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A house without a terrace or veranda looks incomplete. In addition, the owner is depriving himself of a place where he can relax on a summer evening. An open terrace can replace a gazebo, and thanks to a closed veranda, less cold enters the house through the doors, plus a useful room is added. If such arguments are convincing to you, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with what kind of terrace there is in a dacha, and also consider options for its design and the procedure for constructing it yourself.
Existing types of terraces
There are many ideas for creating terraces. You can find the simplest extensions and real masterpieces of architectural art. But they are all conditionally divided into two types: open and closed. Let's take a quick look at what they are.
Most often, an open terrace is found in a country house, since such an extension is easier to build and requires less material. The most complex structure is the roof. The wall is shared with the house. Unless you need to install several pillars to hold the roof. The open area is a good place to relax in the summer. Wicker furniture, a sofa, and hammocks are installed under the canopy.
A closed terrace is often called a veranda. It is a complete extension to the house. Despite the fact that the two buildings share one wall, the closed veranda has three more walls of its own.If desired, the roof and walls can be insulated, a heater can be installed inside, and the room can be used even in winter.
The only thing that unites the open and closed veranda is their location. Any of the extensions is a continuation of the house, and is erected from the side of the entrance doors.
Arrangement of the veranda and its design
There is one important requirement for extensions - they must look like a single building with the house. Probably, a chic veranda next to a miserable hut will look stupid and vice versa. It is important for the house and the extension to have the same design so that they harmoniously complement each other. Let's look at a few examples:
- If one material is used for a country house with a terrace, a single architectural style is obtained. It doesn't matter whether it's brick or wood.
- The combination of materials goes well. A wooden terrace attached to a brick house looks aesthetically pleasing.
- Enclosed verandas are often glazed, and an aluminum profile is used for the frame. Its silver color harmonizes perfectly with the brickwork of the house.
- Glazed verandas go well with the facade of the house, lined with modern materials, such as siding.
The terrace is visible immediately upon entering the courtyard, so it is important to pay attention to its interior. In closed verandas, curtains are hung on the windows, furniture and other attributes are installed that emphasize a certain style.
Curtains - as an integral part of the veranda
If you look at the photos of terraces at the dacha, then most places to relax have a common attribute - curtains. This is due to the fact that the owner wants to provide maximum comfort.In addition to beauty, curtains are used to protect from wind and splashing rain. Curtains are made from different materials, which determines their purpose:
- There are many types of fabric curtains, differing in material and design. All these curtains are part of the decoration of the terrace, and can only protect from the sun. Fabric curtains are affordable, come in many colors, and can be easily removed or replaced if necessary. The downside of curtains is the inability to protect against gusts of wind and rain. The fabric quickly becomes dirty from settled dust, so the curtains have to be washed frequently. Next, there is a grueling process of ironing, and in winter they still need to be removed for storage.
- The best option for terraces are transparent curtains made of PVC material. In addition to their decorative function, they are responsible for protecting the interior space of the terrace from precipitation, wind and insects. There are even colored PVC curtains that block the passage of UV rays from the sun. With the onset of cold weather, you can put a heater on the terrace, and the film will prevent heat from escaping from the room. The disadvantage of PVC curtains is that they are not air permeable. However, the issue can be resolved by simple ventilation. When ordering curtains, you only need to provide windows that open with zippers.
There is another type of curtains - protective ones, but they are rarely used for terraces. They are made of tarpaulin. Very durable material will protect from any bad weather, but it is unlikely that anyone will cover their resting place with an awning. It’s uncomfortable to relax under canvas curtains on the terrace at the dacha, and there’s no beauty at all.
Briefly about the construction of terraces
The closed and open country terrace is an extension to the house. Its construction begins with laying the foundation.
The type of foundation is selected taking into account the characteristics of the soil and the weight of the veranda itself. Light wooden terraces are built on a columnar foundation. A concrete strip is poured under the brick walls of the winter veranda. If soil mobility is observed and groundwater is located high, it is advisable to install a pile foundation.
The walls and floor are usually made of wood. The material must first be treated with antifungal impregnation to extend its service life. On open terraces, the role of walls is played by low fences - parapets. They can also be made of wood or use forged elements.
Winter verandas are built from solid walls. Boards, bricks, foam blocks and other similar materials can be used. A prerequisite for a winter veranda is the insulation of all structural elements. Typically, mineral wool is used as thermal insulation.
The roof over the terrace is made flat with a slope of 5O or pitched with a slope of 25O. Any lightweight materials are used for roofing. Transparent roofs look beautiful over the summer area.
It is better to cover the winter veranda with ondulin or corrugated sheeting. In general, the roofing material chosen for the extension is the same as that used on the house. The roof of the veranda is insulated, plus the ceiling is additionally lined.
In the video, do-it-yourself summer veranda:
A terrace attached to the house will be an excellent place to relax in the country if you approach its construction wisely.
