Terrace enclosure purchasing guide
The terrace enclosure is a must for enjoying your outdoor space when the weather's fine. It offers you effective protection from strong sunlight, gusts of wind and bad weather. It also plays a decorative role by enhancing the style of your outdoor setting. There's a host of reasons for installing an enclosure in your garden. Yet, given the various types of terrace enclosures available, you may find it hard to choose. To help you, discover our terrace enclosure guide article here with all our tips and info on the different models.
How should you go about choosing your terrace enclosure?
It can be a real headache to choose a terrace enclosure. And rightly so as there's something for everyone! So, follow our guide and check out these key criteria.
Your region and its weather
First of all, you should think about choosing the type of structure for your terrace or garden enclosure based on your region's weather.
If you live in an area where there's a lot of wind, it's best to go for a solid model rather than a canvas-covered one, to ensure better resistance.
Materials and style
You should also take the materials used for the structure (PVC, wood, metal, etc.) into account when choosing a garden or terrace enclosure. The choice of material is important as this is what adds style to your enclosure as well as resistance, and of course it will also depend on your budget.
Your garden or terrace enclosure is a space for living in that complements your home and garden. So, it must be in line with your tastes.
Where you want to install it, how you intend to use it
You should also choose based on how you intend to use your garden or terrace enclosure. A terrace enclosure can be a lean-to, foldable, free-standing and/or bioclimatic. Some highly-practical, standalone garden or terrace enclosures can also be folded and unfolded at wish.
A lean-to enclosure or one against a wall is created as a continuity of the façade of a home. A pergola, an arbour, an awning or an enclosure with retractable opening can be used for this type of installation.
Free-standing enclosures also exist that don't need any type of support. They can be set up anywhere on your terrace and in your garden.
Last but not least, the bioclimatic pergola, which can be free-standing or lean-to, that comes equipped with adjustable slats that tailor to changes in the weather. This type of pergola lets you regulate the temperature inside to ensure perfect comfort.
The main types of terrace enclosure available on the market
Awning
Awnings feature a host of assets and are highly-customizable. You can choose the style, the shape and the size that's best suited to your terrace.
An awning is surprisingly-elegant and boasts authentic charm, and can be made from glass, PVC, aluminium, wrought iron, etc. It enables you to enjoy your terrace season-in, season-out. It extends your summer pleasure and can become a garden shed in winter to store your lawnmower, barbecue, bikes, gardening tools and garden furniture.
Its curved roof is like a continuity of your home's roof. The roof structure, which is generally transparent, lets a maximum of light enter in yet protects from the rain.
Pergolas
Pergolas are garden or terrace enclosures that offer you an extra space for living. They're a brilliant solution for having a shaded outdoor area to relax in or to enjoy while soaking up all the sun's goodness.
When days are extremely sunny, this enclosure provides you with protection from the sun's rays and intense heat. Conversely, during rainy seasons, the pergolas offer you a protected outdoor space to enjoy when the weather's really bad. They're also highly-decorative and add extra style to your outdoor space.
Pergolas come in a host of different shapes and finishes, often made of wood or aluminium. A lean-to pergola is an extension on your home's façade and it doesn't require any major work to install. A free-standing pergola, on the other hand, is independent and equipped with four posts that support it on the ground.
Pergolas can have fixed or opening roofs. The bioclimatic models are equipped with adjustable slats that can be moved based on the weather. These slats open to let the sun's ray enter in the winter and can be kept closed in summer to create shade.
Curved or angular terraces with retractable openings
Terrace enclosures with retractable openings enable you to create a new space for living that leans against your home. Their wooden or aluminium structure, occasionally mounted on guide-rails, lets you cover or uncover your terrace in just a few seconds, as such offering you an extension that can be easily tailored to suit the weather.
The retractable modules of these types of enclosure are stackable meaning they offer you maximum opening to the outdoor world. These terrace enclosures also enable you to make the most of your outdoor space season-in, season-out. You'll be protected from bad weather and you can even leave your garden furniture, etc. there without it ever being damaged.
The two main models are curved or angular and can tailor to even the largest outdoor space. The first model is rounded and the second more square-style.
Garden arbours
Garden arbours are havens of peace that protect you from the heat and the sun. And, like pergolas, a wide array of models are available.
Whether they're lean-to or wall-mounted, they'll create an extension for your home, a space that creates a link between your indoor and outdoor realms. They're screw-fixed to the ground and can be completed with curtains.
Arbours are ever-so easy to tailor-design, can be round, rectangular or square and can be made from many different materials, in particular wood and metal (aluminium or wrought iron).
Which materials should you choose for your garden or terrace enclosure?
A wide range of materials can be used to create a terrace or garden enclosure. Each stands out in its own way, with its own style, resistance and price.
Wood
Wooden terrace enclosures are appreciated for their natural and somewhat rustic design. Wood is a material that blends perfectly with any garden and enhances your home's style.
Wood is also highly-resistant to bad weather, provided it's looked after and stained (wood treatment) regularly.
Aluminium
Aluminium enclosures feature many advantages. Aluminium is, first and foremost, light, robust and easy to look after.
It offers a highly up-to-the-minute style and is available in a host of colours. As such, you can customize your garden or terrace enclosure as you please.
PVC
For smaller budgets, PVC models are suitable alternatives. PVC is very affordable to buy and requires very little looking after over the long term.
PVC is also resistant and sustainable and can tailor to many configurations.
Mixing
You can also mix and match materials when creating your garden or terrace enclosure.
Wood, glass and aluminium combinations are the most common. This solution is perfect for ever-so original, one-of-a-kind results.
Which terrace enclosure should you choose that fits into your budget?
Many materials can be used to build a patio shed, just like a garden shed. Each one stands out for its aesthetics, its resistance or its price.
A must-do when choosing to purchase a terrace enclosure is to compare prices to find a model that combines design quality and isn't expensive.
A garden or terrace enclosure can be affordable, but can also require a pretty high budget depending on the finishes you wish.
It's hard to put a price on it as it will be based on the model, materials, the height, the footprint (surface area), etc. Aluminium, for example, is more expensive than wood and PVC, but doesn't need to be looked after as much and is more resistant.
The best thing to do is to go through a professional installer specialized in garden and terrace enclosures instead of trying to assemble a kit model with your own tools. And, to make your project become reality, get quotes and compare your options so you make the right choice.
Use this guide for help to start listing your criteria and your desires for your garden or terrace enclosure project. Studying the various types of enclosure will make this task easier and help you make a well-considered purchase that will take your personal needs into account.
Which terrace shelter to choose based on your budget?
Essential step in choosing to purchase a terrace shelter: comparing prices, to find a model combining design quality and low price.
A garden or terrace shed can be very affordable, but also require a more premium budget, for detailed finishes.
It is therefore difficult to give a price: the latter will depend on the model, the materials, the height, the surface... Aluminum, for example, is more expensive than wood or PVC, but also requires less maintenance and is more resistant.
The ideal is to work with a professional installer, specialized in garden and terrace sheds, rather than assembling a kit model with your own tools. In order to make your project a reality, have quotes made and compare your options to make the right choice.
Use this file to help you start by listing your criteria and desires for your garden shed or terrace project. Studying the different types of shelters will make your choice easier and help you make a thoughtful purchase, which will take your particular needs into account.