If you’re looking at building a standing patio yourself, free standing patio cover kits are a great way to do it—nowhere more so than here in Perth or most of WA for that matter. Whether you’re planning a DIY upgrade or exploring different types of patio cover kit options, these ready-made systems can simplify the entire project.
In this article, we’ll explain what exactly free standing patio cover kits are, and we’ll also discuss various materials, designs, and other things to consider before starting your build. Homeowners in Perth often compare different styles of outdoor patio cover kits, especially when choosing the right materials for harsh WA weather.
What is a free-standing patio cover kit?
Building a patio can be a daunting task. You have to plan and measure everything out, order the right components, cut to size if necessary, and hope it all fits together in the end. With free standing patio cover kits, the process becomes far easier for DIY enthusiasts, because they provide everything needed for assembly without extensive construction knowledge.
A patio cover kit is a ready-to-assemble package containing all the materials you need to build a patio. For DIY home renovators, free standing patio cover kits are the perfect solution because they come in various materials, designs, and layouts that suit most spaces.
There are some really compelling reasons to install a patio cover. But when it comes to building a patio, what are the options available to you? What kind of roof designs and materials are best?
Attached vs freestanding patios
There are broadly two kinds of patios: attached and free standing. Attached means that one or sometimes two sides of the patio run along the walls of the house.
A free-standing patio, on the other hand, is a separate self-supported structure that stands somewhere in your garden. Typically, it is supported by pillars/columns or a combination of walls and support pillars.
Freestanding patios provide greater flexibility as far as location. You can build your freestanding patio as close or far from your house as you like.
Having the patio situated even just a few metres away from the main building can really give the property a more luxurious and grand aesthetic. It provides a nice, inviting, almost isolated space in which to relax under the shade and get away from it all. To find out more on patio sizes, read further here.
Location and orientation
One aspect of patio construction you might not have considered is orientation. The direction your patio is facing can significantly affect light, airflow, and temperature. Many homeowners using free standing patio cover kits strategically position their structures to block excessive heat while maximising natural light.
Placing your freestanding patio a short walk away from the main building creates a sense of transition from indoor to outdoor space. This layout enhances privacy and creates a calm retreat that feels slightly removed from the home.
If you prefer convenience, you can build your patio closer to the house. Using a patio cover kit makes it easy to install either configuration quickly and efficiently.
Open vs. enclosed patio covers
Open patio covers
These create a smooth transition between indoor and outdoor space while still offering excellent protection from direct sunlight. Many free standing patio cover kits can be adapted for open designs, creating a modern and airy outdoor area.
Enclosed patio covers
These feel more like an additional room, offering floor-to-ceiling appeal without high construction costs. Some patio cover kit options can also be enclosed or semi-enclosed depending on the material used.
Beam, lattice and solid designs
The design of your patio roof influences temperature, shade, and overall comfort.
A beam or lattice design is more open, built with cross beams and leaving gaps for sunlight. While providing moderate shade, it doesn’t fully protect against rain. Many free standing patio cover kits offer lattice options for homeowners seeking decorative airflow and diffused lighting.
A solid design provides complete coverage and is ideal for full weather protection. Solid roofs can be transparent or opaque, depending on your preferred amount of natural light. When selecting outdoor patio cover kits, the roofing design is one of the most important factors to consider.
Materials
We have an entire article dedicated to the best patio roof materials, comparing their pros and cons, detailing where each is most appropriate and looking at their ranges of colour options. In the following sections, we’ll give you a more condensed version of that.
Steel
One potential issue with steel constructions of any kind is corrosion. Long term exposure to moisture such as saturated soil or rainfall pooling eventually leads to rusting. There are ways to mitigate this with proper installation methods, so it’s not a deal-breaker, but it is something to be aware of.
Wood
Wood is often favoured for its pleasant and inviting appearance. Choose from strong hardwoods such as oak or softwoods like Douglas fir.
Another option is woven bamboo which conveys a very tropical island-like aesthetic while being highly practical in hot weather conditions.
Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate is durable, lightweight, inexpensive and easy to install. It comes as transparent panels that can be integrated into designs that utilise other materials like wood or aluminium for structural support.
Fabric
Often referred to as shade sails, this type of fabric is a highly affordable and an easily installed patio roof material. However, it is not as durable as other materials so it’s not something we recommend if you want your patio cover to stand the test of time.
Vinyl
Vinyl offers a natural look and feel, is relatively inexpensive, low maintenance and weather resistant. Although colours and designs are somewhat more limited, vinyl is a great all-around option.
Clear Perspex
Clear Perspex is a type of UV resistant Plexiglass that can be used for patio roofing. It is transparent, so it’s perfect for protecting against harmful UV rays without too much attenuation of visible light directly from the sun.
Beam and lattice designs are often used to achieve a similar effect, but they are less effective at blocking UV rays and lack the rainfall mitigation of a solid roof.
Glass
An unusual choice, glass is the least attenuating patio roof material (other than no material of course!) which also provides complete shelter from rainfall. Unlike clear Perspex, however, the glass will not be effective in blocking UV radiation from the sun. It will also do very little to keep the patio cool in hot weather.
Roof designs
There are a few different kinds of patio roof designs that vary in shape and overall appearance. In this next section, we’ll discuss the most popular roof designs. Also, check out our article which goes into detail on the best patio roof material.
Flat roof design
While a flat roof patio does have some drainage, it’s not quite as capable as pitched designs.
The major benefit of flat patio roofs is that they’re considerably less expensive and much quicker and easier to install. You could then redirect your budget savings into better materials or additional features.
Skillion roof design
Skillion or “lean-to” roofs are inexpensive and easy to install, protect from all kinds of weather conditions and let in plenty of natural light.
Gable roof design
A gable roof has two sides sloped in opposite directions, giving a kind of triangular shape. They are structurally reliable and extremely good at draining rainfall. They can be built to a wider
Gable roofs can be built to a much wider span than an equivalent flat roof design thanks to the structurally supportive shape.
Insulated vs non-insulated patio roof
Finally, you have the choice of whether to add insulation to your patio roof. We’ve written about patio roof insulation in more detail in the past, but the short version is this …
Insulated patio roofs are solid roofs built with a layer of polystyrene foam, a few centimetres thick, between the roof and ceiling. This provides superior protection from heat radiation, UV rays and even ambient sound! So an insulated patio is an overall quieter, cooler and more relaxed place to be.
They can be built to conceal cabling and gutters and generally have a smoother, more premium appearance.
As you might expect, this kind of construction comes at an extra cost. On top of that, they also take much more work to install.
Should I buy a freestanding patio cover kit?
A freestanding patio offers shade, shelter, and an inviting outdoor retreat. Using free standing patio cover kits simplifies the entire process, whether you place the patio beside or away from the main building. They allow for creative decorating and customisation of your outdoor area.
If you’re considering taking on a patio project yourself, then a custom made patio cover kit is the best way to do it. They take the hassle out of the building and are the perfect project for DIY home renovators.
With many years of experience in designing, supplying and installing patios in Perth and WA, our team of patio experts at Mackson will manufacture custom patio kits, supplying all the materials you need to get the job done.
Get in touch with us today for a quote on your patio project and start your journey to a great patio build today.
