Extending outdoor living

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Rain and wind-proofing an outdoor space adds value to a property. With a roof or clear vinyl sides, your buyers can see an area where rain doesn't stop play.

Thanks to blitz advertising, most Kiwis have heard the name Archgola. The company and others like it can add canopies to decks, enclosing the space for year-round use.

Undercover verandas, pergolas and gazebos can be turned into living space by adding side panels, which effectively create a conservatory. Restaurants often use these spaces, so there's no reason why home owners can't as well.

Roll-down clear vinyl blinds are a popular choice, which, if you're lucky, can be bought ready made from Bunnings and Mitre10. If not, there are plenty of companies that will custom manufacture to fit. Usually these blinds zip into place and are stored using a rope-and-pulley system.

Mounting your blinds is very simple, says Mitre 10's "Easy As" guy, Stan Scott. Typically it involves screwing the mountings into wood or installing a track then fitting the blind.

Other options include roll-up shade cloths or other gazebo or veranda sides, such as canvas. These aren't as windproof as the vinyl blinds, meaning they're not a 12-month solution.

If you don't already have an outdoor living space, building a pergola doesn't generally need planning permission, Scott says.

Provided the pergola is less than 10 sq m in size, it is usually okay to add a roof. But a quick call to the council is a good idea; never risk building an unpermitted structure.

Another option for quick and easy rain and windproof outdoor living is a pop-up gazebo. These can be turned into dining areas to give buyers a glimpse of what they could do themselves. Scott has a gazebo in his garden, which he uses as a temporary outdoor extension to his man cave when needed.

It's important to dress them so it doesn't look like you've just plonked a gazebo on the lawn. Lights, plants, furniture and even place settings can really give a gazebo the Pinterest touch and bring it to life as an outdoor entertaining hub for the home.

The more you pay for pop-up gazebos, the better UV protection of the fabric and powder coating of the steel you get.

Heating the outdoor space also makes it more usable. The cheap option is a patio heater. Permanent gas, wood or pellet fireplaces and fire pits are easier on the eye and can make a design statement, all-important when selling a home.

For wind protection, it's reasonably simple to erect trellis and staple brush sides to it or the existing fence, says Scott.

Bamboo is particularly good for this purpose, especially if you have access to a free source - although you could also buy it at a Mitre 10, Scott says.