Three Types of Outdoor Structures

Outdoor events like cooking, dining, swimming, lounging, watching TV or movies, or playing video games, are a breeze, so to speak, in an individually designed and constructed pavilion, gazebo, or pergola.

The choice of outdoor structures depends on your geographical location and climate. Dry, desert climates lean towards open-sided pavilions and open-roofed pergolas. Tropical, humid climates typically lean towards window screens and a water-resistant roof. 

A quality-built outdoor structure enriches your family life. It also adds value to your property. The more permanent an outdoor structure is, the more value it adds to your home. 

Victorian inspired gazebos can serve as as site for weddings, a romantic dinner for two, and more. If mosquitos or bugs are an issue, you can add screens to your gazebo. Gazebos can be built at ground level with a stone, tile, or a hardwood floor. They can also be raised up a step or two. Gazebo roofs are often topped with a weather vane, or a small cupola. In addition, filigree railings, latticework and spindles, are often characteristics of a gazebo. 

There are also a number of outdoor structures such as arbors and arches that are commonly used in gardens, often covered with climbing roses, ivy, or grape vines. They can be used as entrances to the garden, or serve as covered walkways either through the garden, or as a passage from one space to the next. Pergolas are often used in this way as well, and can also serve to join one building to the next with a cool, shady conjunction.

As long as there is warm, summer weather, there is demand for exterior structures such as pergolas, pavilions, and gazebos to make outdoor life more pleasant.

If you have a swimming pool in your yard, you might also consider a pavilion or structure adjoining the pool area to provide some shade from the sun. 

Casual furniture, TVs, video consoles, sound systems, fans and also misters are amenities that can be added to your shade structure. Board games and playing cards, and a snack bar with a fridge for drinks and a microwave for popcorn and other snacks will do a lot to keep the teenagers around, and a breezy, outdoor room might be just the type of space the kids will take over for the summer. Even without a pool, an outdoor room can provide the entire family with a comfortable place to gather in the dog days of summer. 

On the other hand, a casually appointed outdoor room might be a perfect escape for the homeowners, stocked with books, movies, and comfy, overstuffed furniture.