As the scorching summer sun takes center stage, spending time outdoors can become quite challenging. However, with a well-designed patio, you can create a comfortable and refreshing oasis in your backyard. So whether you’re looking to upgrade your existing patio or start from scratch, here are some fantastic ways to stay cool and beat the summer heat:

Custom Built Patio Cover

A patio cover is an excellent addition to your outdoor space, providing shade and protection from the sun’s rays. Our custom patio covers ensure you’re getting the exact look you want, while still effectively blocking the sun. Not only will a patio cover keep you cool, but it’ll also enhance your patio’s overall look and functionality.

Add Outdoor Fans

Beat the heat with the gentle breeze of outdoor fans. Install ceiling fans or freestanding fans strategically to circulate the air and create a cool and comfortable environment. Not only do fans provide relief from the heat, but can also help keep pesky bugs at bay.

Opt for Heat-Reflective Materials

When choosing materials for your patio, go with heat-reflective options like light-colored concrete, natural stone, or composite decking. These materials absorb less heat, ensuring a cooler surface for your patio. Additionally, consider adding rugs or mats made from natural fibers to prevent your feet from getting too hot.

Embrace Greenery

Incorporating greenery adds a touch of natural beauty to your patio and helps create a cooler environment. Strategically place potted plants and trees around your patio to provide shade and improve air quality. In addition, plants release moisture through transpiration, which cools down the surrounding area.

Choose Comfortable Seating

Opt for patio furniture that offers comfort while staying cool. Look for chairs and loungers made from breathable materials like mesh or lightweight aluminum. You can also add cushions made with moisture-wicking fabrics to provide extra comfort while preventing excessive heat retention.

Adding any – or all – of these options to your patio design allows you to create a comfortable and cool outdoor space to beat the heat. Whether entertaining guests or enjoying a peaceful afternoon, a well-designed patio will become your go-to retreat during the hot summer months. Stay cool, relax, and make the most of your patio oasis.

Our Process

At Texas Custom Patios, we really get to know our customers. When you choose to build with us, you get your own project developer who will get to know you, your goals, and your style, and will oversee your entire outdoor living project, from start to finish.

Schedule your free consultation today by calling our office or filling out our contact form. We will send one of our experienced project developers to your home to gather information about your project. If we can provide an outdoor living project that meets your budget, then we will create a proposal for you.

Not sure how to budget for your outdoor living project? Look at our dream patio budgeting guide for some ideas.

What Can I Expect During This Visit?

• You will see photos of similar projects to help us determine your preferences
• We will take measurements and photos of the project area
• We will ask lots of questions about your expectations
• We will talk to you about your project budget

DESIGN, PRICING, & PROPOSAL

After your project developer visits your home, we will provide you with a proposal that includes an exact quote proposal for your project. On average, the proposal will be completed in about a week. This proposal will include a design drawing with specifications and dimensions and rendered views and elevations so you can see what the project will look like after completion.

Your project developer will schedule an in-person meeting with you to go over your proposal and answer any questions. Once we have signed a contract, You can visit our office showroom to view samples and make final selections for your project.

EXACT QUOTE

When we say “exact quote,” we mean it. This quote is not an estimate, and there will be no surprise expenses during the course of your project. If changes or additions are made during the construction process, we will address those changes as they occur.

HOA APPROVAL AND CITY PERMITS

Some areas require a permit or HOA approval for outdoor living projects. The only thing your project developer needs in order to get approval for you is a copy of your lot survey. We will provide all of the additional required information.

If you live in a municipality that requires a building permit, we will handle every submission, inspection, and approval required. Depending on the location, this process can take between four and six weeks.

MATERIALS AND SCHEDULING

Scheduling of your project will depend on several factors — how many jobs we are currently working on, the weather, or if you have a particular deadline for an event at your home.

Materials are ordered in a timely fashion so they will be available when we begin construction on your project. Some materials are readily available while others require a special order. We will get you to make selections on stone and other materials quickly after the signing of a contract in case there are time constraints on having the material ready when needed.

Our crews work on several projects at a time. Many times throughout your project, you will see one crew work, have another trade come in to do their part and then the first crew come back to finish up their part of the project. We try to keep production of your project continuous once we begin working, but there may be times when we have some lag time between trades.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND COMPLETION

Your project will be managed and supervised by your Project Developer — the one that first met with you, created your project specifications, and signed off on your dream outdoor living space. Your Project Developer will communicate the construction schedule to you. They will be available at all times via email or phone before, during and after construction of your project. If you ever have any questions or concerns about your project, they are the one to contact.

Upon completion of your project, your Project Developer will walk through the outdoor living space with you to ensure you are completely satisfied with the completed project. We take pride in our work and want you to be delighted with your new space.

WARRANTY PROTECTION

We provide you with a strong written warranty for both material and workmanship. We stand behind what we build and want you to know we will come and make repairs if necessary.

REFERRALS

We have two goals when we are building outdoor living spaces — one is to satisfy you by exceeding your expectations and building you your dream outdoor living space. The other goal is to have you refer us to your friends and neighbors.

We want you to feel confident enough in us to share your experience with others. We do have a referral program in place and will send you a special thank you if one of your friends or family gives us a chance to build their outdoor living space.

Have a project in mind?

We work throughout the Houston and Dallas – Fort Worth areas.

Get a free quote!

Click the image below to discover details of this gorgeous project in Katy, Texas.

We would like to thank VoyageHouston for taking the time to get to know Texas Custom Patios!  Below is a fantastic article getting to know the people that are making outdoor oasis dreams come true all over Texas.  And to think it all started with a simple deck …

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rob and Katherine Douglass.

Thirteen years ago, Rob Douglass had a vision to open a company that would create outdoor living spaces that would be as functional and as attractive as the inside of the home. Something that looked original to the home and not an add on. Initially, Texas Custom Patios built simple decks and pergolas, but the market was changing and the timing was perfect. Along with his wife, Katherine Douglass, and business partner, Steven Schell, Texas Custom Patios began building luxury outdoor living spaces complete with fully equipped kitchens, outdoor living rooms, outdoor fire features, entertainment centers, and specialized dining areas. The first full year in business, 2005, there were 44 projects completed … now, an average of 200 projects are completed each year. This includes the newly opened branch in the Dallas Fort Worth area. In order to grow to this level, Texas Custom Patios needed to develop crews from all the trades that are required to build the projects. They have sub-contractors that have worked with them for many years – framers, electricians, painters, masons, plumbers and more. Texas Custom Patios has 7 project developers in the Houston area and 4 in the Dallas Fort Worth area that work closely with each homeowner throughout the process of designing and building the dream outdoor living space.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The road has been relatively smooth, although with any business there are always some struggles. When Hurricane Ike hit the area, there was a definite slump in business. Everyone was focused on repairing damaged homes – not just theirs but others that were less fortunate.

Homeowners took the time to help out in the community and put their own backyard dreams to the side for a while. The recent oil slump has had an effect as well – homeowners have taken precautions with their spending. We have noticed an increase in sales since the beginning of 2017, which falls in line with the economy getting stronger again.

Texas Custom Patios – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Texas Custom Patios has several unique assets that stand out from all the other patio competitors. Their key to success is designing and building a structure that does not look like an add-on, it looks original to the home’s design. No matter how old the house is, roofing, bricking, siding is all selected to blend with the structure of the home. It can be a challenge sometimes to figure out how to tie in substantial additions while maintaining the style of the original home, but we achieve success time after time. We focus only on outdoor living – we are not interior remodelers. There are many types of projects we build – patio covers, pergolas, screened porches, pool houses, room additions, outdoor kitchens, outdoor fire features, decorative patios, and more. When we work with a customer on their backyard design, we gather information and create a project within their budget. We offer suggestions on design and finishes to make the project a custom space for the homeowner to enjoy. The project developer works with the homeowner from start of design to completion of the project… the project is not handed off to anyone else. Texas Custom Patios also has a strong written warranty.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success is defined when we have happy homeowners. Knowing we are building and creating their dream outdoor space is something we take seriously. When at the end of the project, we are told it was exactly what they imagined or it turned out better than what they thought, that is success. We are always looking to have satisfied homeowners – ones that will and do refer us to their friends and neighbors.

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