Are you building the house for your personal use? Are you planning to live in it and letting out some of the flats? Is the home for commercial purposes? The critical thing here is that the building’s purpose is a significant factor determining its structure.
Technically, covered patios often are an extension of a house. Although pergolas might be extensions as well, unlike covered patios, they can either be attached to the main building or act as a free-standing structure that is separated from the main house.
The objective of this article is to establish the differences between pergolas and covered patios, which are common choices for modern buildings. If you’re thinking about which one to go with, pay close attention to the valuable info in this article.
Differences Between Pergolas and Covered Patios
The two are distinctive in terms of materials. A covered patio is most often attached to the main house. Thus, you have to use wood that will blend the covered patio and the building. But when it comes to pergolas, you have freedom of choice. You may opt for wood, steel, or aluminum, depending on your taste and, of course, your budget.
Thus, pergolas made with steel or aluminum have the edge on the maintenance aspect as you don’t have to work on them often, unlike covered patios.
Pergolas
Pergolas are structures that provide shade to a house. They are erected on the exterior of the home and may either be or not be attached to the main building. Depending on the homeowner’s choice or based on the expert’s recommendations, they can be made of wood or steel.
Although pergolas provide shade to the house, they do not cover 100%. Although they are designed to provide coverage, they feature spaces that allow lights to penetrate in the form of shade.
Pros of Pergolas
- Varieties of design options
Pergolas offer a wide range of options to choose from. All you need to do is conceive what you want, and with the help of a local landscape professional, you can get any pergola design of your choice. You have the liberty to go for a pattern attached to the main building or ditched.
- Pergolas extend your living space
If you plan to extend your living space beyond your living room, bedroom, or another available area in your house interior, then pergolas are for you.
It extends your space beyond the corridor, allowing you to spend more time outside at night. Although it may not guarantee you 100% coverage, it does serve its purpose of giving you light shades.
- Think of entertainment, think pergolas
Just as you design your home interior, you can design your pergola. During the erecting stage, you can discuss with the company or local landscape handler whether to make provision for chandeliers, fans, sound speakers, and light strings to give you a glimpse of a good life on the outside.
Cons of Pergolas
- Space consumption
Before you think of erecting a pergola on your property, you must consider the available land space. Suppose you have limited land space, a pergola, with all its benefits, may not be suitable for you.
You also need space for other things like a garage and garden. So, erecting a pergola may take up all the little available space, thus making the house choky.
- Pergolas increase the cost of maintenance
Pergolas, with all their aesthetics, also have their downside. Since they serve as extensions of your house, you have to include them whenever you are calculating the cost of maintenance.
Besides, a pergola, like any other asset, experiences wear and tear. To keep it in good shape, you have to ensure a provision for maintenance cost.
- It may negatively affect your property value
It may sound surprising, but pergolas can affect your property value negatively. After all, it adds glamor to the house, right? But what if you want to sell the property and your potential buyers disapprove of it?
In case you are buying properties to resell them, you must be wary of your market choice. Some buyers will prefer pure landscaping to pergolas.
Covered Patios
Unlike pergolas, which offer shades, covered patios don’t have space in between the covering, so they provide 100% covering, just like an umbrella. Covered patios are also built on the exterior part of the property and mainly at the main door entrance.
During the day, when the sun is at its peak, and you are confined to your sitting room. But thanks to the covered patios, you can sit outside and enjoy the shade.
Covered patios are made of steel, wood, or a mix of wood and another material, like marble or PVC, for instance.
Pros of Covered Patios
- Protect your furnishings
With a covered patio, you can rest assured that regardless of the weather, all your movables and immovable/moveable properties are protected. It gives you the freedom to leave all your furniture in the back yard or front yard, depending on where the covered patio is located.
- Cost-saving
In the summer, the heat can sometimes be unbearable. If you have an outdoor pool, you’ll appreciate it at that period. But if you don’t have one, don’t freak out; that’s why you have a covered patio.
Covered patios make your home cooler during unbearable heatwaves, which helps minimize the cost of electricity required to keep your A/C units and other gadgets that make the house cool.
- No worries about bad weather
Regardless of the atmospheric weather conditions, you have nothing to worry about, provided you have a covered patio in place. To enjoy it all year round, you should make provision for handing shades to protect the area from unwanted pests.
In addition, discuss with your landscape or exterior designer to make provisions for fire features so that you can also stay outdoors when the weather is a bit chilly.
Cons of Covered Patios
- It consumes space
The only way for you to enjoy a covered patio is when you have enough yard space. There is no point in erecting a covered patio if there isn’t any space left for the kids to play around, or if it prevents you from parking your second car.
So, while you get ample living space by erecting a covered patio, you may be losing space for other necessary outdoor projects.
- Expensive to maintain
Erecting a covered patio is not the main challenge. The real deal is maintaining the structure. Just as you are making provision for your home maintenance, you also have to consider the covered patio because if it is not regularly maintained, it could suffer wear and tear.
Still on cost, the choice of material used for the covered patio will determine the intensity of the maintenance that will be carried out and its frequency. If you choose a wooden-covered patio, you will have to constantly check for leakages due to pest infestation. The moment the wood becomes weak, you have to replace it as quickly as possible.
Should You Choose a Pergola or Covered Patio for Your Yard?
There is no right answer as to which one is better between the two. Your preference is crucial to your decision-making.
Imagine having dinner with your family on a detached pergola that is a few steps away from your home. The moment you feel the first raindrop, it ruins the intimate moment. With that in mind, for someone who loves outdoor family activities, the suitable choice would be a covered patio. This is why you have to evaluate your wants before making a choice.
But when it comes to design and getting reflections, the best option is a pergola. The entire scenery has a way of taking your breath away.
Although a covered patio can be erected off the main building, which is not common because they are mostly attached to the main house structure, it guarantees movement under a protected roof. With a covered patio, you can spend time outside in most weather.
Conclusion
Pergolas and covered patios both allow you to spend more time outside. However, before you decide which one to go for between the two, consider the available space on your land. It will be better to go for landscaping if you have limited free space.
The cost is also determining. You have to consider the cost of maintenance before you jump into action. After erecting either of the two, do wonder, do you have the financial means to maintain and keep the patio or pergola in good shape?
Apart from both structures’ complementary benefits, there is no point in erecting either if you don’t like spending time outdoors.
