If you’ve ever had the chance to live in a year-round sunny climate, then you’ve gotten to love using your backyard and patio whenever you want!
Most people, on the other hand, can only use their patio for a portion of the year, until you get patio enclosures came along!
Now, you can enjoy your patio no matter the time of day!
If you decide to get a patio enclosure, there are tons of options, and they depend on your wants and style of home, in addition to the way it was built, as well as the size of the house, and yard.
Enclosing an existing patio will mean decisions will have to be made on how the space will be used, including what season and weather it would be used during.
All things aside, a patio enclosure could create an outdoor space that is both immutable and relaxing, which can greatly be enjoyed more than a patio during normal usage.
In the following article we will review 9 patio enclosures that you must know about. Let’s do this!
1 – Patio Enclosure Screens
When you check out ocean beach homes, and cottages you will find large screened enclosures, commonly used around patio areas.
Screened enclosure allows air to flow and prevents bugs and other annoying little flying things from getting in. Also, you can be outside in the rain.
Most screened patio enclosure installs will use the almost-invisible aluminum screen mesh. It’s very strong compared to fiberglass. Most likely they will have a screened enclosure with an engineered type frame around the screen.
As a reminder this type of patio enclosure can be altered later with glass which would therefore create a patio area that can be utilized more.
2 – Glass enclosures
These enclosed spaces are usually referred to as sunrooms because they bring in lots of natural light, and can be used in all four seasons.
With them being customizable in many ways – the roof type, door type, finishes, etc.
If your living space has an area to go on a patio or deck that is underneath the roof line of the house, you can enclose that patio or deck by framing that room and adding glass.
This way you have the option of climate controlling the enclosure for heating and cooling.
When a patio does not match the roof line of the house, it can be designed and constructed with a glass roof added to create a solarium.
With glass walls and a glass roof, you have a lovely setting for growing specialty plants, and you can even stargaze late at night!
3 – Vinyl enclosures
If you enclose a patio or porch with vinyl you have yourself a dry, protected, and warm area to enjoy time “outside” without the inconvenience of actually being outside.
Enclosures are a fantastic way to enlarge your house into more living area, and if you are handy you can even DIY one yourself.
A number of companies will custom-design your vinyl enclosure, and most will will install it for you too.
There are a few different styles of vinyl enclosures. Lots of them will attach to a frame that is already existing as part of your patio. Other styles come mounted to a frame.
Works Well – you can also get a curtain
type style which has a couple of curtain panels that run on some tracks. This is effective when the wind is blowing, but if it’s raining hard then you are out of luck.
4 – Clear vinyl
If you’re looking for a more temporary (or budget-friendly option) you could enclose your patio with clear vinyl.
This is such a good way to keep enjoying your views but stay warm and dry!
There are many thicknesses of clear vinyl you could buy and be installed in a variety of ways.
5 – Aluminum enclosures
If you want a patio enclosure that won’t entirely break the bank, aluminum might be the best option.
Aluminum comes in plenty of options, you can buy aluminum-framed walls, and if you really want to you can also add a roof?
The aluminum roofs are composed of interlocking panels that are strong and weather resistant.
Most of these enclosures have 3-inch aluminum walls and often have recessed doors. The doors and windows are usually glass or screen.
The maintenance is extremely low and you will never have to paint it.
6 – Acrylic patio enclosures
So, even if glass isn’t in your budget (or is really just going to get knocked down by the kids!) acrylic could be your best buddy.
Those patio enclosures are heavy duty and will keep you safe – even if they break it won’t shatter like glass.
The downside to having an acrylic enclosure is that after time, it will get that yellow tint from the UV rays.
Also, the panels may bow, when there are fluctuations in humidity and temperature. Not to mention it scratches very easily.
And lastly, acrylic needs its own cleaner or it’ll always look streaky.
7 – Retractable enclosures
“With a glass patio enclosure, you can keep the cool air out and be comfortable in the worst weather conditions.
When the weather is nice, the enclosure keeps a lot of heat in.
For the people who want to enjoy their patio in the summer and still get some sun and heat in the winter, then the retractable enclosure for your patio is awesome!
You can have your cake and eat it too of these warm cemented houses.
There are a lot of choices for these enclosure – Some include frameless panels that either slide or fall on to tracks.
This is local, is so much easier type as they do not have to use power to move. Most will have the have a rail on the ground and a rail on the house side or wall.
As you can probably gather – this type of patio enclosure is also the highest price option. We know you are paying more money for many features in the price, like size, design, and mechanism.
8 – Temporary Patio Enclosures
If you’re thinking that you’d like somewhere warm this winter but to not have it when summer rolls around, a temporary patio enclosure is a great option.
These will keep you comfortable and dry when you need to but also will not have you sweat buckets in the summer!
Here is a list of typical temporary enclosures:
- Insulated curtains – the easiest and cheapest option out there with lots of colors and patterns to choose from.
- Drop down panels with either vinyl or cloth paneling on the patio that either needs to be removed for summer or simply rolled up when it is not needed.
- Mosquito curtains to put up in the summer, rolled up for winter (obviously these do not help with thermal in the winter).
- Removable panel screens.
- Vinyl panels can be removed and stored.
9 – Patio enclosures for all year round
You want something that’s not cold in winter and not too hot in summer, then you need a four-season enclosure.
It’s designed to allow you to heat and cool.
They’re the best way to go from the outdoors into your home. Whatever’s happening in the outdoors, the four-season enclosure is ready for you.
You can also expect excellent views, natural light and it will be a permanent addition to your home.
Typically they are built to be square with the home in regards to the outside.
The walls will typically use double-glazed insulated glass like windows and will have some form of ventilation into the walls and roof.
The frames are typically vinyl or aluminum.
You can get doors to the outdoors with these enclosures and will pretty much always have electricity, cooling and heating.
You can even get plumbing if you’re trying to do a bar or sink!
The costs of patio enclosures
In a nutshell, it depends on the design and installation, but basically you’ll pay what you would pay for an addition.
As has been demonstrated in the article there are so many different options from temporary budget enclosures to a permanent plumbed in mini-extensions.
If you were to look for something in between, the average cost would be $70 per square foot.
But with so many options you could pay $200 for a temporary vinyl enclosure or $45,000 for an enclosed high end 4 season patio enclosure.
Types of Patio Enclosures FAQs
Can a sunroom be used all year round?
It depends on where you are but typically, these rooms can be used all year round as many have heating and cooling systems built in.
Why build a patio enclosure?
A patio enclosure can help you make a connection between your home and your backyard.
If the patio enclosure has a direct door access to your backyard, it helps connect the inside and the outside.
With screens or large windows, it can help you create a feel for being sheltered outside rather than being another room inside.
How do you make an enclosed patio feel like an outdoor space?
If you go with a large screen or a window with minimal frame, you’ll feel like you’re in an enclosed outdoor space.
If you can open the screens on nice days, then half the time you’ll feel like you are completely outdoors.
Can you use a glass enclosure when it rains?
Absolutely! Glass enclosures are just as cool in the rain as they are in the sun- if it’s not too cool of course.
There is just something about being dry with rain pounding above your head!
Final thoughts on patio enclosure types
Before you buy that patio enclosure, you’ll probably want to figure out how much cash you’re gonna splash on it.
Once you’ve worked out your budget, you can start to look at your choices.
If budget is not an issue, your best option would be a four-season designed fully-fitted all weather enclosure, but I understand that not everybody is going to want something that elaborate or big.