Get ready to get outside
As daylight hours increase and the weather warms up after a long, cold winter, you may be itching to get outside. With the spring season in full swing and summer around the corner, rain and allergy seasons and those pesky bugs will be returning shortly.
Thankfully, there are a few additions you can make to your home that allow you to get outside while protecting you and your furniture from the elements. Plus there’s an added bonus — they will most likely raise the value of your home. Here is a guide to help you find the home addition that fits your lifestyle:
Screened porch: With a screened porch, you’ll get to enjoy all of the fresh air from the comfort of your home. Nothing is better than feeling a summer breeze on your face while taking a nap, or listening to the rain while reading a good book. Because these structures have a roof, this will provide a layer between you and the outdoors. This will keep your furniture dry and bugs out when you simply need some time to relax in the outside air.
Adding non-leaking glass skylights will make the space feel much bigger and brighter, and restore some of the natural light lost inside that part of your home when you added the new roof. Adding two outdoor-rated ceiling fans with light kits will make it usable for many more warm days, and cool evenings. If your budget allows, add a large gas grill and mount a TV out there to watch the big games. It will become a gathering spot for friends and family.
Sunroom: A sunroom is perfect for those who need a healthy dose of vitamin D when the weather is just too hot to spend outdoors during the day and the weather cools in the evening.
Sunrooms are perfect for reading areas, exercise rooms, growing plants and dining spaces, and you’ll never have to worry about using special outdoor furniture. Ditto on adding the skylights and ceiling fans.
To feel closer to nature and get away from your home while still having protection from the sun and rain, add a gazebo to your yard. Gazebos are customizable and can be almost any size. Everybody wants one, and they add market value if they are done right. Whether you’re hanging a swing from it or creating the perfect picnic area, a gazebo is a great place to relax by yourself or bring friends and family together to enjoy fresh air. Be sure to add an outdoor ceiling fan with a light kit on it. I use mine as a place for my doghouse — and find myself out there occasionally when I am “in the doghouse” with my wife!
This article was provided by the GHBA Remodelers Council. For information, contact Lorraine Hart at lorraine@idealconsulting.net. To join the council or to find a professional remodeler in your area, visit www.ghba.org.