Neither a veranda nor a terrace is an indispensable part of the house. And not all summer residents are eager to tinker with them. However, let's remember these pleasant additions to the building's design. It is easier to build a recreation area together with the house, designing everything at the same time. But it can also be attached to an existing building.
Which one is more convenient, or cozy, or better? In this article we will look at the difference between a terrace and a veranda, what pros and cons they have, and the features of their construction and arrangement.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN A VERANDA AND A TERRACE
The difference between a veranda and a terrace is fundamental: a terrace is an open space, and a veranda is a closed, glazed space. Both options have their own advantages and differences.
The veranda is easier to protect from mosquitoes and midges; it is warmer and drier here in bad weather. But on the terrace you can breathe more freely, which is especially important on hot days. And gatherings with barbecue there are somehow more appropriate than in an enclosed space.
So, if you have a large plot of land and sufficient funds, you can combine them - equip, say, a bathhouse with a veranda, and a house with a terrace. Or vice versa. In addition, an open terrace under a light roof can be an excellent addition to a classic summer kitchen.
Advice! If you want to increase your building's square footage, adding a deck is a better choice than completely remodeling your home. As for the terrace, adding it to a house or bathhouse is even easier.
The design of both structures begins with a drawing. Here it is especially important to correctly calculate the area of the recreational zone. To freely accommodate, for example, 6 people, you need at least 7.5 square meters. m. If you invite guests, take into account their number, and not just the number of family members who are constantly at the dacha.
Remember that the most economical shape of verandas and terraces is rectangular. Pretentious structures do not exist without a lot of waste, and it is difficult to install a roof on them.
Modern, contemporary
A couple of areas where functionality and practicality of the furnishings are a common thread. Modern architecture is combined with a homely, cozy atmosphere. Modern designs allow the use of not only natural finishing materials, but also their imitations.
DEVELOPMENT OF TERRACES AND VERANDA
If you like to relax on the terrace, there should be durable furniture that is not afraid of bad weather. If get-togethers are rare, buy a folding set. Naturally, upholstered furniture is inappropriate on the terrace, but if you find it hard on chairs made of wicker or rattan, then they can be supplemented with cute cushions.
There are no special requirements for furniture for the veranda. It is allowed to bring here even decrepit, tattered chairs from the city. But it’s more pleasant to keep a set of garden furniture, which, if desired, you can take out into the yard and sit there.
If the recreation area is forced to “look at the neighbors,” it is much calmer on the veranda than on the terrace. In addition, since the veranda is an enclosed space, there is less risk that things left on it will be stolen. This is a good place to make dates: lower the curtains and no one will see you. In addition, the veranda provides better protection from bad weather.
The terrace is the best option for barbecue lovers. Make a fireproof coating on it. Then you can place a portable kebab maker in close proximity to the eaters. Or, if barbecuing is your passion, even install a stationary option. You can’t put a smokehouse on the veranda either, but it would be appropriate on the terrace.
In addition, it should be remembered that the terrace is cheaper and easier to manufacture. This means that success is more likely with independent construction. If you hire a team, the builders will take less money from you.
Important! In general, the terrace expands the outdoor recreation area of the house. And the veranda is an additional room that increases the usable area of the building.
Construction Features
The construction of any building or structure is a labor-intensive process. It is necessary to approach this matter responsibly. An ordinary extension to a house or a site next to it must comply with norms and standards. Further, the article discusses the main features of the construction of the above structures.
You may be interested in information on how to properly build a closed gazebo for your summer cottage.
Verandas
In this article, you have already learned that there are two types of verandas. Before starting construction work, you need to decide whether the room will be glazed or not. In the case of a closed type, it is worth thinking about heating and insulating the walls. It is recommended to plan the structure in advance to lay a solid foundation for the entire building.
- The most popular materials for constructing verandas are brick and wood. They have a number of positive characteristics:
- strength;
- good thermal insulation;
- wide selection on the building materials market, etc.
If you decide to attach a veranda to a finished house, then pay attention to ensuring that the exterior decoration of the house or cottage matches the entire building. The design must fit harmoniously into the overall design of the structure.
Important! If you are adding a veranda to a finished house, then you need to deepen the foundation by at least 30 cm to avoid distortion of the structure.
Terraces
The construction of a terrace also has its own characteristics, since this structure can be located next to the home, away from it or on the roof. The site is built with or without a foundation. There are no windows in this seating area. The structure comes with or without a roof. The canopy should be attached to support posts that are installed on the surface of the site.
Most often, the fencing of the site is a railing or half-wall. It all depends on the wishes of the owner himself. The materials used to build the structure are the same as those used in the construction of conventional buildings (brick, wood, metal, foam blocks, etc.). Precipitation can easily enter the site, so the wood must be moisture-resistant (for example: oak, spruce or pine boards coated with a protective composition).
WHICH SIDE IS IT BETTER TO POSITION
It doesn’t matter whether it’s a terrace or a veranda - there are principles that are the same for their location and arrangement. If you do not take this into account, you can be very upset later. So, if possible, place your resting place near the south wall. If the layout does not allow it, choose the west or east sides (by the way, what do you admire more often - the sunrise or the sunset?). But not the north!
During construction, it will be useful to take into account the direction of prevailing winds. This is necessary to protect the terrace from cold and snow. The windward side is the worst. Choose a leeward one, which will cover the house with its “back” from drafts.
Think about what the view will be like from the veranda: from here it’s nice to admire the blooming garden, or watch your offspring play on the playground. But orientation towards the street and the neighbor's yard is undesirable.
Rustic, Provence, country
For lovers of the rustic style, you can offer country, Provence, rustic - styles that transfer you to a simple country atmosphere. Bold and lively country, lavender Provence, rough rustic - all of them are based on a preference for wood, forged elements, rustic paraphernalia and natural textiles. Provence is the most delicate of the presented directions; the rustic style is rough and brutal. The country direction occupies an intermediate position in terms of dynamics in interior solutions.
HOW TO DECORATE THE OUTSIDE
How to decorate a recreation area? Decorate with live plants. It is appropriate to make a border of flowering shrubs around the terrace, and plant flower beds under the windows of the veranda. Add a hedge or pergola to keep prying eyes out.
Vases and pots with flowers, tub plants or dwarf trees. All this will give the veranda or terrace comfort and set the mood for relaxation. Just don't overdo it! After all, an unnecessary pile of branches and leaves takes up a lot of space and is therefore annoying.
Lighting can also become an interesting, elegant and extraordinary element of decor. Hang outdoor lamps that fit into the overall style. If you like to “get twilight” in the evenings, eye-catching spot lighting in the garden will come in handy.
It would be nice to surround the terrace with a fence. If the height of its decking is a meter or more above the ground, the fence is vital for security purposes. But even with a low floor it will be beneficial. It will protect from the wind, curious neighbors and decorate the entire structure. The variety of fence designs is great - from a wooden lattice - a pergola with plants (vegetables or flowering ones), to a forged miracle with dragons.
Baroque
A luxury style that demands space and sophistication. Colors of chocolate, burgundy and greenery, finished with marble and parquet. Baroque is characterized by smooth lines - no sharp corners when choosing furniture.
WHAT YOU NEED TO PROVIDE
When designing a terrace, you will have to consider that it is still an open space. This means that rain can flood the flooring. A roof and protective fences are good, but they will not protect the veranda from dampness one hundred percent.
Consequently, the floorboards must be fitted loosely together, with a gap of a millimeter or two. Let the water flow freely under the floor, where drainage is needed to allow moisture to flow out from under the house. And under the floor of the terrace, the space is made open, this is important for ventilation.
Despite the illusory light and “airy” design of the veranda, it must have a good foundation. The easiest and most popular way is to make it from brick pillars. They are placed at the corners of the frame, and if the length of the building greatly exceeds its width, then the intermediate load-bearing posts are strengthened in a similar way.
Bottom line! So will there be a clear conclusion about what is better for a summer house, a terrace or a veranda? But it won't happen. After all, each site is individual. If the veranda were always better, then no one would build terraces (or vice versa). You will have to decide for yourself based on your needs and preferences. The main thing is that your vacation is comfortable and enjoyable.
More articles about construction and renovation:
- Repair of a country house: major or cosmetic?
- Individual housing construction, what is it, its intended purpose
- Preserving your house for the winter, is it worth it?
- Rustic style will help you plunge into Russian traditions
- Roofing types, classification, materials
- Interior design of a relaxation room in a bathhouse: the best styles and recommendations
- Tips: how to make a sauna correctly - stages of construction
- Choosing a construction company for the construction of a country house
- Sphere, dome - who will buy it? Spherical houses: what is it, how and why
Eco style
Natural materials dominate in decoration and furniture. Brick is selected, ceilings and flooring must be made of wood. Brick fencing posts are one of the characteristic features of an eco-style terrace. They also prefer textiles made from linen, cotton, and other natural fabrics.
The evolution of the pergola
The pergola occupies a special place among other elements of a suburban area. Initially, it had a purely decorative function and was widely used in landscape design. But now the options for using pergolas have expanded significantly.
A classic pergola is an arched lightweight structure consisting of vertical supports connected at the top by crossbars. As a rule, pergolas were a kind of “corridor” from the house to the garden.
In landscape design they are used for:
- Supports for climbing plants, such as grapes;
- Space zoning;
- Hiding certain areas from prying eyes;
- Decorations.
