Increasing Trend: Outdoor Living Spaces
As homeowners are choosing to stay in their current homes longer, the trend to create outdoor living spaces is increasing substantially. When compared to moving or building an addition, creating outdoor living space is a less expensive way to add square footage and increase the resale value of your house. Plus with Central Texas getting over 300 days of sunshine each year, it is a safe bet that an outdoor space will be used frequently.
The options for outdoor living are extensive, but can usually be categorized into 3 general areas:
Before jumping into the creation of an outdoor space, there are a few things to consider:
How are you going to use the space?
Some of the most popular outdoor living space functions include:
- Entertaining
- Cooking/Grilling
- Relaxation
- Playing
- Gardening
Determining the functions that are most important to you will help determine layout, what features to include, materials to use, need for electrical outlets and proximity to indoor rooms.
Do you plan to use the space year-round or seasonally?
Understanding when you want to use the space will also drive potential features, such as:
- Covered versus Non-Covered
- Hot summer months: Fans and misters are great ideas
- Cold winter days: Fire places and/or fire pits are wonderful features
- Lighting: This is another important element that can extend the enjoyment of your outdoor space to the evenings of any season
No matter what style or features you choose for your outdoor living space, quality of materials is very important in order to extend the lifespan of your new living area. So when bidding the project out to general contractors, the lowest bid is not always the best choice. You want to make sure that any materials used have the following characteristics:
- Can hold up to UV rays
- Waterproof
- Can handle extreme temperatures
When we talk about materials, we are not just talking about the obvious items like stone, lights, wood, sinks, and grills. We are also thinking of adhesives, grout, tile, etc. Nothing is worse than creating a beautiful patio only to find out that the grout breaks down under extreme temperatures.
The possibilities are endless for outdoor living spaces. With some upfront planning and partnering with a general contractor that you trust, an outdoor living space can be enjoyed for years to come.
To see more photos of outdoor living spaces, check out http://duarteconstruct.com.
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