Outdoor Living Options For Your New Home

Kaila Sawlor-Dion, April 1, 2015 | Posted in Build; Tagged Outdoor Living, Exterior Selections

There’s something appealing about stepping outside the walls of your house and taking advantage of what the outdoors has to offer.

Keeping your family’s wants, needs, and style in mind, there are many different ways you can enhance your outdoor living space.

Deck

Adding a deck to your new home is a great way to increase your living space, as well as your home’s resale value. Let’s not forget—it gives your family the opportunity to spend more quality time together outside, enjoying the fresh Nova Scotia air.

Screen room

You’ve got to love warm weather and sunshine, but you may not love the black flies and mosquitoes that come with it. A screen room can help keep these pesky critters away. It’s also a way to enjoy some fresh air and time outdoors, even when the weather isn’t ideal.

These rooms are often built from pressure-treated lumber and custom-made screens. Another option is a pre-manufactured kit, which can be fitted to suit your space and budget. 

Whether you want a screen room that’s simple and rustic, or a more elaborate place for dining and entertaining, you can choose the style and the size of screen room that will work for you.

Sunroom

Sunrooms are often an extension of your family room, giving you an outdoor feel while sheltering you from the elements.

They’re typically built with glass windows and sliding doors, which help to keep the outside out. A heater or ductless heat pump can give you more use from your sunroom as the temperatures drop.

Seating, pillows, and coffee tables create a comfortable sitting area, or a larger table can convert your sunroom into an outdoor dining room. With the addition of media equipment, your sunroom could become a favorite spot to host family and friends.

Fireplace

An outdoor fireplace creates a warm and welcoming space for entertaining or relaxing. There are a variety of options to consider for your exterior fireplace, from budget-friendly portable models you can pick up from your local home improvement store to custom-built models that have been designed and installed to your specifications.

If you decide to go the custom-built route, you and your builder will have to discuss:

• Where the fireplace will go on your deck;
• The type of fireplace you want (wood burning, gas, propane, or electric);
• The material your fireplace will be built from (natural stone or brick); and
• The design of your fireplace.

Pool and/or hot tub

A pool offers hours of summer entertainment for your family and guests. Many homeowners choose a courtyard pool style, which is a rectangular pool nestled in a stone patio.

If you’re considering a pool, you’ll have to think about:

• The size of pool that works for your space;
• Whether you’d like fencing around your pool;
• The patio surround you’d like; and
• Where to put the pool on your lot.

A hot tub is a great complement to a pool, or a luxurious place to relax all on its own.

Talk to your builder about your options for enhancing your outdoor living space. With your wants and your builder’s expertise, your outdoor living area will be a place you and your family enjoy for years to come!

Kaila Sawlor-Dion

Kaila is the Marketing Manager of Sawlor Built Homes. She continuously updates our profile on Facebook, Instagram, Houzz, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest, and is focused on all marketing initiatives.

A third generation family member of Sawlor Built Homes, Kaila joined the company in 2011. She is an active member of the Canadian Home Builder's Association - Nova Scotia Marketing Committee and she continues to update her education and training, intent on becoming an industry leader in new home marketing.