Here are two tips to follow when building a verandah.

Consider building a balustrade around the edge of the verandah

Not all verandahs have barriers, such as balustrades. Whilst putting a barrier like this at the edge of the verandah will increase your construction costs, it could make this new property feature safer and more pleasant to use. For example, if the verandah will be built so it will be positioned a few feet off the ground, then having this barrier around its edges will mean you won't need to worry about any elderly relatives or pets who use the verandah falling over the edge.  

Additionally, when you're sitting on any benches or outdoor chairs you put on the verandah, having a balustrade around it will give you some privacy. This could be nice if you're building the verandah onto a section of your house that faces a street or another building. Lastly, fitting a balustrade around this structure will also ensure that if you choose to decorate this area with potted plants, there will be no chance of these pots being blown off the verandah's edge on windy days.

Think carefully about what roof the verandah should have  

It's important to think about what roof would best suit this structure. Whilst you could simply use the same roof materials that your existing house has, you might find that a different type of roof is more suitable for this new area of the property.

For example, if you'll be putting lots of plants on the verandah or if you want to sunbathe on it, then a glass roof could be a good choice, as this would let sunlight onto the verandah's deck that would keep the plants alive and allow you to tan whilst laying on it, but would still keep the deck dry on wet days. If you are concerned about the verandah getting too hot or bright on warm days if it had a glass roof, you could always opt for tinted glass panels.

However, you might prefer to construct the verandah with solid roof materials that match your house's existing roof, and that will form an opaque barrier over it. If you want to utilise it as a shady outdoor space on hot days, don't plan to decorate it with any light-loving plants. Or if it rains frequently and you suspect the pronounced noise of the rain on a glass roof would bother you, choose a different material.

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