With competition being strong in the hospitality market, you need something that will help you stand out from the cafe or restaurant next door. Commercial patios are a great way to bring additional all-weather outdoor dining possibilities to your restaurant.
But it isn’t just restaurants that benefit from commercial patios and patio design in Perth.
Schools, sports centres, councils, strata properties, commercial properties, day-cares and kindergartens are all utilising commercial patio structures to provide them with additional shaded play space, parking space and recreation space.
One of the biggest benefits of installing a commercial patio is that, depending on the location, these patios don’t always need to be finished to the same standard as residential patios, which can reduce the cost, therefore making it more budget-friendly, and may not take as long to install.
We’ve been doing a lot of commercial patio installations as of late, and there are five main reasons our customers are having them installed, which we explore below.
Commercial Fixed Patios are Durable
If you’ve been looking into patios for your business, you’ve likely come across the two main types available – fixed frame and retractable. Now retractable awnings certainly have their benefits, particularly if the area you are looking at covering isn’t used regularly. It is however important to consider both options – the cost, how much protection they provide and how durable they are.
Most businesses are looking for long-term options and this is where the fixed-frame patios have the advantage. They are much more durable than retractable awnings and are less open to damage, mould and mildew. You also don’t need to worry about stains or rips, and they are less vulnerable to storm damage.
Protection from the Elements
Utilising your outdoor space can offer some great additions to your business, but not when you have to factor in only being able to use it at certain points of the day – no one wants to be sitting in the summer heat to eat their meal or running around playing basketball in the rain.
One of the reasons many people install patios in Perth, whether it be commercial or residential, is so that they can enjoy their outdoor space without worrying about the weather.
Here in WA, we can get some pretty big storms, but it also gets quite hot. A commercial patio offers protection whatever the weather and allows your customers to utilise your business fully. It also protects your staff coming to and from work – no one enjoys turning up to the office soaking wet from that downpour of rain!
Did you know you could also have your patio fully enclosed? Not only does this give you extra space year-round, but you also have additional protection from insects, dust and the glare of the sun.
Create a Change of Scenery
If you own a corporate office you may not have considered outdoor space when developing the space, or when purchasing but if you have the space, a patio area can do a lot for the welfare of your employees or tenants. Spending all day behind a screen can have massive impacts on physical and mental health, and not everyone wants to go for a walk during their lunch break.
Outdoor space offers plenty of benefits including increased productivity, minimised levels of stress and anxiety, and a great return on investment.
This outdoor area can also work as a breakout space for team development, and an outdoor space for less formal team meetings. It also allows for an additional space to meet with clients, or entertain clients, and business partners.
Additional Floor Space
No business likes having to turn patrons away, but it often happens, particularly in the hospitality industry, and not having enough floor space often means not being able to increase your profits.
For hospitality venues, a commercial patio means extra seating, function space or entertainment space. For sports and community centres, a commercial patio may mean being able to increase the activities you offer to the community. For schools and daycares, installing a commercial patio allows you to increase time spent outside, whatever the weather, and on particularly rainy weeks, can stop children from being cooped up inside for too long.
Increasing your floor space can allow your business to flourish.
Increased Return on Investment and Added Value
If you own a commercial property you’re always looking for ways to improve the return on your investment. A commercial patio allows you to do this through increased revenue, a better workplace atmosphere and lower maintenance and insurance costs.
Having the commercial patio may allow you to operate for longer hours, or as mentioned above, allow you to offer services that you weren’t able to before.
While a fixed patio can be a larger expense to start with, that ability to make more money very quickly makes up for the cost. In the long run, you will also have fewer maintenance costs and fewer replacement costs. In terms of insurance, if a patio cover is used for parking, you may have fewer insurance costs from storm damage.
A commercial patio can also increase the value of your property. Having that extra floor space, extra room to add services, and increased meeting spaces may see added value when (and if) you go to sell your property.
Depending on the type of property you own or services you offer on a business, you may find that your ROI is quite substantial, giving you more options in the future.
The installation of a patio on commercial buildings is a solid choice for many owner-occupiers and landlords. These patios are a great way to bring a new life to an old building, increase business and increase the morale of your staff.
Much like residential patio builds, a commercial patio provides you with additional floor space that can be used for a variety of functions, whether that be a meeting space, an eating space, recreational space or parking. As a landlord, this additional space makes your property more appealing than that of similar properties and makes it more marketable when the time comes to find a new tenant.
Installing a Patio on Your Commercial Property
Whether you are an owner occupier or a landlord, installing patios in Perth on your commercial property does require a high initial investment, however, this investment is often far outweighed by the benefits it provides – increased revenue, lower maintenance costs (and time spent maintaining) and an increase in the value of your property.
If you are considering installing a commercial patio, there are two things you need to do first:
- Check with your local shire as to building regulations and what is and isn’t allowed.
- Engage the services of an experienced and knowledgeable patio builder.
Designing Your Commercial Patio
When you have decided to install a commercial patio, one of the big decisions you need to make is what it will look like, and importantly, how much space you need it to cover. For restaurants and hospitality venues, you may be looking at a smaller patio that can also incorporate outdoor blinds that allow you to use the venue any time of the year. For schools and daycares, you may be looking to replace your current outdoor area with a bigger patio to give more space for outdoor play free of the elements.
At One Stop Patio Shop, we specialise in patio design Perth and identify four styles of roofing that you can consider for your patio, and our experienced team will be able to help you choose the right one for your needs:
- Flat Deck Roofing – offers a clean, uncluttered appearance, and comes in lighter Colorbond colours. It is a modern option and allows for large areas to be covered with fewer support posts.
- Poly-carbonate Roofing – great for areas where you want to let the natural light in, and allow the area to be warmed by the sun, while still being protected from UV rays and the weather.
- SolarSpan Roofing – the popular choice amongst commercial buyers, SolarSpan has heat reduction qualities and offers a streamlined look. The roof is insulated, protects from UV rays and weather, and prevents condensation from forming on the sheets.
- Timber-Lined Roofing – Perfect for cafes and restaurants, the timber roofing adds an instant appeal and makes an area feel more welcoming.
At One Stop Patio Shop, we look after the council regulations and licensing for you. Our team allows around 4 weeks for the building licence, planning application and water corporation to be processed through the local shire. To ensure everything is ready to go, our consultants have all the relevant documentation for you to sign at the same time, meaning that you won’t experience hold-ups while waiting on forms to be signed.
Commercial patios tend to take a little longer to build than a residential patio, simply because they are often bigger, and sometimes require some additional engineering to ensure they can be used how you want to use them. These patios can be built during off-peak times for your business, and we’ll work with you to achieve your specific requirements.
If you’ve been considering installing a commercial patio at your business or investment property, call the friendly team at One Stop Patio Shop, and let’s get your project underway.
