4 Things to Consider When Building an Outdoor Patio in South Florida
There are many reasons why one might love South Florida — the beaches, the diverse culture, or perhaps the plethora of unique wildlife and natural scenery. However, no reason could match the utmost aspect of South Florida people enjoy: the famous Florida weather. Our warm, tropical environment is the prime point of envy for many in the northern states and for good reason. For most of the year, South Floridians enjoy clear skies, an ideal temperature, and absolutely no chance of sleet, snow, or hail.
So how can one best appreciate the beautiful Florida weather from the comfort of their home? An outdoor patio, of course! An outdoor patio affords you the outdoor space you need to make the most of your Florida property. With an outdoor patio, one is able to fully bask in the sunshine state’s patented warmth while maintaining a sense of cohesion with the rest of your home’s design; a well-constructed outdoor patio can almost feel like an expansion of your home’s interior, taking the style of your home and naturally blending it with the outdoors. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some of the things to keep in mind before you construct your outdoor patio, as well as some of the characteristics you may want to consider to ensure your patio is as robust and stylish as it can be.
Protecting Against the Elements
Florida’s weather can be as unpredictable as it is beautiful. When looking into constructing a patio in the sunshine state, take care to ensure you’re selecting resilient materials that can withstand the high humidity, intense sunlight, and occasional storm. Consider choosing High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), better known as poly lumber, for your wood-based furniture as it’s designed to resist moisture, fading, warping, cracking, and rotting - making it the perfect addition to a South Florida patio. Not to mention it’s eco-friendly as well as easy to maintain; all one needs to do is use a pressure washer along with a mild soap to keep it looking good as new.
For metal furniture, we recommend opting for either aluminum or stainless steel as both are sturdy and durable - making them perfect for the periodically volatile Florida weather. The downside of metal furniture in an outdoor patio is that they can get quite hot when exposed to direct sunlight for extended periods of time, which will almost certainly occur if you live in the sunshine state. To combat this, purchase cushions or covers to place on your metal furniture to prevent burns when sitting. Additionally, make sure to clean your steel or aluminum furniture often with mild detergent and non-abrasive cleaners so as to avoid scratching or leaving any marks. No sense in replacing grime with a permanent blemish instead!
Photo Credit: Visbeen Architects, Inc.
Of course, when thinking about building an outdoor patio that can resist the intense weather in the sunshine state, one cannot ignore the proverbial elephant in the room: the sun. Above all else, Florida residents can expect an abundant amount of sunlight nearly year-round, meaning an outdoor patio should be able to protect you from the sunlight when you’re not quite in the tanning mood. To this end, we recommend adding a retractable awning to your patio design - the best way to ensure you can always bask in the sunlight when you want to, and you have ample protection when you don’t. Eclipse Awnings offers both unmatched performance and convenience in this regard — with CB3 Premier arms, sealed ball bearings, a heavy-duty torsion bar, and a wide selection of over 150 fade-resistant Sunbrella® fabric options, Eclipse Awnings guarantee an incredible level of sturdiness, UV protection, and stylistic harmony as they seamlessly match the color and theme of your home. Eclipse Awnings are the perfect addition to an outdoor patio in South Florida!
Insect Control & Airflow
While the acclaimed Florida nature is often just as beautiful and relaxing as the tourism brochures say, there are also times when the outdoors in the sunshine state can be — in a word — grating. Two culprits come to mind when a Florida resident thinks of why they may want to stay indoors instead, namely: the bugs and the humidity.
The quickest way for an outdoor patio to lose its appeal is when it’s plagued by bugs. And sure, while you could spray yourself down with insect repellent every time you step into your patio area, this won’t keep the bugs from buzzing around while you attempt to take in the breeze. Not to mention you may also desire a more permanent solution to keeping the bugs at bay. Fortunately, Phantom outdoor retractable screens are the perfect solution for your insect problem; offering excellent protection from creepy-crawlies without sacrificing the design of your patio design, retractable screens are there when you need them and disappear into their aluminum housing when you don’t. Phantom offers specialized Insect Meshes, which are designed from the ground up specifically to keep pests (and, as an added bonus, harmful UV rays) out while letting sunlight and breezes in.
No outdoor patio space is complete without a Phantom motorized retractable screen!
In the same vein, another major issue for outdoor spaces in Florida is the severely high humidity. If coupled with elevated heat, patio spaces in Florida can feel nearly impossible to successfully relax in. This is yet another problem retractable screens can solve. Phantom outdoor screens with Clear Vinyl offer the ability for you to easily control the climate of your outdoor space by providing a more rigid structure against the weather outside. These vinyl panels can reduce the heat and glare by up to 75%, making them the perfect addition to Florida patios — especially during the summer months when the heat just doesn’t quite seem to let up.
Making It Yours: Lighting
While ensuring your patio can withstand whatever Mother Nature can throw at it is all well and good, anyone can agree that what makes a Florida outdoor patio truly great is making it your own; personalizing your patio to match your individual tastes and interests is a crucial step in finalizing your patio plan. Fortunately, there are two great ways to ensure your patio is as unique as you are: the lighting and the landscape.
An often overlooked aspect of a great patio design is the lighting — after all, you’d still like to use your patio even after the sun has set, right? But when it comes to setting up your patio’s lighting, there is a near-overwhelming amount of options to choose from. For instance: will you install the classic hanging string lights, draped over the walls and railings of your patio? Or instead, maybe you will opt for the more subtle pathway lighting, which align with your patio walkways to give them a little more oomph. Not to mention the possibility for adding step lights, floodlights, gooseneck lights, and even motion-sensing lighting. Fortunately, no matter which type of light structures you select, they are bound to spruce up your outdoor patio and give it a bit of personalized pizzazz.
Making It Yours: Landscape
Another important way to make certain your outdoor patio reflects your personal style is the landscaping — or, in other words, the flora. Incorporating unique plant life into your patio is a surefire way to let it stand out amongst your neighbors; whether it’s the colorful bougainvillea vines, the dynamic Bird of Paradise, the sweet-smelling plumeria shrubs, or the distinct bromeliads, there’s truly no shortage of choices when it comes to finding plants of your choosing for you outdoor South Florida patio. However, we recommend choosing plants that are low-maintenance and naturally thrive in warm and humid conditions, such as crotons and hibiscus plants, to minimize the time needed to ensure they grow safely. Or, if you fancy yourself as having a green thumb, consider growing some vegetables in your patio! Cherry tomatoes, various types of peppers, and lettuce grow wonderfully in a Florida garden if you give them the love and attention they need.
In Summary
All in all, there is a multitude of characteristics to consider before you build your outdoor patio — and doubly so if you live in South Florida. Choosing the right materials, making sure it can keep out the heat and bugs, and personalizing it to match your style are all crucial steps you should take in the process of designing your need outdoor patio, but as long as you take the time you need to pick the right patio features for you, we have no doubt your South Florida patio will bring you bountiful joy and relaxation.
If you’re planning an outdoor patio for your South Florida property and are considering an outdoor retractable screen or awning, contact us today for a free estimate! We offer top-quality Phantom outdoor screens with professional installations and an industry-leading lifetime warranty. We would love to make your dream outdoor patio a reality.
