Covered Walkways Add Beauty and Weather Protection Too
Whether made from a shade sail, corrugated fiberglass or rusted steel, these 13 walkways offer a more beautiful path
If you’re dreaming up ways to improve your existing home, or thinking about building a new one, you might consider a covered walkway. This upgrade on a basic walkway can add beauty to your home — and more importantly, provide you with varying levels of protection from the elements. The type of covered walkway you choose will depend both on your home’s style and on the weather where you live, since different solutions will be appropriate for warm, sunny regions with intense sunlight, and rainy or snowy regions.
Each of these 13 beauties, constructed from a wide range of materials, fits the region and the style of home where they are constructed. Perhaps one of them will spark your own walkway inspiration.
Each of these 13 beauties, constructed from a wide range of materials, fits the region and the style of home where they are constructed. Perhaps one of them will spark your own walkway inspiration.
1. Simple timber. This open and airy covered walkway connects the garage to the main house of this Connecticut farmhouse. The rustic styling fits in beautifully in this region, and with time, when the vines grow on the top of the structure, it will provide greater shade under a canopy of vines. In the interim, the posts that flank the walkway create an obvious path to the main house, which defines the space. Though this walkway is beautiful, it clearly wouldn’t provide protection from harsh winter weather.
2. Winter canopy. Here’s a different timber walkway, shown during the winter months, when there is little relief from the elements. During the warm summer months, this long covered walkway is perfectly shaded when the vines that cover it are blooming. The trusses, made of rough timber, are designed to support the weight of the seasonal vines. The walkway posts also assist in supporting the fence along either side of it.
3. Simply modern. This rustic modern covered walkway provides a generous amount of shade for the house thanks to its wood slats. It also offers a wide walkway to the backyard. The simple steel and wood construction is a smart-looking addition to this modern farmhouse-style home. This slatted construction is an ideal solution for areas that get lots of light but little rain. In regions that get more rain or snow, a roofing material could be added to better shield you from the elements.
4. Draped in vines. Creating an inviting entry pathway between structures of this Spanish Colonial estate, the covered walkway is full of plant life, with vines covering the smooth white stucco columns. The steel trellis provides shade and, in time, will be draped in vines. While the covering of vines is an ideal solution for warm and dry regions to shield from the sun, this may not be the best solution for regions with rain and snow.
5. Southwestern shade. Airy and open, the covered walkway in this desert modern home extends from the entry courtyard door to the home. The large rusted-steel and wood shade structure covers a significant portion of the entry courtyard, offering relief from the hot desert sun. When positioned correctly to block the most incoming sunlight, slats like these can create just the right amount of shade and can be a good solution in the Southwest.
6. Modern sail shades. To complement the clean modern lines of the desert modern home, the walkway is covered with custom sail shades. Not only do these provide an abundance of shade from the desert sun, but they also add an unusual style element that you would not achieve with wood or metal. Shade sails have become increasing popular and are available in numerous standard sizes and colors, as well as custom sizes.
7. Beachside breezeway. The covered walkway in this Northern California seaside home is bright and airy. The roof is made from a durable and translucent corrugated fiberglass, which shades the house and protects it from the sun, while still letting some light pass through. Corrugated fiberglass panels are strong, durable, shatter-resistant and will not rust or mildew, making them sturdy enough to be used in almost any climate.
8. Steel and corrugated fiberglass. This covered walkway leads to the bright yellow front door of a 1960s Australian home that has been renovated in a striking modern style. The walkway travels from the home’s garage to the main home; the living spaces lie behind that yellow door. The wall on the right side of the path hides a lap pool from view. The covered walkway is made from steel posts and corrugated fiberglass panels. The space leading to the front entry feels defined and allows for an unobstructed view of the beautiful grounds while protecting you from the ever-changing weather.
9. All-season sun and snow shade. To enter this modern mountainside home in Montana, you cross the mountainous terrain via a wood and steel bridge. To handle the additional weight that comes with deep winter snow, this covered walkway is made from steel I-beams, steel tubing and corrugated steel roofing.
10. Tropical wood. Creating a dramatic entry with ocean views, this covered walkway in Costa Rica almost appears to be floating despite large steel posts that support the roof. The ceiling is paneled with teak, which is a prominent local wood species. Teak is a rich, durable wood that can withstand outdoor use and will last for many decades with proper maintenance, which is just a light sanding and an application of teak oil.
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11. Steel and stucco. Super clean and very modern, this covered walkway at a hillside home in Phoenix helps make a grand entry from the street to the house. Even more dramatic, the covered walkway appears to almost hover over a bridge in the desertscape. With the diminutive black steel posts supporting the weight of the smooth stucco canopy, the stunning desert surroundings are on full unobstructed display. This is an ideal solution for areas such as this that have tons of sun and seasonal rain storms.
12. Spanish stucco. With its white, bright and smooth stucco finish, this arched Spanish Colonial covered walkway makes for a welcoming and inviting entry. Also referred to as a loggia, this style of architecture is typical to warm regions and may serve as an exterior hallway with the rooms opening to the protected cover. The columns create a sense of heft, and the space is open to allow air to circulate while still providing shade.
13. Glass ceiling. A modern take with a traditional twist, this glass-covered walkway spans two structures of this home near Montana’s Snake River. Steel I-beams support the skylights and windows of this covered walkway and provide ample strength to hold the additional weight of seasonal snow. Sunlight fills and warms the space, much like a greenhouse.
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