Your home is not only your sanctuary but also one of the most significant financial investments you can make. According to a study from the National Association of Realtors, the average homeowner stays in a residence for 13 years. During this time, it is supremely common to make upgrades to the home to improve the quality of living but also to increase the home’s value and curb appeal for when it comes time to sell. As a homeowner, it is your job to weigh any home improvement’s costs and benefits, including custom home patios. Today, we will walk you through the basic costs of installing a patio cover and the return on investment you will get for your efforts.
The Initial Investment of Custom Patio Covers
As much as we would love to give you an exact answer to how much custom patio covers cost, that is impossible to generalize since there are so many different factors that affect the final price. However, we can give you some general ideas based on several key factors to get you started.
#1: Size
It is no surprise that the size of your custom patio cover will range, with smaller ones costing less and bigger ones costing more. Forbes reports that the average 7×7 can be as low as $6,400 for a basic model, while the largest, at 24×36, is around $27,400. Most homeowners fall somewhere in the middle, with the average 16×18 patio costing around $16,000.
#2: Material
The next significant factor is material. Patio covers can be made from a variety of materials, each with its own list of pros and cons. For example, vinyl and wood are the cheapest but have higher maintenance costs. At Patio Covers Unlimited, we’ve found that embossed aluminum performs with the highest ROI as it is highly durable and requires little upkeep.
#3: Flooring
Next is what goes on under the patio cover. If you already have a patio set up for your patio cover to sit on, then you have minimal initial cost for this. However, if you want to lay a patio, you will have material and labor costs. Gravel, brick, and pavers are the cheapest options, while concrete is a nice middle ground. Of course, you can always upgrade and choose stone for the highest price.
#4: Add-Ons
Beyond the basic costs of the initial investment, you may choose a variety of add-ons to personalize your custom patio cover and make it more functional for your life. For example, many customers add lighting, fans, screens, and sound systems to create the ultimate entertainment space.
As you can see, an exact answer is impossible to provide without knowing precisely what you desire. This is where requesting a free estimate for your custom patio cover is immensely helpful.
The Added Value of Patio Covers
Looking at the numbers above, you may wonder if custom patio covers are worthwhile. The short answer? Yes! Let us explain a bit more.
The average custom patio cover has a return on investment of about 80%, depending on the quality of craftsmanship and care over time. That means you will make up most of the money you invested when selling your home.
To explain further, the added value that generates that huge ROI is based on a few benefits. To start, we live in an era where one’s home is more than just a house; it can be an office, an entertainment space, a playground, a bar, a gym, and even a retreat. With increased time spent at home, any added square footage of livable space is extremely valuable to current and future homeowners.
Custom patio covers can provide homeowners with extra space without a home extension’s high cost, time, and legality. It adds exponential appeal to the home by creating an open set of possibilities for people to customize to their unique needs.
For example, we’ve seen homeowners use this space as an outdoor entertainment space for dining, drinking, and hosting friends, as well as a second kitchen, a play space for children and pets, a covered area for exercise, and a sanctuary for curling up a with a good book, gardening, or even taking a nap!
All of these activities take place in a space protected from the elements and customized to suit the existing aesthetics of the home. No matter how someone modifies the space, it adds an excellent layer of curb appeal that will up the home’s market value when it comes time to sell.
The Cost of Maintaining Custom Patio Covers
Similar to the initial costs of installing custom patio covers, the cost of maintaining them will depend on the unique elements of the structure. For example, patio covers made of wood require far more upkeep than those made of aluminum, as they will need to be sanded, sealed, and repainted regularly.
Unlike wood patios, the aluminum patio covers we use at Patio Covers Unlimited NW are made from high-quality materials. They are both durable and luxurious in appearance, consisting of high-grade aluminum and embossed with a wood grain texture. Due to the high-quality materials, our homeowners enjoy a maintenance-free patio cover. They will not crack, warp, split, chip, peel, chalk, or fade, even under perpetual wind and UV exposure. Therefore, for the most part, an occasional cleaning is all that is needed.
Additional maintenance costs typically depend on the add-ons one chooses. For example, light bulbs may need to be changed or fan wiring replaced. However, these are infrequent and low costs that don’t amount much in the long run.
Call Patio Covers Unlimited NW for Your Free Estimate
Are you ready to not only improve your home living, but to add value and curb appeal to your home? Get started and transform your outdoor space with a custom patio cover that pays for itself. Contact Patio Covers Unlimited NW today to explore your options and start investing in your home’s future.
