That’s where patio covers come in, and, more specifically, patio cover plans. The best time to take into account the above considerations is when you’re designing or building your patio, as most patio covers will look more natural and be more integrated into your design plan if you build the cover at the same time as the patio. But don’t fret if you’re working with an existing patio, as most patio cover plans take that into consideration and seamlessly let you add a coevr, awning, or shade screen.

Where to Find Patio Cover Plans

Most home improve centers have a book section which should include books on patios that include patio cover plans. Typically they’ll include material lists, rough dimensions, and installation instructions, all of which will vary based on the design you choose, the size of your patio, and other factors. Even if you’re not the do-it-yourself type and plan to have someone build a patio cover for you, having a general idea of the design and dimensions can be very helpful and ensure you get exactly what you’re after.

Types of Patio Covers

Patio covers come in a wide range of materials and styles, and are typically made from vinyl, wood, aluminum, or wood and vinyl lattice. They can be largely open air structures that offer shade protection in various spots or more solid covers, like a traditional roof, that provide shade for the entire patio. Patio cover plans can also generally be adapted to your particular patio even if it differs significantly from the plan you’re working from.

Do-it-Yourself Patio Cover Plans

For the DIYer, adding a patio cover is a project well within most homeowners reach, assuming you’re generally comfortable using a hammer and saw. Since the patio cover is primarily to provide shade, you won’t have to worry about load-bearing beams or any framing that requires advanced skills. You’ll also have the satisfaction of relaxing in the shade on your patio and enjoying your handiwork is done.

Bar height patio furniture is a great choice for smaller patios where a traditional patio table and four chairs might overwhelm the space and appear too large. For apartment or condo dwellers with a small attached deck or patio area, bar height furniture can be a great choice as well, letting you enjoy the outdoors in style without having to resort to plastic white patio chairs from Wal-Mart.

You can also typically buy bar height patio furniture at a very reasonable price, typically $150 or less, so it’s not a budget buster like buying a nice teak patio furniture set. If you’ve just bought your first home and are looking for some basic patio furniture to get started with, bar height or bistro furniture is a great choice. It’s afforadable and very durable and easy to clean.

If you decide to upgrade later to a nicer patio set, you can always still use your old table and chairs somewhere else, as it’s small footprint allows you to use it both indoors and out. Many people use bar height and bistro furniture inside in smaller breakfast nooks or sunrooms, so it’s a very flexible set that can be used in various ways throughout most homes.

In the past if you went with wicker patio furniture you had to take great care to protect it or move it back and forth from your garage to your patio, only using it during prime patio season. Resin wicker patio furniture solves both the problems. If you choose to live it out on your patio year-round, it’s tough enough to endure the weather and still look great. If you do decide to bring it in when it’s not prime patio season, the lightweight construction makes moving it around a snap and something one person can easily accomplish.

You don’t have to sacrifice on style, either, as resin wicker furniture today looks great and comes in various styles including including ultra modern, contemporary, and traditional models with a very wide range of weave patterns and colors to choose from.

These patio furniture sets are a snap to clean and can usually be hosed down and wiped off, without having to rely on expensive patio furniture cleaner products. They’re also typically very affordable, too, for those shopping on a tighter budget.

As far as what to look for in patio furniture cleaner, be sure to select a product that’s recommended for use with your particular furniture. The same cleaner that’s great for teak might not work well at all on rattan, metal, plastic, or resin patio furniture. Plenty of big companies offer brands of cleaners formulated and branded just for cleaning patio furniture such as Goo Gone Patio Furniture, Mold Armor Patio Furniture, and Spray Nine Patio Furniture.

While good old fashioned dis washing detergent and bleach can be used to clean some patio products such as plastic chairs and canvas or mesh umbrellas, premium products like the furniture cleaners listed above are more than worth the money, as they not only save you time while cleaning but they also are specially formulated to be safe to use on a wide range of materials. A great patio set can be a big investment so be sure to take care of it accordingly.

Sling patio furniture includes chairs, bar stools, and chaise lounges, and often feature hand-sewn fabrics is a multitude of hues and colors and material choices, with options available to suit tastes of all shapes and sizes. It’s not as bulky as other patio sets and works well with smaller patios and spaces, as the clean lines and small footprint make it appear to take up less space that other wrought-iron or solid wood patio furniture sets.

One nice feature of sling patio furniture is that it’s very flexible and can be used both indoors and out. The stylish look is equally at home inside in a breakfast nook or sunroom as well as outside on the patio and backyard. It’s also a very affordable furniture option and readily available at both online and brick and mortar furniture stores.

Types of Telescope Patio Furniture

Telescope patio furniture is available in a variety of collections and materials, including wicker, cast aluminum, and marine-grade polymer construction. The company offers folding chairs, director chairs, sling chairs, and beach chairs, as well as bar height patio furniture and arm chairs. Matching ottomans are available as well as chaises, cushions, benches, tables, patio umbrellas and bases, swivel rockers, and loveseats.

The Telescope line seemingly is endless, so you’ll have an easy time finding the perfect match for your patio. Whether you’re going for a casual, minimalist look or a more elegant traditional style they’re got patio furniture to fit the bill.

Telescope Patio Furniture Collections

Popular collections of Telescope patio furniture include Key Biscane, St. Lucia, Bella Luca, Chesapeake, Cape May, Aruba, and Oceanside. Its patio furniture and accessories are available in a wide range of finishes and colors, and are available at dealers throughout the United States and Canada. As far as price, Telescope patio sets come in at the mid to high end of the price range, with basic sets of tables and chairs typically available for around $1,500-$2,000, and the higher-end Telescope patio sets selling for upwards of $5,000.

Telescope patio furniture is a great choice for patio furniture no matter what your taste, as they offer a range of selections from the sleek and modern to contemporary and casual, as well as more ornate, formal choices. The name is one of the most trusted in the furniture world and synonymous with quality, so you can’t go wrong if you decide on a Telescope patio set to add an amazing touch of class to your patio that will make all of your friends very envious indeed.

Furniture coverings are available for pretty much anything and everything, including patio chair covers, barbeque grill covers, patio table covers, ottoman covers, wicker furniture covers, you name it, there’s a cover for it.

Outdoor patio furniture covers come in a wide range of styles and materials, and usually incorporate velcro or tie down fasteners to secure the cover to the furniture. Gray is a ocmmon color for covers, as it holds up well when subjected to lots of sunlight and weather conditions. Most covers also come with a warranty of two to three years.

Vinyl is a popular material choice for patio furniture covers, as it’s lightweight and very durable. Polypropylene is also used in some covers.

While they’re not the most inexpensive solution for shade and patio protection, that’s also a plus, as aluminum patio covers won’t deteriorate due to inclement weather over time, and can easily be repainted a variety of colors if you upgrade your patio furniture or otherwise would like to go with a different color scheme.

Like most patio furniture, there are cast aluminum patio covers at a variety of price points and in innumerable styles, so there should be plenty of options out there for budgets and tastes of all sizes.

The most obvious tip for those looking for discount patio furniture is to plan ahead, and to time your purchase for late summer and early fall, when many retailers will sharply discount their patio furniture and other outdoor living products, just to get the inventory out of the way. While cooler weather might prevent you from using the patio furniture you buy that season, you’ll have save a ton of money and be well-prepared for the next year, when the weather turns nice again.

Another great way to find discounted deals on patio furniture is to shop around online, which at first seems counter-intuitive due to shipping charges, etc. In many cases, though, you can find better deals online for patio furniture, even with shipping added in, as buying direct from the source (or at least much closer to the source) saves you a ton of money.

A final tip for great deals on discount patio furniture is to check local newspapers or Craigslist ads for items you’re interested in. It’s obviously hit or miss, but patio furniture is one of those things that people are literally willing to give away at times, just to get rid of it. If you’re willing to use a little elbow grease refinishing wood patio furniture or painting wrought iron patio furniture, it’s often easy to pick up great looking patio furniture at a very low cost.

The Meadowcraft Patio Furniture Line

Meadowcraft patio furniture product families include Alexandria, Barcelona, Chelsea, Coventry, Milano, Cortez, and Cambridge. Popular styles and products include bar tables, mesh top and tile top dining tables, cafe and bistro style tables, and coffee tables. Unlike some patio furniture makers who specialize in one area or one top of product, Meadowcraft truly is an end-to-end provider, offering durable, well-crafted furniture for all budgets and styles.

As far as its most popular lines, the Meadowcraft Alexandria is one of the more popular lines. The stylish chairs feature a high-back design and also provide lumbar support, something unusual in patio furniture. Chair options also include dining height chairs as well as barstool chairs, with dining chairs offering swivel and coil spring bases as well as traditional legs.

Meadowcraft patio furniture is a mid-range option as far as price, more expensive than entry-level patio sets but not as expensive as higher end options. The Meadowcraft Alexandria and Meadowcraft Barcelona lines typically run around $1,000 for a standard table and chairs, with the price increasing if you add more features and options than what comes with the more basic models.

Meadowcraft Furniture Facts

The company is the largest manufacturer of outdoor wrought iron furniture in the US, designing, manufacturing, and distributing a variety of wrought iron outdoor and indoor furniture and accessories, outdoor cushions, and umbrellas. Meadowcraft employs 2,000 people across in its manufacturing and distribution facilities in Birmingham, Selma, and Wadley, Alabama, with headquarters in Birmingham, Alabama.