Summers in Wisconsin are beautiful, it’s Mother Nature’s apology for the brutal winter months she puts us through each year. Whether you’re entertaining friends & family or simply relaxing by yourself, having an outdoor space at home helps you enjoy this time of year that much more. Let’s go over a few of the popular outdoor spaces and the advantages of each.

Decks

Generally speaking you have two options when it comes to decking, wood or composite. Wood decks are typically made of treated lumber that is either stained or painted. Composite decks are made of a combination of wood & plastic materials.

While wood decks will cost significantly less upfront, they will be much more maintenance over the life of the deck. Wood decks will require repainting or staining at least ever few years, whereas composite decks will be essentially maintenance-free. Composite materials will also never rot, so the life of the deck will be extended.

One major advantage to a deck is that is can be constructed at patio door level, even if that is elevated from ground level.

Patios

Patios also come in a variety of materials, concrete and pavers are most common. Concrete can be easily formed & poured into a variety of shapes and styles, often for a significantly lower price than an equivalent paver version. Having your concrete colored or stamped with a design will increase the cost, but will give you a more custom look. Paver patios are much more labor intensive to install, but give more options with patterns and colors.

One major advantage of a patio over other outdoor spaces is the ability to have a fire on it without risking damage to the material. Below is a circular concrete patio featuring an integrated fire pit from one of our past customer’s homes.

Covered Porches

A covered porch gives you the outside breeze and atmosphere with protection from the sun or rain. Installing screen panels makes the space feel more like another and gives you the added benefits of enjoying ta bug-free space!

Of the three outdoor options we talked about in this post, this is the most expensive one. A covered porch is a more extensive project as it ties into the structure of the home, has more materials, and often will require electrical work.

As you can see there are many types of outdoor spaces to help extend your home’s space during the warmer months. The best benefit of all is that you get to spend time outside, regardless of the space you prefer!