Outdoor Patio Covers

Outdoor ceilings whether they are solid, open beam or lath, add an extra special feel of a cozy area to enjoy with family and friends.

Patio covers are built many times to provide outdoor shade.  What we need to consider is the angle of the sun’s rays in the heat of the day during the warmer months of the year.  We may offset the cover from the obvious location to accommodate this factor.

Another consideration to keep in mind if installing a patio cover is if it will block light coming into the home.  A patio cover attached to the home can create significant shade inside the windows of the home. If this is undesirable, one alternative is to build a free standing patio cover that is set off the home.

Materials used for patio covers are usually wood.  Sometimes a rough hewn rustic look is desired. We use a high grade wood free of heart wood.  Typically we use wood types of Western Fir, California Redwood and Red Cedar. If the structure is to be painted, we can use an industrial paint sealer and then paint the cover with several coats of the homes trim color or sometimes just a traditional white.  Synthetic plastic and aluminum materials are available, but unless we are building in a fire zone, we like to use natural materials for their warmth and integrity. Many times we will build structures that are dressed up with columns of stucco, brick or stone.  Sometimes we use cast concrete columns that veneer a steel post system.

Patio covers come in other shapes too.  We’ve built long narrow ones that are supported by just two posts.  These are great to screen a neighbor’s home or provide shade for a bench.  Other times we have constructed patio covers that are more like awnings than covers.  We’ve designed arbors around existing trees that end up like square donut shapes that are really interesting.

The design possibilities are endless.  We have built round covers, solid covers, angled covers, multi level covers and pitched roof covers.  What really counts is that the structure integrates with the home’s style, the new garden shape, and your personal landscape requests and requirements.

Trellises, Arbors and Gazebos not only make your gardens more inviting but also serve as major architectural elements in your overall landscape design.

There are many benefits to placing a patio cover in you garden, the first being shade. An overhead structure can diffuse the sun’s glare and convert a sun baked area into a cool oasis.  It can also add visual interest. A well placed structure can create a focal point in your garden. Additionally, it can enhance privacy – especially when homes are built close together, a strategically placed arbor provides a measure of privacy.

As with any building or construction project, planning is one of the most important steps. In addition to developing a design that fulfills your needs, there are a number of factors, as in legal (HOA) restrictions, and code requirements, that must be taken into consideration.

Torrey Pines Landscape Company has the expertise to handle any over-head structure additions from the design, through permitting and construction, to completion. Visit our portfolio to see completed projects in Rancho Santa Fe, La Jolla, Del Mar and San Diego.