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 Many
people are enjoying peace, tranquility and pure comfort this summer in spite of
the high temperatures here in Houston. Covered patios are making it
possible for homeowners to relax outside without feeling like the heat is
sucking the life out of them. These special patios are often built as
add-ons to the house and operate much like an outdoor room without walls.
They can also be built as standalone structures just like gazebos and
pergolas.
They also require
more than a simple covering to shield them from the sun. A solid roof or
decorative awning should be used to create an acceptable level of shade and
protect the patio from rain. Fans and misters should be installed to keep
a cool breeze on the occupants at all times. Misters and fans are
relatively inexpensive and easy to install. Getting the structure itself
built right, however, requires some genuine landscape
architecture skills and the ability to interface with multiple layers of
contractors.
Here in Houston, covered
patios attached to a home are an excellent way to add tax free equity to the
value of a house. Texas law prohibits taxing any addition to a standing
house. You continue to pay the same taxes you have always paid on your
house, but you are now paying on a house with a new outdoor living room that
increases home curb appeal through its blend of outdoor freedom and indoor
comfort.

Move past the stereotype of a crude roof that simply shades a slab of
concrete. In many public places in Houston, covered patios often look this
way because they are cost effective and practical. They are added to a
restaurant or bar so people can eat, drink, or smoke outside. Because
people move in and out of establishments and often do not sit on the patios for
hours, these structures can afford to be very simple and plain in their
design.
However, when Exterior Worlds adds an outdoor room
to a house in Houston, covered patios rank among some of the most sophisticated
structures we create. Awnings can be automated to retract on cooler
evenings in the fall when people want an open view of the sky. Cost
effective climate controls can be added, along with a lighting system that can
be operated with controls and dimmers.
Other features can
also be built into the patio area that accommodate eating, drinking, and
entertainment. Some people want an outdoor kitchen built on one side of
the patio. Others may want an outdoor bar. Some even want
televisions and stereos installed so they can watch movies, listen to music, and
even dance around the patio.
In addition to
developing landscaping designs, Exterior Worlds acts as general contractor of landscape
architecture services in Houston. Covered patios must be built in
relationship to the home and the yard, so they often feature many unique designs
that may require specialists to complete. It is easier for the homeowner
to let Exterior Worlds determine which contractors should be brought in on the
project and interface with only the landscape designer as the single point of
contact.
This prevents
surprise invoices and prevents miscommunications that can cause a collaborative
effort to grind to a halt and fall apart. Supervision of the team is
something that we handle to ensure that the designs we develop for the homeowner
take shape as intended.
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