Features and options for adding a terrace to the house

Projects of houses with terraces are quite popular. This is the best option - immediately, even before the start of construction, choose a project in which there is such an area for spending time outdoors. But often terraces are attached to the house later. Also learn more about deck contractors. 

What can be done on the terrace, which becomes a continuation of the room to which it adjoins? Yes, almost anything:

• Set up a ping pong machine or table.
• Grill the skewers on the grill or grill.
• Just relax while sitting on a comfortable bench, hanging swing or rocking chair.
• Receive guests at a table set outside.
• Install containers with flowers to decorate the entrance group.
• Set up a hot tub and take a bath.
• Sunbathing and so on.

Yes, unlike the veranda, the terrace is almost always an open area. There is only a roof as protection from rain, snow and direct sunlight, as well as a floor to mark the terrace itself and move comfortably. Even pillars-supports are not always available. It is for this reason that it is not so difficult and costly to attach a terrace to the house.

First you need to decide on which side of the house the terrace will be located. The best option for taking sun and air baths is south and southwest. Enjoy the sunset - west side. East is suitable if you want to provide shade. Northern is rarely used, only in cases where there is no other choice.

In addition, it is important to decide which room the terrace will adjoin. It is convenient if there is an exit from the kitchen to it, in which case there will be no problems with table setting on the street. The exit from the living room is also a good option, the room will literally flow into the fresh air, the recreation area will continue. But most often, in order not to make a second exit from the house, a terrace is made instead of a porch, directly at the location of the entrance group. This is also convenient, for example, you can leave strollers, bicycles and other things at the entrance to the house. Actually, in this case, the terrace becomes a wide porch leading to the house.

If a terrace is attached, it is not always possible to build a roof directly from the house, to make it a continuation of the entire building. In this case, there are two budget and affordable options for everyone:

1. Buy marquise, awning. It's just a canopy made of durable, water-resistant synthetic canvas. It can be retracted into a channel or box, which is arranged on the wall. Such awnings and awnings are now widely represented in building hypermarkets, you can choose the color and the desired size. Or order according to your needs.
2. Stationary pergola with a roof. In this case, fabric can also serve as a roof. Or cellular polycarbonate.

Such a roof for an extension terrace will not cost the owners so much and its installation will take a minimum of time.

The foundation for the terrace can be:

• Shallow-depth tape.
• On bored and columnar piles.
• On steel screw piles. Experts call it the best option.

The plinth can then be overlaid, for example, with decorative concrete blocks. Or paneling. The piles of the foundation are combined with a steel or wooden grillage, a structure of frame-type beams. It will distribute the load on the piles.

For the floor on the attached terrace, it is best to choose:

• Decking, a special terrace board made of WPC, that is, a wood-polymer composite. 
• Thermal wood, that is, corrugated board made of spruce, larch, ash or oak specially treated for outdoor use. Such wood is impregnated, that is, it is impregnated with protective compounds in industrial conditions. It serves for a very long time, but it is advisable to renew the top layer about once every three to five years in order to maintain its original appearance.
• An ordinary board treated with antiseptics.

The steps that will lead to the terrace are made of the same material as the floor. The most budget terrace will look like this:

1. Canopy instead of a roof.
2. Foundation on screw piles.
3. Timber frame.
4. Board floor.

It makes sense to spend money on the construction of a capital terrace only if, over time, it is planned to be converted into a full-fledged room or veranda with walls and glazing.