To enhance a terrace, create a protected landscaping, give yourself a few more square meters, create an original inside-outside or even flood your interior space with light, there are many solutions to suit all needs and desires. Among them: the veranda or the retractable veranda, the pergola and the swimming pool enclosure.
More and more aesthetic, these structures never stop evolving to offer tailor-made solutions. Their common point: they are turned outwards and dress the facade of a house. Space saving, abundant light, protection against bad weather or sunlight, erasing of the exterior / interior border, these are some of the advantages offered by these three installations.
But beware: while the advantages are generally the same, their technical characteristics differ and must be taken into account:
How to choose the most suitable structure? We take stock of the main technical characteristics of each of them.
The veranda
A veranda is a real living room adjoining your house. The extension increases the living space of your home. “It can enlarge an existing room – in this case, it is completely open to the interior – or create a new room – and it is separated from the house, most often by a bay window”, explains the group of professionals Aluminum & Architecture.
The veranda profiles can be in:
- aluminimum
- drink
- PVC
- steel
The uprights in profiles thermal break, the large glass walls double glazed, insulating panels on the roof, shutters or even the sun protection provide great resistance to the structure and give it optimal insulation. All of these technical characteristics – which vary according to the options chosen by the consumer – allow residents to live there year round.
A veranda to accommodate your kitchen © Vie & Véranda
Another advantage: in winter, it optimizes passive solar gain by heating part of the house and helps reduce part of its energy bill. To obtain good results, it is necessary to respect the following points:
- a south-facing orientation
- an efficient ventilation system
- a largely glazed facade
- a window of separation from the house
Efficient insulation and ventilation limit the appearance of condensation on the walls and therefore the appearance of mold generated by ambient humidity.
What price for a veranda?
It takes between 8,000 and 15,000 € for a PVC model of about 15 m2, and between 20,000 and 32,000 € for an aluminum or wooden veranda. For a steel veranda, on the other hand, the range to be expected is much higher: between 35 and 50,000 € on average for a model of equal area.
The retractable veranda
Another option to enjoy your terrace at any time of the year: the retractable veranda. Very often – as with most of these structures – it is made to measure. It therefore adapts to the characteristics of your outdoor space.
However, unlike a standard veranda, the latter is (as the name suggests) retractable. The walls are retractable which allows residents to opt either for a shelter open to the garden, or for a closed terrace. The advantage is clear, according to manufacturer Verandair: “retractable verandas allow individuals to enjoy their terrace at any time of the year since they can open in a few seconds as soon as the weather is nice and close just as quickly if the weather is cooler or when the weather is nice. it is raining.”
Semicircular veranda © Stéphane Grossin – Akena Vérandas
If this structure has common characteristics with the pergola and others with the standard veranda, it also differs in a few points. As the group of professionals Aluminum & Architecture points out: “they are not neither insulated nor ventilated and cannot be heated. Their use is limited to summer and they do not offer the comfort expected of a real living room. “ He recommends caution. Moreover, he emphasizes that “these products do not respect the technical and administrative framework specific to housing extensions.”
Although it does not offer quite the same advantages as a veranda, especially in terms of comfort, this structure remains aesthetic and practice. Aluminum profiles, XXL glass walls or various colors make it a nice solution for decorating your terrace. You can also complete the installation with blinds, a lighting system LEDs or even complete it all with an automatic opening system via a remote control.
The pergola
The pergola is also called “terrace shelter“. Often linked to the house, it allows residents to enjoy their outdoors, sheltered from the sun and bad weather. Manufacturers are always improving their solutions and trying to get closer to the needs – related to climatic conditions. This development gave rise to the appellation “bioclimatic pergola”.
By definition, the bioclimatic pergola adapts to its environment, respecting, on the one hand, the architectural codes of the region, and, on the other hand, the technical characteristics linked to the climate in which it is established.
For the frame, it is once again thealuminum which is at the top of the materials preferred by manufacturers … and by consumers! “It represents 95% of the current market”, emphasizes Aluminum & Architecture. The uprights in aluminum profiles support a roof with adjustable slats, which allows residents to vary the amount of sunshine on the terrace.
A bioclimatic pergola to shelter its terrace © Abrisud
To complete the pergolas, some manufacturers also offer the installation of blinds, the realization of a system of remote control or the integration of LEDs to illuminate the structure.
Unlike the veranda, the pergola is not considered a habitable room In the strict sense. You can stay there in fine weather, it covers the terrace, but its use is limited in time. The advantage: it is aesthetic and plays the tailor-made card to correspond as precisely as possible to the desires and tastes of consumers.
What price for a pergola?
For a 24 m2 structure – the average surface area of a pergola in France – the sum to be expected is around € 17,000.
The swimming pool enclosure
To enjoy, not your terrace but your swimming pool, opt for a pool enclosure. According to a recent study conducted by the Federation of Swimming Pool and Spa Professionals (FPP), more than 10% of French swimming pools are now equipped, i.e. around 194,000.
Among the advantages of this type of equipment: bathing comfort, the ease of maintenance and, above all, the security. The shelter is indeed one of the 4 mandatory security systems to secure a private pool.
A pool enclosure to enjoy your pool all year round © Rénoval
If you choose a high shelter, it will allow you to create a semblance of room around your pool. A solution to consider if you have enough space in the garden, and if you want to enjoy it in winter too, since the glazed parts will act as a greenhouse and will heat the space. To avoid overheating in summer, prefer a fully or partially model telescopic.
What price for a swimming pool enclosure?
On the budget side, the models will be made to measure. Count 5,000 € minimum for a low pool enclosure, 20,000 € euros and more for a high pool enclosure.
