The cold, dark, hibernating days are finally ending. It’s time to get some fresh air, and get reacquainted with the Great Outdoors.

 

No need to leave home to do it, however. Adding a patio to your home can transform the backyard into a makeshift getaway – a place to escape, entertain, relax and take it all in.

 

Patios are as fun as they sound. But adding one to your home should be taken with serious consideration. “If you are planning on adding a patio to your backyard, then you need to plan exactly what you want. It should not be different than any other decision you’d make about the inside of your home,” says Jeff Brown, president of J.S. Brown & Co. (www.jsbrowncomany.com). “And it can dramatically affect the overall value.”

 

According to the Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association, there is a sizeable surge in “outdoor living” spaces – the industry is now a $6.2 billion industry, up 5.4 percent from 2002. These spaces entail porches, decks, sunrooms, atriums and concrete patios and more. According to a survey of homebuilders, a patio or deck is one of the top three features most requested in new homes.

 

The HPBA estimates that $150 billion was spent on remodeling in 2005, and one-third of those dollars went to outdoor living areas. The trend is more extensive than a basic wooden deck.

 

There is certainly a lot to think about when adding a patio. Do you want it fully or partially enclosed? Concrete flooring or tiling? What type of windows do you want? Lighting? Furniture? Will you be adding to existing walls or converting existing rooms?

 

“The most important thing is to keep it personal, do something that you will truly enjoy and get great use out of, and something that fits your lifestyle,” Brown says.

 

Building around an outdoor grill is a very popular request. Outdoor kitchens in general are becoming more common, as are furnished seating areas, fireplaces, pizza ovens and elaborate water features. Because of these additions, backyards are evolving into sanctuaries.

 

 

“What I’ve especially noticed is that if it’s a sunroom or a screened-in patio people are adding, that the addition isn’t just about that one room. They are adding some attachment that enhances the landscape beauty as well. We are seeing more paver stones, fire pits, luxurious settings for grilling. Kitchens are the central hub for entertaining in the home, and people are taking that outside,” says Bryce Jacob, vice president of Dave Fox Remodeling (www.davefox.com).

 

“It is a living space that shares the benefits of both indoor and outdoor living,” adds Arvo Pikkarainen, who owns Finlandscape, Inc. (www.finlandscape.com) in Pataskala. “Patios should fit the outdoor lifestyle with beauty and elegance.”

 

Perhaps because a patio is “away-from-it-all,” you’ll be willing to take a few more risks. But it’s important to stay somewhat consistent with the rest of your house. “You have to take the building process into consideration and deal with someone who will install something that looks like it’s always been there,” Brown suggests. “If it looks like an addition, it will probably not sell as well or look as good.”

 

That shouldn’t be a problem these days. Patios can be custom-built to fit your home’s exterior, whether that’s brick, stone, stucco or wood. Don’t be afraid to consider the upgrade to your backyard as a true investment, and opt for authentic stone or slate materials, or even cobblestone.

“This isn’t just bricks and stones, people are tying these areas in to their landscaping and there is connectivity with the rest of the home. They’re asking how to make the exterior of their home as luxurious as the inside,” Jacob says.

 

Additionally, it’s important to keep in mind weather elements while choosing your outdoor living area. “Being exposed to sun, wind and rain, these factors need to be minimized or maximized to make this space as comfortable as possible,” Pikkarainen says.

For example, an addition with southwest exposure will need to have a reduction of heat and wind exposure, which can be done by adding knee walls, gable ends or blinds. Pikkarainen adds that shade trees or pergolas provide summer shade, and evergreen trees provide a wind break during the winter, as well as more privacy.

If your addition faces the northwest side, it is important to gain more light by adding skylights and larger windows, and to exclude shade trees.

Positioning was one of the biggest factors for Mark and Patsy Callahan when they decided to have a patio built on the back of their new Truberry Group home in The Glen.

“You have to take into consideration how the sun rises and sets and where your patio is in relation because you want to be outside enjoying it as much as you can, but you won’t enjoy it if you’re baking in the sun in the summer,” Patsy says.

For the couple, including a patio was done without question. “Based on our previous homes, we realized the importance of having this space. As soon as spring starts, we’ll be out there through the fall,” Patsy says. “It is a big added living area for us, and it is money well spent because we will use it so much – relaxing, watching the kids play in the yard, entertaining friends.”

 

In addition to positioning the patio compatibly with the sunlight, Patsy also said size, lighting and materials were big factors. “At our old house, we just had one light on our patio and it would get really dark. So we wanted to make sure it was done right this time,” she says. They now have pendant lighting installed in the patio’s ceiling.

They also have furniture, including a loveseat, a couple of chairs and a coffee table. But space isn’t too compromised, so the Callahans can add to their patio if need be.

“You have to make sure there is enough space to entertain, to have a grill and things like that. We want it to be an open, comfortable, living room-type of atmosphere,” Patsy says.

These days, that’s the point. It is suggested by most builders to stay consistent with the existing furnishing and finishing style of the rest of the house.

“You want an area where it’s tranquil and where you can relax. But it’s a critical piece and it needs to complement the house. You want to look at it and see that it belongs, not to say this is much nicer than the rest of my home,” Jacob says.

The architecture should be integrated, there should be easy traffic flow and since you’re out there enjoying the backyard view anyway, perhaps you should contemplate an upgrade in landscaping. Why have a social and immaculate patio if you have nothing to look at?

“Professional landscaping will improve outdoor views and create a garden atmosphere for the outdoor living area. Adding sculptures, water features or unique landscape plans can add exciting elements,” says Pikkarainen.

With a new patio installation, options abound. You can enjoy your view from sunroom wall systems, conservatory glass, insulated glass, translucent panels and much more. Or you can just opt for basic screens and openness. The Callahans went for simplicity.

“We have a covered patio that is open, and that is supported by Cedar posts. The beams match the front of the house, so it’s all integrated and it looks like it’s supposed to be there. It really adds to the architecture but not in a busy way,” Patsy says.

And it is exactly what the couple was looking for. “We will be comfortable there and be able to do what we want to do. It is a very important part of our home. I’m looking forward to being out there all the time,” Patsy says.

Patios add to the quality of life for most, according to Brown. “Fire pits, surround sound systems, grills, we’ve seen all kinds of requests. We did a two-story patio that included a chess set built in, with 2-foot pieces,” Brown says. “People want to enjoy their backyards. They want to spend time out there with their family and bring friends over. That’s how they live and it’s what they like to do.”

Alicia Kelso is editor of Luxury Living Magazine.