of how much it costs to build a covered patio.
The Average Cost of Different Types of Patio Covers
Creating a covered patio involves various options and considerations. Begin by determining the size of the patio cover, considering your preferences for coverage. Whether you opt for a partial or full patio cover, the costs are influenced by material choices, labor, and unique design features. Estimating the cost of a patio roof can be challenging due to the significant variations in covered patio costs. Let’s delve into the average costs associated with different types of patio covers.
Temporary Patio Cover Costs:
When it comes to budget-friendly choices, temporary patio covers like umbrellas, shade sails, and awnings take the lead. Ideal for tenants or homeowners not seeking permanent structures, these options provide a cost-effective way to enhance outdoor spaces. Temporary coverings are particularly appealing to those on a tight budget who want to maximize their space while saving for more permanent solutions. Explore the economical possibilities of temporary patio covers to make the most of your outdoor areas.
Here are a few short-term possibilities, their typical price, and each option’s benefits and drawbacks.
1- Retractable Awnings: Shading with Style
Enhance your outdoor living with the versatility of retractable awnings. These awnings, affixed to your house and extending over windows or doors, provide shade both indoors and outdoors. Whether manually operated or motorized, retractable awnings come in standard sizes or can be customized to suit your needs.
- Manual vs. Motorized: Manual retractable awnings typically cost around $500, while motorized versions can range up to $3,500.
- Size and Features: Larger awnings with additional features come at a higher cost. Consider features like waterproof fabric, phone app controls, weather sensors, and integrated lighting and heating options.
Explore the world of retractable awnings to combine functionality with style in your outdoor space.
2- Shade Sails: Stylish Sun Protection
Elevate your outdoor aesthetic with shade sails, canvas constructions in triangular or rectangular shapes anchored at points. Affordable and versatile, shade sails come in various sizes, ranging from $20 to $200, depending on dimensions and materials.
- Shape and Cost: Triangular or rectangular, shade sails offer stylish sun protection at an affordable cost, ranging from $20 to $200.
- Installation Considerations: Ensure each corner of the sail touches your patio, and if needed, add posts for support. Look for features like reinforced grommets, waterproof and UV-protected fabric, and integrated hardware.
Discover the charm of shade sails, blending functionality with a touch of elegance for your outdoor space.
3- Umbrella Patio: Simple Elegance for Limited Spaces
For a cost-effective solution to cover smaller areas, turn to the classic umbrella patio. Offering temporary cover for dining tables or seating spaces, these umbrellas come in various sizes and price ranges. A small table umbrella may cost around $50, while a larger, side-mounted, rotating umbrella could go up to $900.
- Affordability: Umbrellas provide an inexpensive option for limited area coverage, with prices ranging from $50 for small table umbrellas to $900 for large, rotating options.
- Essential Base: Don’t forget to invest in a stable base to keep your umbrella in place. Numerous patio umbrella bases and stands are available in the market.
- Additional Features: Explore umbrellas with extra features like solar-powered illumination, motorized operation, and UV-protected fabric.
Simple yet elegant, the umbrella patio is a versatile choice for those seeking a budget-friendly and stylish shade solution.
Permanent Patio Cover Costs:
For most permanent patio covers, you’ll need to employ a competent contractor to build it and potentially an architect to design it. You may also get a DIY sheet metal kit and erect it yourself. Lip Ford, on the other hand, believes that ‘tacking a flat metal roof on the home is like tossing money into the wind.’ Furthermore, he stated that they are heated in southern climes and will not retain the snow load in northern areas of the country.
Here are some examples of permanent coverings and their usual costs.
1- Pergola Paradise: Crafting Elegance in Your Outdoor Space
Transform your outdoor space into a haven of elegance with a pergola. Featuring straight pillars supporting cross beams, a pergola can be positioned to create a lattice, providing some shade. Some homeowners utilize it to support vining plants, enhancing the shadow and creating a natural setting.
- Versatile Design: Pergolas can be adjusted to any size, either freestanding to designate seating or dining areas or attached to the home for full patio coverage.
- Material Options: Crafted from wood or plastic, pergolas offer a versatile and stylish addition to your outdoor area.
- Cost Range: Aluminum pergolas start at around $350, with costs varying based on the extent of patio covers.
Explore the beauty and versatility of pergolas, adding a touch of sophistication to your outdoor living.
2- Gazebo Grandeur: Creating Open-Air Elegance
Elevate your outdoor experience with a gazebo, a roofed structure with open sides designed in hexagonal or octagonal shapes. Unlike pergolas, gazebos are freestanding and not attached to the house. When positioned over a patio, a gazebo provides a distinct space for dining or entertaining, offering protection from sun and rain.
- Design and Function: Gazebos feature an open design with a roof, providing a unique space for dining or entertaining. Options to enclose sides with lattice or curtains offer increased seclusion and protection from the elements.
- Materials and Cost: Typically constructed with cloth and steel, gazebos come in various sizes, catering to different needs. Prices range from approximately $150 to over $2000, depending on size and sturdiness.
Experience open-air elegance with a gazebo, offering a versatile and stylish addition to your outdoor living.
3- Enclosed Roof: Seamless Integration for Lasting Value
For a seamless blend with your home, an enclosed roof stands out as the pinnacle of value and durability. This design, tailored to fit your home, not only offers the best return on investment but also ensures longevity. Opting for a gabled roof patio cover, the average homeowner may incur costs ranging from $2,200 to $18,900, emphasizing the increased expense of tying the patio cover to the house roof.
Explore the enduring value of an enclosed roof, harmonizing with your home for an investment that lasts.
4- Awnings: Affordable Shade Solutions for Your Patio
Achieve instant shade for your outdoor space with the addition of an awning. These versatile coverings come at an affordable price, ranging from $100 to $200, depending on size. For a more comprehensive solution covering a patio, a larger fully built awning can cost around $450.
- Affordability: Awnings provide a cost-effective option for adding a covered section to your outdoor space, with prices ranging from $100 to $200.
- Versatile Options: Depending on your needs, choose from a variety of sizes, making awnings a flexible and adaptable choice for patio shade.
Discover the budget-friendly and convenient shade solutions offered by awnings, enhancing your outdoor comfort with style.
How Much Would a Covered Patio Cost Using Do-It-Yourself Supplies?
Find out the costs of and the types of materials that are typically used to construct covered patios.
- Stainless Steel Sheet:
- Practical material, but check for a protective zinc covering to prevent rust.
- Market price: $15 to $18 per square foot.
- Cost may vary based on location.
- Copper Sheet:
- Ideal for patio coverings as it doesn’t rust.
- Higher cost: $21 to $25 per square foot.
- Suitable for those prioritizing durability.
- Aluminum Sheet:
- Inexpensive and functional, popular for patio roofs.
- Average market price: Approximately $11 per square foot.
- Requires little upkeep and is cost-effective for repairs.
- Wood Lattice:
- Adds a distinct aspect to a wood-textured home.
- Average price: Around $30 per square foot.
- Requires maintenance to prevent wood decay, splintering, and flaking.
Consider the material options for a covered patio, keeping in mind both the initial costs and long-term maintenance requirements.
Conclusion:
Now equipped with a precise understanding of covered patio costs, the method you choose plays a crucial role. Considerations like construction permits, especially in certain regions, may slightly elevate costs for permanent covers connected to the house. Whether your patio boasts straight edges or unique curves, tailored coverings enhance aesthetics and functionality.
According to Lip Ford, embracing diverse roof shapes, even differing from the slab, can contribute to visual appeal. The addition of planters can complement curved or kidney-shaped patios, showcasing flexibility in design.
In essence, covered patios not only elevate aesthetics but also offer a respite from summer heat, provide shelter, safeguard patio furniture, and amplify the joy of outdoor living.
