Austin Patio Installation Guide

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Each of Austin's zip codes has its own particular feel, but no matter what your last two numbers are, ATX dwellers love to be outdoors. The Greenbelt is great and Barton Springs is a blast, but when you're not up for trekking through the city, having a place to enjoy the outdoors that's just on the other side of your door is an asset you can really appreciate.

Unfortunately for Austinites, not every season is prime for outdoor living. The sweltering heat of Hill Country summers (based on data collected by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Current Results ranks Austin as the 4th hottest major city in America!) and the surprisingly cold winter months means that many residents spend a lot of the year avoiding their patios. With a little planning design, however, the patio you build will be a lot more comfortable no matter what the season.

Though Austin doesn't see a lot of snow, winter temperatures are often way too low for most folks to enjoy their patio space.

1. 1.Professional Patio Design

   Outdoor additions are some of the most popular projects in the home improvement industry, and the addition of patios and decks are particularly popular with the do-it-yourself crowd. There are some major benefits to having a professional design your patio, though--especially in a place like Austin, Texas!

    

   Sunlight hours, rainwater drainage, proper flooring and awning selection, ventilation, aesthetics, and other considerations will all be taken into account when you have your patio designed by a professional. Additionally, professionals have the first-hand knowledge of what materials give you the longest life and best performance for the most affordable price; they'll also be able to prepare the space for the installation of amenities that you may want in the future like a natural gas grill (connected to your home's gas line rather than to a tank) or a patio misting system.

2. 2.Making the Patio Winter-Friendly

   Though Austin doesn't see a lot of snow, winter temperatures are often way too low for most folks to enjoy their patio space. Here, again, having a professional on the job can be of great benefit. Just about anyone can buy a space heater and flip a switch, but a professional can help you design a patio that will be naturally guarded against harsh winter winds and even help you plan an outdoor stove installation that will give you the freedom to use your patio during the worst Central Texas winters.

3. 3.Keep Patios Cool Without Major Alterations

   Austin winters may be harsh at times, but the summers can be downright brutal! If you want to lower the temperature on your patio by up to 35 degrees, take a tip from the countless restaurants around town that use misting systems to do the job. The technology these machines use to keep customers cool on commercial patios is now available in a super-efficient, compact version known as a misting fan. Austinites are known for being environmentally-friendly folks, and an outdoor cooling system that uses excessive water or energy would probably not fare well among many local homeowners. A quality misting fan, however, will use less water over a period of 6 hours than you'd use in a 6 minute shower (even if that shower is equipped with a high-efficiency head)!

4. 4.Choosing a Patio Professional

   No matter what specific function you want your patio to perform, its design will have a lot to do with the professional you hire for the job. Austin has plenty of excellent service professionals who specialize in creating efficient, inviting, and beautiful outdoor living spaces, but there are always a few duds out there, too. When you're choosing a contractor to create your patio, make sure that you contact and discuss your project with three different companies (at the very least). Though interviewing multiple contractors is not an absolute guarantee that you will choose the very best one for the job, it is a sure way to find out what your options are, what the going rate for your project is, and the approximate project duration.