A terrace to a house is an extension that should preferably be planned at the construction stage. But it can always be attached to an already finished building. The main thing is to take into account all the requirements of the technology and think through all the nuances.

Terrace to the house - why did it appear?

At all times, people from different countries have had to take shelter from weather surprises. The midday heat or sudden rain could ruin the mood or force the celebration to be moved indoors. The terrace made it possible to decorate the house with live plants and not depend on the weather. After all, in a cozy courtyard under a canopy or the roof of a terrace attached to the house, the scorching sun or rain are equally not scary.

The use of such shelters has been known since ancient Rome. Back then, the courtyards were beautifully decorated with flowers and fountains under picturesque pergolas. Spain and Australia did not stand aside. Their terraces cannot be confused with others. The first ones are necessarily laid out in mosaics with many flowers in tubs on the ground and walls. The second ones are paved with terracotta tiles with a fountain in the middle and a huge number of decorative elements. Here you can find everything: from flowers to trees and from amphorae to fruit vases.

Terraces attached to the house and their difference from verandas

They represent any flooring made on a prepared base. The extension of the terrace to the house is done at the floor level of the first floor. It has no walls, but only a low balustrade, which has a rather decorative and restrictive function.

As for the canopy, the open terrace to the house may not have one at all or cover only part of its area. Construction options are acceptable when the roof is erected over the entire site attached to a private house.

The veranda is essentially an enclosed terrace. That is, the same building, only with walls that protect from wind and rain. In fact, it becomes an unheated room attached to the dacha. But it plays the same role: it welcomes guests and relaxes.

How to choose a place to build a terrace for your house?

If it combines the functions of a veranda or porch, it should be attached to the side of the house where the front door is located. Then the terrace can also become a porch and a relaxation area (it all depends on the size of the extension).

Sometimes you can see a house with a terrace and veranda. Then the latter ends up in the place of the porch, and the first is built along the wall that borders the kitchen or dining room. Then they need to be provided with direct access to an open area for ease of movement.

The option of placing the terrace along several walls of the dacha is not excluded. Then it smoothly flows from the porch into the relaxation area or barbecue. Sometimes the terrace even covers the entire perimeter of a private house.

How to make a terrace for a house: size and material

If it is only a platform that replaces a porch, it should allow two adults to pass each other. This will require a width of 120 cm.

For a terrace on which a table for six will be placed, you will need to allocate a space of 4 square meters. After all, in addition to the table, there will be chairs with other pieces of furniture. When you want to leave enough space to move past the table and place a garden sofa, then the area of ​​the terrace should not be less than 7 and a half square meters.

The question of the shape that a terrace in a wooden house will have depends on the canopy or roof. And they most often have straight lines. Therefore, the floor of the terrace is square or rectangular. But it may not be all covered from above. Therefore, the boundaries of the site can be made in a completely arbitrary shape. Here there are broken lines or rounded ones, which are dictated by the architecture of the house or the landscape of the site.

The style of the house also determines the material that will be indispensable in the design of the extension. So, near a brick house, a wooden terrace with brick or stone columns will look harmonious. Only wood can be used to make a terrace attached to a wooden house. But the glazed extension is universal, that is, it will be combined with both a wooden dacha and a brick house or stone estate. For the last two options, you can choose a terrace with forged elements.

To make terrace flooring, you can use a special board. In addition, the following floor design options are acceptable:

• concrete or asphalt surface;
• paving or clinker slabs;
• gravel or natural stone;
• rubber tile.

Country house with a terrace: should the two buildings be connected?

Immediately after the construction of a house, natural processes occur that lead to the building sagging. The amount of shrinkage gradually becomes smaller and soon stops. Since the house and the terrace have different weights, the amount and rate of shrinkage will be different. If they are tightly coupled, this will lead to the destruction of one of the buildings.

Typically, a one-story house with a terrace is built on separate foundations. Moreover, the depth and strength of the foundation for them can differ significantly. To make the structures look like a single whole, they are fastened using dilatation sutures. This way it is possible to achieve a free displacement of the terrace relative to the dacha.

How to build a terrace for a house: the issue of foundation

You need to start by laying it to an amount greater than the freezing depth of the soil. This will avoid unexpected movement of the terrace after the spring melting of ice.

Since the extension consists mainly of a deck and a few supports for the canopy, a simple columnar foundation will support it. It can be made of concrete. To do this, you need to dig a hole to the required depth. Pour a cushion into it from the following layers: crushed stone, sand, gravel. It is necessary to make formwork from the boards in the shape of the foundation pillars and fill them with concrete mixture. If necessary, these pillars can be built up using brickwork. During the construction of the foundation, do not forget about the reinforcement of all surfaces.

Now all that remains is to lay the frame for the open flooring on this foundation. Lay the floor and install fences. If there is a canopy over the terrace, then vertical supports will need to be secured to the frame.

An important element of a country house is a separate room that offers views of the garden, forest, river, etc. This is a veranda. The veranda can serve as a living room, winter garden, dining room, or office. Its main purpose is to serve as a transitional link between the surrounding nature and the interior of the house. How to place a veranda relative to the house will be discussed in this article.

Veranda location

It is important to choose a location for the veranda so that it offers a beautiful view. You should not face the veranda towards the street or the border with the neighboring plot, towards fences or outbuildings. If the plot is small and it is surrounded by neighbors’ houses, then you can plant trees in front of the windows of the veranda so that greenery can be seen instead of other people’s walls.

When choosing a place for a veranda, it is worth considering the location of the house relative to parts of the world. South and southwest are suitable for those who love the sun. A winter garden can be placed here. The southeast direction will make it pleasant to be on the veranda in the morning; in the afternoon there will be shade and coolness. With a western-facing veranda, you can watch sunsets; it will be nice to sit here in the evening, have dinner, or receive guests. North and northwest for the veranda are good if it is used only on hot summer days, or the house is located in a warm climate zone, on this side the plants are unlikely to grow well.

Types of verandas

Verandas should match the overall appearance of the house. They may have one or more common walls with the house, be connected to other rooms by a passage, but at the same time be a separate room. The width of the veranda should not be less than 1.8 m. The most convenient for receiving guests would be a veranda measuring 4x5 m or 4x6 m. The windows on the veranda are no higher than 40-60 cm from the floor.

In most cases, the entrance to the house can be through the veranda, but it may not have entrance doors from the street, but only a connection to the interior of the house. If there is a door, then it needs to be arranged in such a way that there is more space on the veranda for placing furniture. If the size of the veranda is 3x4 m or less, it is better to place the door at the end.

One of the main elements of the veranda is windows. They can be either blind or opening; builders advise alternating them. These can be stained glass windows or windows of standard sizes, but located closely. The veranda window frames are installed between the window sill board and the top trim (the trim - see below).

Veranda in the corner of the house

You can make a small veranda 2x2 m in the very corner of the house with access to the garden, without changing the integrity of the building. Since the area of ​​the room is very small, such a veranda will be good for one person, maximum two. In order to seat at least 6 people on a veranda of this type, its area must be at least 8-9 m2.

Veranda attached to the wall of the house

The veranda is attached to the wall of the house; it is narrow and long (for example, 1.7x5 m). The long side is common with the interior room of the house. On such a veranda you can place a desk in one corner, a tea table with narrow armchairs in the other. Exit to the interior is through two doors. The exit to the garden is located in the middle of the veranda, thus dividing the room into two functional areas - a work area with a desk and a guest area with a tea table. Opposite the front door you can place a small sofa or a clothes hanger and a shoe cabinet.

Veranda under the balcony

If the house has a balcony on the second floor, then on the first floor under the balcony you can install a veranda. A round veranda with a radius of, for example, 2 m can become both an entrance hall and a guest room. It is better to place the entrance to the house at one of the edges of the wall adjacent to the interior rooms. The exit to the garden can be made in the middle.

Square veranda

A square veranda, for example, with dimensions of 2.7x2.7 m, located near one of the walls of the house facing the garden. The entrance door to the veranda can be made from one of the sides, and the entrance door to the house closer to the first one, so that there is more living space. A round table with chairs will fit on such a veranda. If the size of such a veranda is 5x4 m, then here you can place not only a guest table with chairs, but also armchairs and a wardrobe.

Veranda with vestibule

Veranda with vestibule. For example, the long part can be 3.7 m, the narrow part - 2.5 m. In the narrow part of the veranda, in the brightest place, you can place a children's corner. Opposite the door you can place a sofa and a narrow wardrobe.

Large veranda with vestibule

A large veranda with a vestibule, its long side adjacent to the house (for example, 3x6 m). It is good to receive a large number of guests on such a veranda; you can also place several chairs here.

Veranda with grill

On the veranda, you can place the grill in the corner on the side of the outer wall. The dimensions of such a veranda can be 3.5 x 6.5 m. You can also place a dining room or living room here.

Veranda adjacent to the corner of the house

Veranda adjacent to the corner of the house. The entrance door of the veranda divides the room into two zones. It is very convenient to place the table near the door leading into the house. Chairs can be placed in another part of the veranda.

Small veranda

On a small veranda (for example, 2.5x3m), you can save space by placing the front door close to the front door inside the house.

The shape of the veranda can be rectangular, triangular (Fig.), semicircular, etc. A more traditional one is a rectangular veranda. The traditional version of the veranda shape is a room whose wide side adjoins the house.

Option for the location of a triangular veranda in Fig:

Triangular veranda

Two adjacent walls can be completely glazed and separated by a corner impost - a stand.

Another option is that the veranda can be connected to the house with a narrow end and extend into the garden as an independent building. The fewer planes that are combined with the main house, the more independent the extension looks, as in the figure:

Veranda connected to the house by a narrow end

There are many architectural options for creating verandas - it all depends on your imagination and the ability of the designer and builders to bring it to life.

Veranda maybe built-in or attached to the house

Built-in veranda

Built-in veranda

In this case, the veranda has a common foundation with the main house and is actually another room. The design of a built-in veranda is considered during the design process of a house. This solution will eliminate future distortions and other phenomena associated with subsidence and frost heaving of soils. If the house is under development, and you would like to make a solid veranda that could be heated and used as a living room, then you should immediately create a project with a common foundation.

Attached veranda

attached veranda

Most often, a veranda is attached to the main, existing building. In order for the veranda to last for a long time, you need to take into account many issues, the main one of which is how to avoid distortions and deformation of the extension.

Installation of attached verandas

Builders do not recommend rigidly connecting the attached veranda and the house. This means that the foundations of the veranda and the house are done separately and do not have common areas. There should be a gap of 20-40 mm between the wall of the house and the adjacent wall of the veranda. During the sheathing process, this gap is closed with a stripping (board). The floor on the attached veranda should be 60-80 mm below the floor level in the house; the difference in levels is covered with a plinth. The roof of the veranda should also only fit the roof of the main house with a gap that is covered with a steel apron. You can read about the design of the seam between the house and the veranda in the topic.

You can read about the basic structures of the veranda and the materials for their construction in the article “Veranda in the house. Structures and materials for the veranda in the house.”

Owners of private houses and summer cottages love to create a place on their estate where they can relax, eat, and even work in the fresh air in a pleasant and comfortable way.

Such a place could be a terrace attached directly to the house. And if you still don’t have one, it’s time to start building.

The most important thing you need to do before adding an extension terraces to the house, this is its design taking into account its purpose, location, shape, size and, of course, the material that will be needed for construction. Let's deal with all these points in order.

Purpose - what do you plan to use the summer terrace for?

Before you build a deck, think about how and what you will use it for. If you need a terrace at your dacha for a family holiday, then a small building with a roof that provides protection from the sun and rain is sufficient. If you have a private country house, where you often receive guests and hold parties, then you should also plan a place to install a charcoal or electric grill in the fresh air. In this case, it would be advisable to build a structure made of brick or stone, paved, for example.

How to choose the right terrace location

Choosing a place where it will be built terrace to the house, several factors should be taken into account:

1. Where the sun rises.

If you often relax on the summer terrace in the morning, for example, at breakfast before work, then it is better to attach the terrace to the house on the eastern side - the sun, rising in the morning, will flood it with its light and lift your mood for the whole day.

On the other hand, if you manage to allocate more time for relaxation in the evening, then the western side, where the sun shines for the longest time, will be an excellent place to add a terrace to the house.

Are you planning to hide in the shade of the summer terrace in the hot sun? Then determine the place where it is most shady during the day.

1. Away from the road.

Roads are not only excessive noise, but also exhaust fumes, which are very harmful to breathe. In such conditions, rest will not be complete, so it is better to build a terrace at the dacha or on the site of a country house on the side where there is no roadway.

1. Conveniently close to the entrance.

It’s good if there is direct access to the terrace from the house - from the front door or from the kitchen. By adding a veranda in this way, it will be convenient for you to set the table for breakfast, lunch, dinner or entertaining guests.

What is the optimal size of a summer terrace?

For a family of 3-4 people, a summer terrace measuring 10-12 m² is quite enough. but if you want to put a rocking chair on it or hang it, perhaps even make a small play corner for children, then you should make a larger terrace project.

In addition, the size of the terrace depends on the size of the house itself and the area surrounding it. A veranda that is too small will look ridiculous against the backdrop of a large house, and a large terrace near a small house will also not cause rave reviews.

Summer terrace shape

A terrace attached to a house will look most beautiful in a rectangular shape. Its straight lines, combined with the lines of the house, will look harmonious. In addition, this form will facilitate the construction process itself.

To make the terrace look more original, several levels should be provided during its construction. Thus, a summer terrace made of stone can easily take on arbitrary shapes. If you build it from wood, you can add originality by cutting the edges with a jigsaw.

Country wooden terraces photo

In any case, the most important thing is that the terrace attached to the house was combined with its architecture or the style of other buildings on the site.

Of course, the project itself does not end there, and then comes the stage of adding a terrace to the house. But more on this in the next article.

One of the basic principles of designing a country house is its harmonious inclusion in the surrounding landscape, merging with the garden. This is achieved using various techniques, among which the installation of terraces can be distinguished. Thanks to them, the boundaries of the house visually expand, as a result of which it smoothly transitions into the open space of the garden.

A terrace (from the Latin terra - “earth”) is a paved area raised above the ground, which is either adjacent to the house or located autonomously, in any convenient place. It is installed in areas with a warm and dry climate, where during the warm season it serves as a room (living room, dining room) in the fresh air. In the northern part of the country, it is impractical to create an open terrace adjacent to the house, so here it is usually fenced with walls and glazed, turning it into a veranda.

Why build a terrace?

Firstly, it will provide a flat area in the fresh air on which you can create an additional seating area.

Secondly, a terrace adjacent directly to the house or located at the level of the upper floors will increase the living space in the summer. And being included in the architectural ensemble of the house, it will become a decoration of the facade.

Where to place the terrace?

In the central and northern regions of the country, the terrace must be protected from the wind and illuminated by the sun, especially in the afternoon. In the southern regions, on the contrary, it is arranged in places where there are areas of constant shading during the hottest period of the day.

Covered terrace with grill, dining table and seating area

The traditional place for a terrace is an additional entrance to the house, which in most cases is located on the side opposite the main facade. The terrace can also be placed on the side of the main facade or attached to one of the side facades.

If funds for building a terrace are limited, then it is better to make it small than to save on materials for structural elements and finishing. Modern construction technologies make it possible to increase the size over time without any particular difficulties and ensure that the site being built on is adjusted to any landscape features and existing elements.

If the terrace is built at the same time as the house, in order to avoid various shrinkages, the foundation of it and the house is created structurally uniform, with the same depth and from the same material. If the terrace is added later, then its foundation is not connected to the foundation of the house.

It is important that the terrace adjacent to the house is interconnected with one or more rooms. If you plan to arrange it on the side of the main facade, then you need to think about the proportions, stylistic decisions, and materials for making the terrace at the initial stage of designing the house. This approach is also required when you are going to place it on any side of the house, but at the level of the second floor and above, and also if it must have a common roof with the house, because in these cases the terrace is its constant component.

When choosing a location, it is important to imagine whether there will be a good view from the terrace if you install a fence (screen, balustrade, etc.), and whether it will not spoil the appearance of the house and the surrounding space.

Do not forget to make sure that the terrace is made of high-quality and inexpensive material. Here, which consists of a part made of wood and PVC. This allows the board to be more durable and not require repairs.

What should its size be?

The size of the terrace depends on its functional purpose, the dimensions of the house and the composition of the garden. A small paved area on a large plot, like a bulky one, with an abundance of decorative elements on a tiny piece of land, is perceived as not being large-scale. True, in small gardens, especially in urban areas, the terrace sometimes occupies almost the entire area of ​​the garden, so its attractiveness and convenience largely depend on the thoughtfulness of the layout and selection of landscaping elements.

When planning a terrace near the house, at the level of the second floor and above, you must take into account the dimensions of the building. That is, if the house is large and spacious, then the terrace should be appropriate. AND? on the contrary, for a small building it is logical to arrange a platform of modest size.

The terrace with a canopy made of cellular polycarbonate is protected from the sun and bad weather

Wicker furniture is ideal for the terrace

The size of the terrace also depends on its purpose. For example, it is quite enough to allocate an area of ​​three by four meters for a place for quiet relaxation, but it is unlikely that it will be possible to organize receptions for guests here. A large family, owning a vast garden area, usually creates a real open-air room where they can cook food (for which they place a barbecue), sunbathe, and receive friends. For a comfortable stay, it is recommended to allocate an area of ​​about three and a half square meters per person for the terrace, as well as provide various additional landscaping elements.

Terrace layout plans

Depending on the layout of the house and the landscape design of the site, you should also choose a terrace solution. It should connect the interior of the house and the garden.

The terrace with a dining table serves as a kind of summer dining room. It combines the interior with the garden space.

Terrace for relaxation among greenery. Shade from trees will protect you from the heat

The terrace along the front of the building is a classic solution that emphasizes the symmetry in the architecture of the house.

Sandbox for children, sun loungers for adults. Parents will be able to relax and look after their children.

The planning solution for the terrace clearly separates the entrance to the living room and dining area. Ornamental plants are actively used.

Terrace with a bench at the entrance to the house. A modern variation on the porch theme.

Choosing a form

The most common shape of a terrace adjacent to a house is rectangular. Despite the fact that it is perceived as quite austere, it goes well with the outline of the house, which in most cases has the same shape. To prevent the shape from seeming too conservative, when paving the terrace, several types of covering are used, various decorative elements are added, or it is made into several levels. Also, the terrace adjacent to the house can be semicircular, diamond-shaped or trapezoidal. If the recreation area is located at a distance from the house next to a pond or fountain, nothing prevents you from giving it smooth outlines, thanks to which it will fit organically into the garden. Interesting design solutions are obtained when constructing multi-level terraces, that is, when the site is combined with landscape stairs, bridges and passages.

Paving material

The construction market offers a wide variety of materials that can be used as terrace coverings. They should be selected depending on the appearance of the house, the topography and design of the garden area, the operational requirements for external coatings, the climate, as well as financial capabilities.

If the house is made in a modern style, then it is advisable to use porcelain stoneware or colored concrete slabs for paving. For a log or cobblestone house, wooden flooring is ideal. A terrace made of cobblestones or clinker bricks will look great next to a restored farmhouse. You can also use a combination of different materials, such as concrete slabs, cobblestones and clinker. A large area will especially benefit from such a design solution, since using different materials you can lay out stripes and patterns that will enliven the surface.

It is important that the paved surface is not only level, but also safe: it should not be slippery, and water should not stagnate on it after rain. In low-rise suburban construction, electric heating is often used to cover terraces. In this case, the site dries out quickly after rain, and in winter snow and ice do not accumulate there. So that it dries better and puddles do not appear on it, it is made with a slope of two percent from the house to the edges (a slope of 1% is formed at 1 cm of height per 1 m of length).

Construction of a wooden terrace

To cover areas, wood is often used in the form of flooring made from wide slats or garden “parquet” (usually in the form of square panels 50x50 cm). If you have chosen a wooden covering made from wide slats (planed boards), then it is important to determine in advance the direction of their laying. For example, if the shape of the site is close to a square, the slats can be laid both lengthwise and across. But if the terrace is long and narrow, it is more appropriate to place them along the short side. This choice will allow you to use slats of the same length (you won’t have to join them), will prevent sagging during operation, and the terrace will visually become wider.

When installing wooden flooring, a foundation is made (most often from concrete). To ensure that the wood does not get wet from below and dries quickly after rain, the surface of the terrace is raised above the ground and the space under the floor is made ventilated. The deck covering is usually supported by posts (wood, steel) or posts (brick, concrete) to which wooden blocks are attached. Floor beams (purlins) are laid on the support bars. To prevent the flooring from becoming crooked and skewed, you need to constantly check its horizontalness using a level. The covering boards are fastened over the beams, not tightly, with a distance of 6-12 millimeters between the slats. This is done so that water, which can get even onto a closed terrace, freely flows through the cracks into a specially arranged drainage system located under the floor of the terrace. All wooden elements are treated with a special impregnation that protects them from rotting.

Paving elements

Wooden decking is appropriate for a wooden house

Natural stone is a material that creates a “natural” mood

Clinker - durable traditional coating

Gres ceramic tiles have a non-slip surface

For wooden flooring, larch, which has high strength, moisture resistance and beautiful texture, is most often used, as well as exotic tree species: cumaru, ipe, jatoba, iroko. But teak is considered the best material for covering: a board of golden brown color, wear-resistant and durable (it is used for the decks of sea yachts and boats).

Fencing

To protect the site from the wind, in the northwestern regions a stationary canopy or roof and a side fence are provided. The roof of the terrace can be an independent element, a part or continuation of one of the roof slopes of the house, or it can be a specially made structure mounted on racks or walls. In the southern regions, in order to avoid exposure to the scorching summer sun, awnings, awnings, awnings, portable umbrellas are installed, and a pergola is built. To protect the terrace from the wind or prying eyes, various means are used - parapets, screens, trellises, balusters made of wood, forged metal, polymer concrete, as well as green spaces.

In the southern regions, it is advisable to create an open area, limited along the outer perimeter only by green spaces. Small terraces should not be enclosed with high walls, screens or trellises entwined with greenery, since all these elements visually reduce the space and make ventilation difficult. In this case, experts recommend setting up a narrow flower garden with low perennials around the perimeter.

Terraces on adjustable supports

Recently, construction sites in Ukraine began to install terraces on adjustable supports. This solution allows you to protect the waterproofing layer of the base from repeated mechanical loads, as well as to obtain a flat surface. The manufacturability and versatility of the system allow its use on sites of complex configuration with slopes in different directions, as well as on sites where there are, for example, steps.

The adjustable legs and the system as a whole are a rigid structure.

The system consists of adjustable polypropylene supports and cover plates made of various materials. Its main elements are height-adjustable (35-900 mm) polypropylene supports with a corrector that allows you to compensate for the slope of the terrace base up to five percent. They are created on the principle of a screw jack.

The adjustable support can support up to 1000 kg.

Thanks to the design features, the supports effectively distribute the load on the lower layer of the terrace and are capable of supporting a weight of more than 1000 kilograms each. The support is installed on any base (waterproofing, rigid insulation, soil, concrete). The design of the system provides for the removal of moisture from all its elements. All twisting parts of the support and the system as a whole are a rigid structure.

The system allows you to adjust the slope up to 5%.

The base of the support is either placed on the bottom layer of the terrace, or glued with polymer bitumen mastic, or secured with dowels to the base of the terrace structure. The strength of the cylinder is given by four to eight stiffening ribs, which serve to distribute weight more evenly and stabilize geometric shapes.

The tip for fixing the position of the plates allows you to set precise gaps between the plates. The plate can rotate 360 ​​degrees, which makes laying the material much easier. The four floor slabs are fixed using a dowel, for which there is a hole in the center of the plate.

Stone slab coverings are suitable for front terraces.

The slope corrector allows you to adjust the slope of the surface by divisions on the supporting plane in accordance with the slope (up to 5%) in increments of half a percent, which must be compensated, that is, from zero to five centimeters per meter. The system is installed by simply rotating the corrector 360 degrees clockwise or counterclockwise, bringing the readings in the oval display window into line with the slope that needs to be compensated. The latch holds the selected value. Then it is necessary to position the support generally in the direction of the slope to be corrected, using the arrow marked on the surface of the corrector with the digital value of the slope that needs to be corrected.

Coating materials for the system can be combined.

This system allows the use of slabs made from a wide variety of materials for external covering: stone, wood, composite materials. They can be combined (for example, wood and glass slabs), obtaining the most original solutions. In fact, the choice of material and type of coating is unlimited and depends entirely on the designer’s imagination.

The composite board covering can withstand high humidity.

Every private homeowner is thinking about adding a veranda to their home. The entrance door to a home, equipped with a canopy or canopy, looks uninteresting. Having built a veranda, you can decorate it with curtains, hang flower pots or decorate it in the style you like. Being in such a building, it is pleasant to sit with a cup of tea without fear of hot sun rays or drizzling rain. The sunset will become more beautiful if you watch it from a convenient place. All this will create additional comfort.

The need for a veranda. Functions, advantages and disadvantages

The construction of a structure such as a veranda is often an important condition for creating comfortable relaxation and organizing functional areas in it. Designs come in open and closed types. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages. The advantages include the following:

• erecting an open-type structure is not particularly difficult and does not require additional costs for installing windows and doors.
• for these structures there is no need to lay a deep foundation.
• in a closed veranda you can place a winter garden that is not afraid of frost, or organize a recreation area where you can be at any time of the year.

Speaking about the disadvantages of types of verandas, it should be noted that:

• Closed verandas, as a rule, are insulated and have heating installed, which entails energy consumption and requires additional construction equipment.
• furniture and other interior items on open verandas quickly become covered with dust or become damp, so they must be made of moisture-resistant materials.
• an open veranda will not provide protection from strong winds or low air temperatures.

The need for this extension is determined by the following criteria:

1. First of all, it increases the usable area of ​​a residential building, especially if it is very small.
2. Arranging a stove or summer kitchen in it during the warm months of the year is more practical than inside a home. Additional heat and fumes are not retained, making the cooking process more comfortable.
3. The location of the dining room in it will move vacationers from the stuffy rooms of the house to fresh air.
4. The veranda, with appropriate design, will become an elegant architectural addition and give the house a beautiful appearance.
5. The glazed structure will become an intermediate space between the house and the street. This will keep you warm during the cold season.

The functionality of this structure, depending on the type of construction, is as follows:

• thanks to its design, the veranda protects the house from various atmospheric phenomena;
• the existing veranda fences will prevent direct debris from entering the home;
• the designs of closed verandas allow the placement of a large number of plants and even trees in them in winter;
• the sliding frame of this extension allows you to adjust the shading areas and provide shelter from the rain;
• The extension makes it possible to be in the fresh air even in unfavorable weather conditions.

Design gallery of possible options

This option will serve as a dining room and kitchen at the same time A fireplace in the veranda will create a special atmosphere Adjustable roof allows you to stay in the shade all day long Thanks to a convenient sliding system, this design will turn into an open veranda It won't be cold here even in the colder months There are two verandas attached to the residential building: one glazed and one without a roof. The extension serves as an intermediate zone between housing and the street Even in cold weather, this structure will be warmed by the sun's rays Tall plants will feel comfortable in such a structure

How to attach a veranda to your house: preparation

Before you start building the veranda frame, you need to decide on the type of future construction. Before starting construction work, it is necessary to select a place for its location, make the necessary measurements, prepare materials and install one of the suitable foundations. In order to accurately calculate the required amount of materials and the area of ​​occupied land for this extension, you should carefully design it and draw up a drawing.

Types of suitable foundation

If you install a foundation made of logs, you should pay special attention to the quality of the wood. For supports, oak and larch species that have been previously treated with a bitumen mixture or burned are suitable. For these purposes, logs with a diameter of at least 25 cm are used. The method of installing these supports is similar to the construction of a columnar foundation: the bottom of the holes is covered with sand and compacted, after which the logs are placed there. For better stability, concrete is poured onto the sand layer or a wooden cross is installed.

Installing a strip base will require a lot of concrete and reinforcement cage. This foundation consists of solid walls hidden in the ground. It is intended for heavier buildings. The lower part of this base has an extension, which creates additional stability for the entire building. In cases of unstable or loose soil, the strip foundation can be increased. When installing this base, you need to leave holes for the necessary communications.

Tape blocks are very popular. To do this, ready-made concrete blocks are purchased and installed in a shallow (20 to 30 cm) trench, the bottom of which is compacted with sand. In this case, the block will be deepened into the ground by 2/3 of the slab. It will simultaneously play the role of foundation and basis for the floor of the veranda.

The column-pile foundation consists of long columns. To install it, you need to dig holes using a construction drill. Their depth should be from 40 to 50 cm. The bottom of the pit is covered with a layer of crushed stone or gravel. Then a sleeve with roofing material rolled into a pipe is inserted into it. Concrete is poured into the resulting cavity. The supporting column is built on top of the resulting base.

A screw foundation involves the use of metal pile elements, to the ends of which blades of various sizes are welded. This type of foundation is most suitable for unstable soil. Piles are screwed into the ground using manual force or pile-drilling equipment. The strength of the base, in this case, depends on the material of manufacture and the diameter of the pipes. The screw-in depth must be below the freezing point. Typically this value is from 70 to 12 cm. Installation of screw piles is convenient because they can be installed in frozen ground.

Project drawings, dimensions

As an example, an open veranda with a pitched roof, installed on a columnar foundation, is presented.

Materials for this design should be selected taking into account the design of the house

This design is a square shape, measuring 490x500 cm. The height to the ceiling beam is 230 cm. The roof angle is 20°. The distance from the bottom frame to the rafters adjacent to the wall of the house will be 420 cm. Since the width of the structure is more than 3 m, intermediate racks made of beams with a cross-section of 100x150 mm will be used to strengthen it. The distance between the first and second row from the wall of the house is 277 cm. From the second to third row is 180 cm. On the front side, the racks are 166 cm apart from each other. The distance between the longitudinal load-bearing beams should be from 80 to 110 cm. For the roof it is necessary roofing material with a total area of ​​24.5 m². The height of the foundation pillars, from the ground to the bottom frame of the veranda frame, is 145 cm.

On a veranda with these parameters you can place a couple of chairs with a table and hang a garden swing.

1 - support board; 2 - longitudinal load-bearing beams; 3 - transverse beam; 4 - racks; 5 - foundation pillars

Material selection and calculation

The most common material for constructing verandas is wood. It has a clear advantage over brick, metal and metal-plastic buildings. The material is easy to process, which is not typical for a metal structure. If you use profile pipes, channels or corners when building a veranda, then it is convenient to install double-glazed windows to such a frame.

A brick extension requires a deep foundation, which is an additional expense. In addition, its construction will take much more time than a wooden structure. To cover closed verandas, glass (double-glazed windows) or polycarbonate is installed. Metal tiles, bitumen coatings, slate and polycarbonate alloys are used for roofing. However, for better sound insulation, you should pay attention to soft tiles.

To make a frame veranda made of wood, the following materials are needed:

1. For the bottom and top trim:

• four beams with a cross section of 100x200 mm, 500 cm long;
• ten beams with a similar cross-section, 490 cm long.

For vertical racks you need:

• five beams with a cross section of 100x200 mm, 430 cm long (posts attached to the wall of a residential building), and the same number - 285 cm each (intermediate posts);
• six beams with a section of 100x200 mm, a length of 230 cm (facade racks).
• For longitudinal load-bearing elements (rafters) you need seven beams with a cross-section of 100x150 mm and a length of 540 cm.
• For flooring, tongue and groove boards with a cross-section of 100x40 mm and a length of 490 cm are required, for a total area of ​​24.5 m².
• OSB boards are needed for roof sheathing.
• For the railings, beams with a cross section of 100x100 mm and a total length of 15 m are required.
• For an x-shaped fence, similar beams with a total length of 40 m are needed.
• Concrete M-300.
• Roofing felt or boards for formwork.
• Reinforcing bars with a diameter of 10 mm.
• The roof requires soft tiles to cover 26.5 m².
• Waterproofing material.

Required Tools

To build an open veranda structure, you will need the following tools:

1. Screw, bayonet and shovel.
2. Concrete mixer.
3. Water container.
4. Screwdriver.
5. Jigsaw.
6. Grinder machine.
7. Electric planer.
8. Hammer.
9. Building level.
10. Roulette.
11. Large square.
12. Ladder.
13. Cord.
14. Pencil.

Step-by-step instructions: how to build a summer terrace

To build a frame veranda, it is necessary to lay a foundation. When installing it, you should adhere to some construction nuances:

• pits and trenches for the veranda should be at the same depth as the foundation of the house to which it is attached;
• if the soil under construction is unstable or there is abundant groundwater in it, then a pile-screw foundation will be able to cope with this problem;
• it is necessary to determine the ability of the soil to absorb moisture and the homogeneity of the soil at the construction site.

Depending on the composition and quality of the soil, the appropriate base for the frame is selected. In our case, this is a columnar foundation.

The base consists of individual concrete pillars installed in the ground. A grillage or frame for erecting walls is attached to them.

1. Make markings for the future veranda using a cord and wooden pegs.

   1 - cast-offs from boards; 2 - cord; 3 - plumb line; 4 - level

2. Using a screw shovel, dig holes with a diameter of 40 to 50 cm, to a depth of 60 cm.
3. Place wet sand at the bottom of each hole. It must be compacted to form a sand cushion 20 cm thick.
4. To prevent liquid concrete from being absorbed into the sand, you need to lay a waterproofing layer. For these purposes, use roofing material.
5. Make formwork from the boards. The size of each wall should be 40x90 cm.
6. Place reinforcing bars inside the formwork.
7. Pour the concrete mixture there so that its level rises 40 cm above the ground.

   The reinforcement cage will strengthen the concrete pillar

8. Use stops to hold the formwork walls.
9. Leave the concrete to harden.
10. When the base has hardened sufficiently and the pillars have formed, remove the formwork.
11. Using a building level, check the vertical position of each pillar.

    Optimal dimensions for the base under the veranda

12. Treat them with bitumen mastic.
13. Compact the soil around the posts and install a fence.
14. Lay a waterproofing layer on the finished foundation. To do this, you need to roll the roofing material twice.
15. Install the bottom frame of the structure on top. For this you need beams with a cross section of 100x200 mm. You need to cut grooves in them to install vertical supports.
16. Install a floor made of tongue-and-groove boards with a cross-section of 100x40 mm on wooden logs.
17. Install vertical supports from similar beams into the grooves.

    Grooves make the structure strong

18. Attach long supports to the wall of the house using anchors and self-tapping screws.
19. Mount the top frame of the structure. The connections of the wooden elements are similar to the bottom trim
20. Install the extension truss system to the top frame, on one side, and the wall of the house, on the other. Arrange its elements in increments of 50 cm. To do this, you need beams with a cross-section of 100x150 mm.

    The structure is ready for insulation and finishing

21. The frame of the rafter system is attached to the top frame using metal corners or plates.

    Metal connections will not be visible after finishing

22. Install veranda side railings.
23. Attach waterproofing to the rafter system, on top of which fill the sheathing with a section of 20x40 mm, in increments of 40 cm. Attach OSB boards to it using self-tapping screws.

    Soft tiles are easy to install and repair

24. Now you can proceed to installing the roofing material. Laying of soft tiles is carried out from the eaves from the center of the slope. The first row of this covering must be laid 2 cm from the edge of the cornice. Lay the layers of tiles with an overlap of 5 - 10 cm. Cover the joints with bitumen mastic. Secure the tiles on four sides with nails.

    There are a large number of colors and shades of soft roofing

Final finishing

The selected materials for finishing the veranda should have not only aesthetic value, but also practical value. The open design is exposed to the elements. It follows from this that finishing materials must be resistant to high humidity and temperature changes.

The most common material that meets all the requirements of open structures is wooden lining. This is an environmentally friendly coating that is ideal for wall coverings. A veranda with this finish has a pleasant woody smell. For better joining of wooden elements, their sides are equipped with grooves. To increase the service life, this finishing material is pre-treated with antifungal impregnations.

The lining is easy to install, thanks to the cutouts along the edges

MDF boards are used as the final finishing of the veranda walls. This material is more suitable for closed structures. This is due to the fact that moisture has a detrimental effect on the slabs, causing them to deform and lose quality.

Inexpensive and reliable material - MDF boards

The opposite of MDF boards are PVC panels, which are moisture resistant. This coating is easy to clean, fire-resistant, and comes in a variety of textures and colors. Installation of these plates is very simple.

Easy to process and install PVC panels

An affordable and practical material for finishing verandas is siding. Its texture usually resembles stone or wood. Available in the form of long panels of various colors and shades. The material is resistant to fire, rotting, and has a long service life.

Siding is securely attached thanks to convenient holes

Thanks to the variety of shades, it is easy to choose in accordance with the color scheme of buildings on your site. Vinyl siding is often used for this.

To make the external decoration of the veranda you need:

How and with what to insulate floors and ceilings

When insulating a veranda, first of all you need to pay attention to the floor. This is especially important when the foundation is piled, columnar or does not have a continuous strip. In this case, from below, it is covered with penofol, after which all the cracks between the boards are puttied. Carpet or linoleum on a polypropylene base is suitable as insulation for the floor surface.

If you do high-quality insulation, then it is necessary to arrange a subfloor, followed by filling and installing a finished surface with a coating.

Floors on the veranda can be insulated using expanded clay granules. To do this, wooden logs are installed on the existing surface from beams with a cross-section of 40x150 mm, with a pitch of 60 cm. Expanded clay is poured between them, the height of which should not exceed the upper edge of the boards. OSB boards are fixed on top of the logs, onto which the finished floor is installed.

The granules must be evenly spaced

Also, floors and walls are insulated using mineral wool. For ease of installation, it is sold in the form of rectangular slabs of various thicknesses. To insulate the floor with cotton wool, you need to cover it with waterproofing material. For this purpose, foil-foil foamed propylene is used. Wooden logs with the same cross-section and pitch are installed on top of this layer. Mineral wool slabs are tightly laid between them. If its thickness is insufficient, then the slabs are stacked on top of each other, with the condition that they do not rise above the wooden frame. Otherwise, the insulation will wrinkle and lose its thermal insulation properties. Attach a vapor barrier material on top of it, to the joists. Then the finishing is installed.

The form of mineral wool in the form of slabs is convenient for installation

Penoplex and foam plastic have proven themselves well as insulation. These materials have the same base, but penoplex has a uniform structure, and polystyrene foam tends to crumble. This insulation is available in the form of slabs of various thicknesses. Just as in the previous options, its installation requires a waterproofing and vapor barrier layer.

The slabs are fastened to the joists using plastic dowels. The joints of the slabs are filled with polyurethane foam, which serves as an additional adhesive material. OSB boards or tongue and groove boards are fixed on top. The ceiling is also insulated using the same principle.

If the veranda is an open structure, walls made of beams are built along its perimeter. Then, using the above methods, insulation is installed. Double-glazed windows are inserted into the walls.

Video: DIY veranda

Thanks to a wide range of materials, the appearance of the veranda can be designed in an original and beautiful way. By insulating this structure, you will enjoy the view not only of flowers, but also of the winter landscape. Lunch or evening tea parties will be more memorable thanks to the natural freshness and soft light at sunset, and rainy weather will not spoil the outdoor party.