What's the Difference Between a Verandah and a Patio

Across Australia and beyond, it is common for homeowners to spend time outdoors enjoying the brilliant warmth of the sun and fresh air blowing in a gentle breeze. Spending time outdoors can make you feel relaxed and rejuvenated, and you may find yourself wishing that you had a better outdoor space to relax in or even to entertain family and friends.

A great idea is to start a home improvement project to add a new patio or verandah to your home. While these two features sound similar, there are actually several key differences. With closer inspection of these differences, you may discover that one of these outdoor living areas is preferred by you over the other.

How a Porch is Different From a Verandah

Before you can decide with certainty whether a patio or a verandah is a better option for your home, it is important to consider how these two features are different from each other. A porch generally is an open-air feature that butts up against the home. It often is located in the front of the home in an area close to your just adjacent to the front entryway.

Often, it is covered, but it is not typically enclosed. A veranda generally wraps around the perimeter of the home. While some may be located only along one exterior wall of the home, it is more common to find a verandah wrapping around two, three or even all four sides of a home.

It typically is covered with the same roofing material as the home is. This type of feature may be more likely to be screened in, but it is also common for it to be enclosed in part by a railing.

Factors to Consider When Deciding Which Is Best for Your Home

There are several things to consider when you are trying to decide which option is best for your home. For example, you need to take a closer look at the exterior layout or design of your home as well as the space available in the yard surrounding your home.

Think about how the exterior of your home's look would change if you were to add a covered patio or to the front entryway or if you were to install a wraparound veranda along the entire length of one or more sides of your home. This will change the side look of your home as well as the roof line. It will also impact the landscaping in your yard. Because a porch is generally smaller in size than a verandah, a porch is often a more affordable option.

However, you may find that the value added by both of these features may be almost entirely recouped by an increase in the property value. This is because both of these types of features are desired by many home buyers, and this can make your home more desirable when you choose to sell it in the future.

Situations When One Option is Preferred Over Another

There are certain situations when you may discover that one of these options is preferred over the other one. A porch, for example, may be an ideal way to improve your front curb appeal and to dress up the exterior of your home in a functional way.

It can improve some landscaping issues by taking over a portion of your front yard. It can also give you a comfortable place to sit while in the front yard watching the kids play with friends. A verandah may be better suited for homes that have a flat or rather flat one, but this may not be as ideal for homes with many corners and angles in the exterior of the home.

It also may be ideal if you do not have a fence along the side of your yard or if you have expansive views that you want to enjoy from all multiple angles.

Other Types of Outdoor Living Areas to Consider

In addition these types of outdoor living areas that you can add to your home, there are also a few other options available. For example, a balcony is one idea. This is an elevated patio space that is typically enclosed by a railing. In some cases, a balcony may have stair steps leading down to a lower level. This is preferred if you have great views from the upper level of your home.

A deck is also an option to consider. This is typically installed in the rear of the home, and it may be made out of wood or composite wood-like materials. Typically, a deck is lower to the ground, but it may also have multiple levels. This type of feature may also have a railing, steps and even built-in bench seating.

How to Get Started With Your Home Improvement Project

Before you can decide what's the difference between a Verandah and a Patio, or another type of outdoor living area on your property, you may be ready to take the first steps and to get your project started. These spaces are ideal for use almost year-round, so you may be excited to start spending more time outdoors on your new space.

A great first step to take is to speak with a design professional at Rite Price Roofing. The team at Rite Price Roofing can help you to design and install a new outdoor living space that perfectly suits your needs and that has a design that enhances your home. Through a consultation, you can learn more about some of the ideas that are best suited for the style and layout of your home, and you can receive a competitive quote for all aspects of the installation.

Many people who already have a patio or a verandah installed on their property will state that this is one of their favourite places to spend their free time. This can indeed be a treasured addition to your space as well as an addition that adds value.

If you are interested in learning more about the design ideas and the cost to complete your project, call the team at Rite Price Roofing today at (08) 8261 3941.