The family home is usually one of the biggest investments you’ll make. And of course, you want to make the most of your investment and make your home as beautiful as you can. There are some simple – yet effective – ways that you can make your home more attractive, by adding decorative timber elements to your roofline or verandah. Here’s some ideas on how you can decorate your verandah with style.
Frieze
Decorative frieze runs along the top of your verandah, just under the roofline and is usually composed of slats, either plain or with a decorative motif included at regular intervals. Frieze is usually about 300mm high, which still allows enough head room underneath, whilst providing a pleasing decorative element to your verandah.
Balustrading
Complementing the frieze along the top, you can decorate your verandah with balustrading to complete the look, while also keeping your loved ones safe from a fall! Balustrading can match the frieze with plain or motif slats and the handrail can come in many different sizes and profiles.
Both balustrading and frieze are easy to assemble. Here’s some tips to keep in mind when assembling them:
- Standard slat spacing is at 150mm centres. When working out where to space them to fit your individual dimensions, divide the length of the post spacing (not the actual length of the rail) by 150.
- Decide how many motif slats you want to fit within the length of the balustrading or frize, then lay the slats out in a pattern. For example:
I I O I I I O I I I O I I I O I I
This shows how many plain and how many motif slat you’ll need. - Frieze panels can be nailed in at the top and bottom with bullet head nails. Remember to putty the nail holes in the bottom rail.
You may want to check out this order guide for balustrating and frieze, which has further information – Order Guide – Balustrading and Frieze Kits
Post Corner Brackets
Post corner brackets are the right angle decorative timber pieces that attach to a verandah post and the underside of either the verandah roof or frieze panels. They come in a variety of designs, and you should be able to find a style to suit your home, regardless of whether you have a modern, federation or heritage style home.
Post corner brackets are very simple to install, requiring just a screw on the top and side to hold it into place, yet can dramatically change the look of your home quickly.
Eaves Brackets
Similar in appearance to post corner brackets, eaves brackets are fitted to the underside of your eaves at regular intervals. Again, you should be able to find a number of designs and styles to suit any roofline.
Gable Decoration
Do you have a gable roofline? Why not put the finishing touch on your gable end, with a gable finial? Gable finials are usually attached to the peak of the gable, and can come with either a spike or a ball at either end. Keep in mind that the deeper your gable roof, the longer your gable finial should be.
Because you have a face on a gable roofline, you can also get gable fretwork in many styles and designs. Instead of just a blank wall, gable fretwork provides that added detail that will complete your roof nicely.
All of these suggestions have one thing in common – they’re simple, but can dramatically change the look of your home in a very short period of time, for usually a minimal investment. You don’t always need to go big to get a big effect – these simple ideas to decorate your verandah should do the trick!
About Lyrebird Enterprises
As experts in the manufacture of bullnose verandah rafters, curved beams and other curved rafters, door and window canopies /window awnings and a wide range of decorative timber verandah and garden products for over 35-years, Lyrebird Enterprises are well placed to assist you with your outdoor living project. We offer specialist reproduction, new design and manufacturing services for custom curved beam, small or large-scale building projects and provide an obligation-free initial consultation.
Visit our website – lyrebirdverandahart.com
