How to Estimate the Cost for a Patio Enclosure

In 2018, Kiplinger reported that 87 percent of homebuyers want their property to have a patio. Not only will the investment boost your home's desirability and help it shuffle off the market more quickly, the peace and quiet of your own little hybrid indoor-outdoor haven might just prove invaluable while you're still living there.

Like homes themselves, every patio and patio enclosure is different. Everything from where you live to your aesthetic preferences can affect how much of a dent your patio ultimately puts in your bank account balance, but expert opinions and project cost averages help shed a little sunlight on your enclosure's budget.

If you're starting your patio project from scratch, your material choices will likely have the most significant effect on your overall costs. According to author, climate gardener and landscape architect Maureen Gilmer of Landscaping Network, the price per square foot can range from as little as $6 to as much as $30, depending on material.

Basic concrete starts at about $6 per square foot and ranges up to $17, while brick spans from about $8 to $12. Stone pavers start at roughly $10 per square foot and reach prices of up to $25, and flagstone runs from $15 to $30. For a 12 by 12 foot patio, budget friendly concrete puts you at a total material cost of about $864, while high-end flagstone can cost up to $4,320 before you even start enclosing the space.

According to HomeAdvisor estimates from mid-2018, the national average cost to build a patio enclosure is $15,516, with a typical range spanning from $8,408 up to $23,384. With an extreme focus on tightening the budget, HomeAdvisor's figures estimate that you can pull off the project for as little as $2,890. If you go all out on luxury options like travertine and premium windows, you're liable to spend up to $39,500.

If you've already got an open patio in place, expect to spend somewhere in the neighborhood of $5,000 to $10,000 to enclose or partially enclose the space, accounting for the material and construction costs of doors, screens, windows and roofing. To start from the ground up – including foundation, flooring, walls, roofing and windows – you're likely to spend $20,000 or more on your backyard's new addition.

As part of the overall project costs, screens for the average-sized patio enclosure only cost about $280. If you opt for windows, you'll increase the price of your patio alongside its seasonable usability; four windows will run you about $1,200 to $3,200. If you're going for a premium vibe, climate control, additional landscaping, seating, decking, privacy shades and entertainment features can all add to the price tag.

While some municipalities charge a permit price of $900 for more elaborate patio structures, you most likely won't need a permit to build an enclosure. However, most cities do impose some caveats, like requiring your enclosure to be a certain number of feet from other structures or limiting your patio's total square footage. Before you spend a dime, check in with your local municipality. It'll be cheaper to build your new patio to code than it will be to revise it later on.