Patio Gazebo Adds Outdoor Space

When the warm months of summer arrive, many homeowners start looking for ways to enlarge and enhance their outdoor living space in order to make the most of the nice weather. By choosing to add a patio gazebo to the exterior of your home, you can create a wonderful, additional living area that adds beauty, value and functionality.

A wonderful and practical gazebo canopy cover over the patio area can serve as the roof for a brand new outdoor living room. Many people take advantage of these shade structures and the protection they provide from the sun and the rain, and fully decorate and furnish their patios with comfortable chairs, couches, tables and patio accessories that make outdoor living a real pleasure.

One of the great things about a patio gazebo that is installed to protect a deck or patio is that it creates a space that is almost like an extra living room and it is a wonderful area for hosting garden or patio parties. There are many people who just feel more relaxed and comfortable when they have a chance to be in a comfortable outside setting with a group of friends, as opposed to mingling in an enclosed indoor space.

gazebos fall into two distinct categories: fixed and retractable. As the name implies, a fixed gazebo does not move and is not adjustable. In most localities, fixed house gazebos also require the proper permits in order for it to be constructed. Once these types of permanent shade structures are in place, there is no flexibility and it is part of your home for good unless you decide to demolish it for some reason.

A permanent outdoor aluminum gazebo for example requires a framed structure, which includes the support poles. These can often cause an obstruction and can interfere with enjoying a full and complete view of the rest of your yard or garden area surrounding the patio. If you have small children who enjoy being active and running around the patio and yard, then the structure can also pose a safety issue, as they usually are placed away from the house at the edges of the patio and children can collide with them while playing.

Because of the lack of flexibility, adjustability and safety concerns, many people prefer to have portable gazebos added to their home. These portable gazebo systems are very flexible and can be adjusted to cover varying portions of the patio. This is helpful for those spring and fall days when you want a bit more sun on the patio to warm the area. However, when the sun is blazing or the rain is falling, you can extend these versatile shade structures for maximum coverage and protection.

The retractable type of patio gazebo will fully retract against the home whenever you want to have full light or in the case of impending storm conditions that might damage the gazebo, if left extended. There are two types of retractable gazebos. The manual type uses a hand crank, and the motorized type utilizes a small motor and a remote electronic control to adjust the settings of the sunshade.