One of the easiest and cheapest ways to extend the usable area of your home and add value to it at the same time is to add on a gable patio. What is a gable patio? It is one of the many styles of patio coverings and may be the ideal solution for your new patio.

Styles of Patio Coverings

There are two basic types of patio coverings, detached and attached:

• Detached: these are patios that are free-standing. Two of the more popular styles of detached patio coverings are gazebos and pergolas. Each of these has its advantages and disadvantages. A gazebo usually has a fairly complex, turreted or domed roof that is fully covered while a pergola has a series of horizontal rafters placed perpendicular to the ground. The main disadvantage of a gazebo is that the multi-faceted roof structure makes it a relatively hard to build and therefore expensive structure. Pergolas are less expensive to build, but because the rafters are not covered, offer no protection from the rain and only partial sun protection.
  
  
• Attached: these patios are connected to the home. Two common types of attached patio coverings are awnings and carport or "lean-to" covers. Awnings are great for covering smaller areas, like entrances, but are not really patio coverings in the true sense of the word. Carport style patio covers can cover a fairly large area, but because of their flat surface, are not always as attractive as other styles, especially if you need to cover a large area.

The Gable Patio: An Ideal Solution

Gable patios are an ideal solution for both detached and attached patio covers. Gables are sometimes referred to as "peaked roofs" because they form a peak at the apex of an inverted "V". This style of covering has many advantages over gazebos and flat style coverings. It is far more pleasing to the eye than a flat roof and its peaked construction makes water run-off far more manageable than it is on other roofing styles.

An attached gable patio has a more spacious feel than a flat, angled carport or lean-to patio. The peak or highest part of the covering is located at the end of the covering, giving you a greater field of vision where you want it the most. In contrast, the lowest part of a carport is exactly where you don't want it to be.

A gable patio needn't cost more than a simpler patio style and will almost certainly be less expensive than a gazebo. Today, gable patios come in kits. Everything is pre-cut and ready for installation. The fastening systems and support structures are so advanced, you will be hard-pressed to find any visible screws or bolts and the need for horizontal beams has been eliminated.

A gable patio has many advantages, but may or may not be appropriate for your needs. The best way to find out what style of patio covering suits your individual lifestyle and budget is to contact a patio contractor in your area and get professional advice.