The Home Front: To cover, or not to cover —the patio dilemma
Credit to Author: rebeccakeillor| Date: Sat, 17 Aug 2019 12:09:02 +0000
Sometimes in the height of summer, it’s easy to forget that fall is on the way, and winter right behind it.
At this time of year, people are outside soaking up the sun on their patios, but the question is whether to cover that patio and extend the months of the year you can use it, or opt for a more temporary option like a large umbrella.
Permanent patio coverings can sometimes result in a space that feels damp in the non-summer months, says interior designer Cheryl Broadhead of Vancouver’s Bob’s Your Uncle — or BYU — Design, noting that soffits, or overhangs, can be preferable.
“They offer some protection from the weather, and shading when the sun is high in the sky, so you’re not getting so much thermal intake,” she says.
Broadhead and design partner Nicole Duval recently considered all patio options when designing the multi-family development 50 Electronic Avenue in Port Moody for the Panatch Group. She says the patios in some of the lower units are completely covered, while others on the rooftop have overhangs.
“The size of the decks is something you don’t often get in the Lower Mainland with the price point of real estate,” says Broadhead. They were designed this way, she says, to take advantage of the views, and the project’s proximity the water and parkland.
She notes that in Greater Vancouver, people often leave their patio furniture out year round, so it’s worth investing in furniture that is designed for the outdoors: the rain and cooler temperatures.
Patio materials also need to be protected from the weather, Broadhead adds.
“We try and go with more natural finishes on wood so that they’re easier to maintain.”
Even on small decks and patios, it’s worth investing in plants, she says.
“They can also be a real buffer for the elements. They can buffer the wind, provide some natural shade and privacy between units in a multi unit building.”
There is nothing quite like sitting outside on a rainy day as long as you’re warm and dry, says John Moroz of hardscapes company Belgard. So investing in large umbrellas and pagodas is key.
These coverings will add personality to your outdoor living space, he says, and should be thought of as extensions of your home’s interior.
Patios used to be areas where people just plopped down an outdoor dining set and that was it, says Moroz, but now patio design options are extensive. Porcelain tiles, he says, have become very popular in patio design, and come in such a range of textures and colours, you can either match them to your home’s interior design or contrast them for effect.
“With your patio, you’re really creating another room,” he says.
He says Belgard recently released a line of porcelain pavers inspired by B.C.’s beauty called Galiano Slab, with colours such as Tofino grey (a blend of white cement and charcoal).
“In B.C., the primary colours you see everywhere are greys, charcoals and whites,” he says.
Firepits and fireplaces make patios usable year round Photo: Belgard Group for The Home Front: To cover, or not to cover… the patio dilemma by Rebecca Keillor [PNG Merlin Archive]
Fireplaces in patio design have also grown in popularity in the last few years, says Moroz, and they extend the months of the year you can use these spaces.
Firepits and fireplaces make patios usable year round Photo: Belgard Group for The Home Front: To cover, or not to cover… the patio dilemma by Rebecca Keillor [PNG Merlin Archive]
“You want to have that balance. It’s a cool evening, but you want to have a bit of warmth. Maybe you’ve taken a hike in Stanley Park and when you come back home it’s your little Zen-like space.”