How Much Does It Cost To Enclose A Patio?
Patio space is a highly sought-after feature in many areas of the United States. Homeowners across the country love spending time outside, and the health benefits that come with this relaxing lifestyle make it all the more appealing, as Healthline notes. Enclosing the patio space can make for a year-round amenity that isn't weather dependent or influenced by bugs or other pests. In addition, this transformation makes the exterior components of your living space more comfortable and provides a much greater level of utility.
Depending on the style of your enclosure and the size of the area in question, you can expect to pay roughly $8,112 to $18,748, or about $70 per square foot, on average (via HomeGuide). Likewise, enclosures can be partial or complete, depending on the particular issues you are trying to solve with the renovation. For example, creating privacy and separation might warrant a partial enclosure that can also act as a wind stop. Alternatively, a full enclosure is the best approach for homeowners seeking to create an all-weather outdoor space that isn't affected by rain or snow, mosquitos, or intense heat from direct sunlight.
HomeGuide estimates that the least expensive options out there can cost as little as $180, but for anything beyond a simple and limited solution — which may be perfect for some applications — a more in-depth renovation is warranted.
Factors for cost
A few key features push costs higher (or lower) when considering a patio enclosure. First, of course, labor costs and materials factor heavily in this equation. But a more nuanced approach to the cost breakdown illuminates other areas of focus when considering budget elements.
Framing and roof additions
Constructing a frame to hold together your enclosure is the first step in crafting this new addition to the property. May patios will already use some basic roofing and corner timber features to support the overhead covering. If your patio does, you may not have to add much in the way of additional support — and can therefore skip out on some of the overall costs of the build.
For those who don't already enjoy coverage, this feature is crucial in transforming the patio from a completely outdoor segment of the property to an enclosed and protected space. HomeGuide suggests that this is the most important place to start, either in building or retrofitting the roof and corresponding support structures to make way for an enclosure.
Drainage and gutter features
After creating or shoring up the roof and siding, you'll want to focus on gutters and drainage. Moving water away from areas it can pool in will ensure that your enclosure isn't soaked with standing water over time. Drainage is a core component of any structural design (via The Architect's Diary), and this goes for home segments that aren't completely under the interior roofing cover area.
Installing gutters and ensuring that the new roofing components properly allow for rainwater runoff are key steps in effectively constructing an enclosed patio. The last thing you'll want in this new space is leaking water or a pooling issue above your head that attracts mosquitoes.
Walled elements
The walls of the patio are what give the space its enclosed feel, but you can fabricate an enclosure of this type out of many different materials and incorporate several unique design features. Bankrate notes that many homeowners in southern areas can enjoy a great atmosphere by installing a screened-in porch space. Screens keep bugs out of the semi-interior living space while allowing free airflow into and out of the patio; as a result, they are the easiest option to install and are generally the cheapest.
Walling in your porch with more substantial glass panes or aluminum siding, for instance, will give you better environmental control of the space. But, of course, you can't do much about the external temperature with a screened-in patio. Still, with a true walling off the patio space, you can engage your home's air conditioning system to enjoy year-round patio enjoyment, no matter what the weather is like.
Labor costs
Labor costs feature as a central factor in determining the overall cost. Bankrate reports that labor expenses for the build often make up 20% to 40% of the total expense, making the selection of a contractor to work with you on the project an important decision point. Balancing manageable labor costs alongside quality fabrication is something that all homeowners must grapple with on any project they are hiring a professional to complete.
When enclosing a patio, it's important to speak with prospective contractors about their experience in this particular home improvement space, but also with the materials you are thinking of using for the job. Finding a contractor that you trust and at a price that works for your budget is essential.
Additional costs
In addition to the standard elements that make up an enclosed patio space, you'll need to consider some additional features that can also affect the overall project cost.
Air conditioning and heating
For an enclosure that adds walls to the space, finishing off the change with the inclusion of added air conditioning functions can really make this space a year-round living space. NerdWallet reports that a central air conditioning system can run between $3,000 and $7,000 for installation, including the air conditioning unit. So you can expect to pay substantially less to add this new space to an existing air conditioning circuit. Making this final addition to the space can transform its utility from a seasonal relaxation space to a more versatile inclusion in your home's total package.
Furniture
Of course, adding furniture to the patio is important because it gives you space to sit and relax. However, a bare patio is one that's missing its calling. Many homeowners will simply repurpose existing furniture in the old patio arrangement or from the interior once the enclosure is complete. Whether you're using equipment that you already have or are going to refurbish the space once the work has been completed, taking the potential raise in total expense into account before launching into the project is important for budgetary calculation. How Much Is It notes patio furniture typically ranges from about $400 to $2,000.
Skylights and windows
Many iterations of enclosed patios use window elements to capture the natural lighting while fully protecting the interior from the elements of shifting seasons. Skylights are a great option for a flood of natural light. Forbes Home estimates that a skylight installation will cost an average of $1,750, while HomeAdvisor suggests that standard window installation costs between $300 and $1,200 per window, depending on the build quality and other aspects of the job.
Finishing touches for the floor and doors
The last components of a patio enclosure are the floors and doors. Depending on the type of construction you've selected, a new flooring installation may be the perfect way to amplify the value and comfort of the space. Tiles, vinyl flooring, or exterior decking boards can make the place feel vibrant and new.
However, you might not need to change the tone and construction of the floor, depending on the condition and comfort value of your existing patio floor. This addition is a great option for homeowners enclosing a concrete-floored space, while those transforming an existing decking might opt to skip this alteration. Adding doors to the patio will also help you secure the new quasi-interior area effectively.
Why you need an enclosed patio
Building an enclosed patio gives you several great new features that can make for a totally new experience in your home. In addition, considering this structural change can open up a world of possibilities that start with enhanced privacy.
Enjoy privacy while soaking in the fresh air
One of the easiest advantages of seeing with an enclosed patio is the immediate addition of privacy to the space. Many outdoor home areas are placed in such a way that the furniture, people, and more are clearly visible from the roadway or neighboring yards. This can turn many homeowners off to the idea of spending ample time out in the company of nature and under the potentially watchful eye of neighbors or interested passersby on the road beyond.
Privacy is essential for comfort in all aspects of the home environment, and this addition can provide it easily. Whether considering a screened porch or a glass construction, the augmentation offers a unique segmentation that can make you feel more at ease in your space, ensuring maximum comfort on the patio at all times.
All-year enjoyment is a natural feature
With a patio enclosure, you have the freedom to enjoy the outdoor areas of your home at all stages of the yearly calendar (via Lifestyle Remodeling). Unfortunately, many people struggle to make it out into the fresh air during the winter months because of the extreme chill that descends over the community. Also, summer months in many areas see significant rainfall that can spoil an otherwise great day of outdoor sun and fun.
Enclosing your patio changes the calculation of what your home's outdoor space can do. With this shift, taking in the unique freshness of afternoon rains without enduring a soaking is easy and can be immensely rewarding. The same is true for any other weather features that you enjoy but might want to experience in a limited capacity.
Protection for the space means greater functionality
In addition to framing the outdoor space as a place that can be used all year, the enclosure also protects your furniture and other additions to the area, SafetyCompany notes. This means that you can bring better quality furniture into the exterior components of your home, and you'll even have the option of creating a sheltered entertainment center for use outside on the best days of the year.
Covered and walled-off patio space gives you the aesthetic of outdoor living with the beneficial protection that the interior of your house provides. This best of both worlds feature is a welcome addition to front and backyard patios all across the country, with homeowners finding an ample opportunity to personalize this outdoor space with all the elements of the good life that are simply unavailable in a purely external part of the home environment.
Benefits of enclosing your patio
The benefits of making this change run the gamut. Enclosing a patio gives you greater flexibility throughout the year alongside a number of other great features that can transform the way you experience and use your property.
Resale value augmentation
Any substantial change that you can make to the home will likely add to the property value, and patio enclosures are no exception. Adding walls, roofing elements, and other components to this space can significantly boost the resale value of your property by creating an additional continuous living area in the home (via Patio Enclosures).
Homeowners serve their best interests when they target and execute remodeling projects that highlight favorite parts of their lifestyle that can also improve the property's financial value. Your home is both an investment and a place to relax and enjoy life, and a patio enclosure admirably reflects both of these goals.
Additional living space
Another important aspect of this renovation opportunity is a patio enclosure's added living area. An enclosed patio effectively creates another living room space within the property. Instead of gathering inside the home's communal rooms that may not enjoy great airflow or natural lighting, an enclosed patio can transform the home's energy by crafting a space that's comfortable at all times of the year while also taking advantage of greater natural lighting and airflow. According to Zephyr Thomas Home Improvement, the new square footage of the viable interior living area is a welcome change of pace for many homeowners.
Enhanced relaxation and outdoor living
Outdoor living is something that many homeowners are seeking for their property. Spending time outdoors is great for the mind, body, and soul (via WebMD). Relaxing in the fresh air and natural sunlight is a great way to refocus on what's important in life while recharging in the spare moments. Stress release is crucial to happy and healthy living, and outdoor exposure provides a powerful approach to this need. Outdoor living aligns with better physical and mental wellness, and this alteration to the patio can easily affect that change.