What Kind of Fan is Right for Your Outdoor Space?

May 27, 2022 Patio Design

A ceiling fan is one of the simplest upgrades you can make to your covered patio. The right outdoor ceiling fan adds a decorative and functional touch to your design. 

Choosing a ceiling fan for your outdoor space is similar to selecting a fan indoors. However, there are a few things to consider to ensure the longevity of your ceiling fan.

Moisture

Outdoor fans have damp or wet ratings. This rating indicates the amount of moisture a fixture is built to withstand. 

Damp-rated fans can withstand moderate amounts of moisture. However, you should avoid installing these in areas that may be directly exposed to rain. Therefore, damp-rated fans work better under covered patio spaces.

Wet-rated fans have a more waterproof design. As a result, they can withstand more moisture and are better suited for exposed areas such as pergolas.

Outdoor fan with pool

Other Environmental Factors

High winds and salty humidity may impact ceiling fan performance. If you’re in an area with special weather conditions (hello, Houston), look for a fan specifically designed to withstand the elements.

Determining the Size

The best way to determine the best size for your ceiling fan is to use the square footage of the space. For larger areas that may require two fans, use the square footage of each section to determine the most suitable size for each fan.

Spaces up to 75 square feet = 29-36 inch

Spaces 76-144 square feet = 36-42 inch

Spaces 144-225 square feet = 44 inch

Spaces 225-400 square feet = 50-54 inch

Outdoor living room with ceiling fan

DC vs. AC

DC fans are becoming increasingly popular due to their energy efficiency and quiet, less bulky motors. However, these fans tend to be more costly and usually require remote control operation.

On the other hand, AC fans usually cost less and can be controlled via a wall panel and remote. Some also come with chain switches, making operation more reliable.

Pool house with fan

Style

Now for the fun part: choosing a fan that complements your outdoor living style

Whether you’re looking for an iconic mid-century modern design, something more traditional, or anything in between, there are styles available to fit any space.

One simple approach is to use the same ceiling fans you’re using indoors. If you plan to do this, make sure that your indoor ceiling fan is damp- or wet-rated.

Need help designing your outdoor living space? Give one of our outdoor-living specialists a call at 281-265-1994 in Houston or 972-915-2727 in Dallas/Fort Worth.

3 Keys to Creating a Customized Outdoor Space

August 30, 2021 Patio Design

Customizing your patio isn’t just a great way to enjoy your outdoor space, it’s also a terrific way to showcase your style. The three owners of Houston-based Texas Custom Patios, husband and wife Rob and Katherine Douglass and Steven Schell, have learned an array of techniques for maximizing any outdoor space. They’ve discovered that the best patio designs are a blend of a home’s architecture and the owners’ personal style.

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Creating the market. In 2004, Rob Douglass saw an opportunity. Working for the YMCA and living in Fort Bend County, he noticed “a lot of rooftops going up,” he says. “Although the new homes were on decent-sized lots, the new backyards had a 10-by-10 slab and not much else.” Douglass realized he could create a specialized service designing and building outdoor living spaces, dining areas and kitchens. He brought his wife, Katherine, on as partner and then enlisted the help of YMCA co-worker Schell.

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Your new favorite room. In the ensuing 15 years, the company has grown to include offices in Houston and now Dallas. The team has created an array of outdoor living rooms, customized kitchen spaces, dining and living rooms with outdoor entertainment centers, as well as customized pool houses. “We’ve learned from all the mistakes,” says Schell, who has a background in architectural drafting as well as his on-the-job experience. “We spend a lot of time designing and building each job and have gotten pretty good at it. We can give our customers a good assessment on how and what they should do.”

Ready to fully customize your patio? 

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1. Extend Your Home’s Architecture

“A typical outdoor project gives people 500 square feet of shade and adds a dining space and a lounging space,” Douglass says. “We can also add kitchens and fire features, but our main goal is to match those outdoor rooms to the home’s original style.”

The patio of this Houston brick traditional home was created by extending the home’s wide overhanging roof line and then matching the trim detail of the original structure. The team added Craftsman-style columns and coffered ceilings with oversize beams to the roof’s interior. Two new French doors provide easier access to the outdoor space from inside. “The owners really liked the mix of the brick and the white wood,” Douglass says.

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2. Make It Your Own

Designing a patio provides a great opportunity to design and build a new favorite room. “Most people really enjoy the opportunity to customize the space to reflect their style,” Schell says. This Houston pool house was originally designed to be an open porch with a contemporary flair. “It was partially enclosed,” Schell says. “However, the owners wanted both a fireplace and custom kitchen.”

Schell designed a waterfall island wrapped in white oak for the kitchen, then used large terrazzo tiles as a backsplash. He finished the floor with Pennsylvania bluestone. In the sitting area, a contemporary gas fireplace features ceramic fire balls. The owners liked the resulting space so much, they decided to transform it into a full pool house that could be used all year. Schell added glass windows and accordion-style glass doors.

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3. Take Up Some Space

For comfort’s sake, don’t skimp on space. “In the initial planning stage, we ask in-depth questions,” Douglass says. “It’s important to consider exactly how someone plans to use a space.” By getting into the nitty-gritty of how many people will sit at a dining table, for example, or whether a family entertains a lot, the team can plan for the appropriate amount of square footage. “If you want an outdoor kitchen, you’ll need enough space to move around,” Douglass says. “You don’t want to be backing into the grill, for example.”

This 850-square-foot patio in Houston is ideal for entertaining. The natural stone work area includes a grill and a power burner for crawfish. Both the lounge and dining table can accommodate up to 10 guests. The white brick walls and tile floor are offset by a dark wood tongue-and-groove ceiling.

For more information or examples of Texas Custom Patios’ work, visit the Houzz profile.

This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.

And The Winner Is …..

July 31, 2021 Awards

The Texas Association of Builders (TAB) announced the 2021 Star Awards winners in conjunction with the 20th Sunbelt Builders Show™ at Hilton Anatole Dallas. There were a record setting 720 entries that resulted in eight Grand Awards and 173 elite trophies being handed out. These awards are highly coveted within the industry. Our great State should be proud of its builders, remodelers, architects, designers, developers, and sales, marketing, and construction professionals. Projects and nominations were submitted by 120 companies from 60 cities across Texas. In 1992, TAB launched the Star Awards – the only statewide tribute to excellence in the homebuilding industry.

Texas Custom Patios is excited to be amongst such a stellar group of builders and remodelers. We are pleased to announce we placed as a finalist for three different projects!

We brought home the win for “Remodeler – Best Outdoor Living Space” for the project below!

Click here to see full details of the winning project!


Because Being Outside is Happy

May 28, 2021 Outdoor Living, Patio Design

The Washington Post recently posted an article, “The new American status symbol: A backyard that’s basically a fancy living room,” basically saying stackable plastic chairs and charcoal grills are out…

But loaded, supersize, decked-out deck with an outdoor living room, dining area, 54-inch grill, full kitchen, bar, two-draft kegerator, oversize island, massive weatherproof television, elaborate sound system and semicircular fire lounges are in.

Photo Credit: The Washington Post

What’s not to love? You’ll take all of it? But when? How long will it take? So many questions, right? Knowing when to start building your backyard patio is half the battle and then knowing who to go with is the other battle. Picking out your design, working on the layout, and buying furniture is the fun part!

Texas Custom Patios provides a turnkey custom design project. Our specialty is building projects that look original to the home, including patio covers, pergolas, screened porches, room additions, guest houses, decks, outdoor kitchens, fireplaces, and custom patios. We do all the fun stuff too, you know … oversized islands, elaborate sound systems and stunning fire lounges.

Fire features are great, but the most popular way to bring the heat to your outdoor living space is with an outdoor kitchen!

We can customize your outdoor kitchen area to have whatever you want:

  • built in propane or natural gas
  • large or small grill
  • a sideburner
  • refrigerator or wine cooler
  • drawers and cabinets for storage
  • running water
  • ice maker
  • kegerator… the list is endless

After you slice and dice outside, why not have dinner on the patio? Creating space for a dining table is perfect for entertaining family and friends.

Keep the party outside all night long, by adding a lounge space to kick back and watch TV, listen to music or just relax and look at your view!

And when you’re ready to come back inside, seamless transitions from outdoors to indoor are sliding to the top in popularity!

And when you take away the traditional doors and add seamless transitions to your home, it makes your indoor living space feel larger! Taking your holiday decor outside for some fun in the sun is fun, too!

We have all been stuck inside for too long! Everyone is ready to get out and enjoy a backyard get-together, so if you build it, they will come! Because after all, being outside is happy!

To read The Washington Post’s full article click here.

Best of the Best 2019

December 30, 2019 Outdoor Living

In 2019, Texas Custom Patios completed almost 200 projects with each one having its own style and story, all of them custom-designed and built to look as though it is original to the home. While it’s hard to pick a favorite, here’s a look back at some stunners from 2019! Click the link below each image for full details.

January 2019
February 2019
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December 2019

Survey Says….

April 27, 2019 Outdoor Living

Outdoor living has never been bigger! It’s great when everyone else catches on to what Texas Custom Patios has been passionate about for 15 years! We are dedicated to building you the most beautiful outdoor living space for your budget and in the time frame you need. Click here to see our handy timeline that tells you when to call and when to expect completion!

Article credit: RB Chimney & Hearth

Turnkey Design Solutions

August 31, 2018 Patio Design

What does that mean? Well, turnkey design solutions plays a huge part in what we do here at Texas Custom Patios,  we are not architects… we are builders, creators, designers!  We specialize in the art of unifying aesthetics and function to create a beautiful outdoor living area that is not only visually appealing, but also uniquely purposeful.    Our services include: patio covers; outdoor kitchens; screened porches and patios; room additions; pergolas and decks; outdoor fireplaces; and more. View our portfolio.

Every square inch of each project is meticulously  thought out and custom to each home.  There are no two projects alike with every single one appearing to be built when the home was built.  Everything from roofing material to siding and brick, you won’t be able to tell where your house stops and your outdoor living space begins.  Part of the fun is being able to sit down with you and create your dream space.  As you come up with ideas our project managers talk you through the process to tell you what would be best both as a build out and for your budget.

When you schedule a consultation with one of our experienced project developers, you will be walked through our process, we will hear your ideas and discuss options.  From there the developer will leave and develop a proposal that is more than just a ballpark figure of the cost!  At Texas Custom Patios, every estimate includes a detailed drawing with specifications and dimensions, plus rendered views and elevations – so you can see a preview of your completed project.  So like we said before, we create, we design, we build and you enjoy, and all for one cost and one crew.  You will have one person as an advocate for you and your project, making it easy to keep things on track and know what’s going on with your new space from start to finish!

 

 

Have a project in mind? We work throughout the Houston and Dallas - Fort Worth areas.

Our Customers Love Us

We are absolutely in love with the patio Texas Custom Patios built. Everyone was very professional and we have a beautiful place to enjoy the outdoors. Thanks!

© 2024 TCP Custom Outdoor Living

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