Skill Builder Guides & reviews for building and construction
Building a garden veranda is a great idea. Overseeing the project yourself can be empowering, too, giving you a big confidence boost!
Moreover, people are spending more time in their gardens and enjoy staying busy within them.
Building your own garden veranda can add to that feeling, as you can preoccupy yourself with a unique project that will transform your outdoor spaces and help you revel in them for even longer.
These installations are also useful in autumn and winter, even if you suspect you’ll use your garden less.
They can provide you with a sheltered space, protect your outdoor furniture from the bleaker elements, and give you more creative options when decorating your patio areas. So, don’t delay your build for the warmer months.
Keep reading to learn about some of the things you should remember when building a garden veranda.
Get a Design Consultation
It’s best to consult the experts on veranda construction to have them answered. The best will tailor their approach to their customers and counsel you on what your best available options are.
Though a high-quality veranda can be installed in one day by their teams with a 5 year guarantee, Nationwide also offer a free no, obligation design consultation.
They will promptly visit your property, discuss available options with you in detail, and even go through elements of costing to ensure you know where you stand.
Whether you want to part ways after that is up to you, but Nationwide verandas are always tailored to customer needs, so handing the project over to them is understandable.
If you’re only going as far as the design consultation, then make the most of that opportunity. Prepare your questions well in advance, have other visions for a garden veranda as backup, and try to be open to their ideas.
Adhere to Measurement Requirements
Many DIY efforts enable you to get started with little fuss and play by your own rulebook. However, there are definitely a few rules in place that must be adhered to when it comes to verandas.
You can need planning permission for a veranda, but only if you wish to exceed a measurement of 300mm from the ground, a height the raised platform cannot exceed. Other measurements must be taken into consideration too.
The maximum height cannot exceed 4000mm. The maximum depth for a single-story building cannot surpass 4000mm for a detached building or 3000mm for an attached one. The veranda must not cover more ground than necessary and shouldn’t exceed 50% of the land around the house.
Place posts at 2-3 metre intervals in the centre of the tile floor to prevent them from sinking. One should be central to the roof.
You’ll need to use a ground drill and dig a narrow hole 60-80cm deep to secure the posts. Plan to tilt the roof of your veranda at 5 degrees for better drainage. Roof beams should be separated by 1 metre.
For wall beams, allow a slope of at least 10cm per metre, with a recommended minimum standing height of a minimum of 2.20 metres at the front.
Fit the Right Roof
While the frame of a garden veranda can be made of things like wood, it’s generally agreed upon that aluminum is the best material.
However, verandas have different options that all have their own perks, so it’s worth considering their fixture in more detail.
A glass roof can allow for more natural light. It can also help the space beneath the veranda seem larger and give you a beautiful sky to look up to.
There can be a more elegant atmosphere in the patio area. The glass can also be tinted or come with LED integrated lights.
Glass roof verandas may not require much maintenance beyond a regular clean, but it’s best to let a professional install them for safety.
Polycarbonate is highly UV and weather-resistant (withstanding high and low temperatures), impact-resistant and durable, and potentially lasts decades. The 16mm panels are the easiest to fit and seal.
Ensure you install identical edge panels first. Before applying the silicone seal, ensure you degrease the entire edge in advance.
Metal sheets require a similar approach and can also be installed yourself easily. They can be watertight, too, if you take care to overlap each panel.
Once you’ve fitted the identical profile, you can also seal the top edge for an added waterproof measure. Metal sheet panels have sharp edges, so wear gloves to ensure careful handling.
Conclusion
Arranging a design consultation with a reputable professional will detail much more of what you need to know about building a garden veranda.
That said, the important points around regulations, measurements and the ideal materials for your build are covered in this article.
Precision counts for a lot with any building project, so keep researching, consulting, and learning, and you will soon build a veranda you can be proud of.
