Summer evenings on a patio are suppose to be an extension of the living room. However, many people experience summer evenings on their patio as a slow roast under the sun. If the patio do not feature proper shade solutions, the patio will become an unusable oven during the hottest part of the afternoon; the heat will force all of the patrons to return to the living room.
A proper shade solution can transform a patio into an area that is usable throughout the summer; such a solution will protect the patio’s furnitures, allow the patio to be usable for more hour per day, and create a comfortable area for the residents to enjoy with their drinks or guests. When providing a shade solution for a patio, there is many aspect to consider. For example, the location of the shade options will affect how the light shines onto the patio during the day; certain areas of the yard will receive more shade at specific times of the day than other.
Another of the aspects to consider is the weather in the region in which the patio is located; the shade solution must be able to withstand the elements in the area. Finally, the shade options will impact the look of the patio; some shade options are temporary and cheap, while other options will transform the patio into a permanent architectural feature. Retractable awnings offer complete control over the shade or light that falls onto the patio.
Best Shade Solutions For Your Outdoor Patio
1. Retractable Awnings
The retractable awnings are made out of either fabric or aluminum and attach to the house. The retractable awnings can extend outward to provide shade for a seating area or an entire deck. When not in use, the retractable awnings will tuck against the house so that the patio does not look enclosed.
In addition to retractable awnings that can be operated with a switch, some retractable awnings can also be motorized so that they can be controlled from a smart home system or from the phone, which would be useful to control the awning if a cloud rolls in during a dinner party. In addition to the structure of the retractable awning, the fabric that is use matters as well. Acrylic canvases are often used for retractable awnings because they are fade-resistant, mildew-resistant, and allow for some filtered light to fall onto the patio.
Many of the newer retractable awnings also feature LED lighting and infrared heaters that allow the patio to be enjoyed in any season of the year. Retractable awnings will cost more money then a basic umbrella installation; however, the retractable awnings will pay for themselves over time due to their durability. Pergolas are shade structures that create an area for patios and provide partial shade.
2. Pergolas
The pergola structures can be built with wood, vinyl, or aluminum. These structures allow for the placement of plants or shade sails onto the pergola, as the pergola’s beams do not come down to the ground. The pergola structures also have architectural interest that is provided by their overhangs.
One of the benefits of a pergola is that it can become a living canopy for the patio by planting certain types of plants onto the beams of the pergola. Wisteria, grapevines, and hardy kiwi is three of the plant varieties that can be planted on the beams. In the spring, the plants will not have fully grown their leaves yet so that the area under the pergola will experience dappled light.
However, once the plants have grown their leaves during the summer, the dense coverage will contribute to a drop in the temperature under the pergola. The downside to using plants on a pergola is that they require seasonal maintenance. Furthermore, full coverage will not be present until the pergola and plants have grown over a few years.
However, the benefit of utilizing plants on a pergola is that the coverage is organic rather than a shade solution made out of synthetic materials. Another of the shade options for patios are motorized louvered roofs. These structures feature aluminum slats that can be opened or closed with the push of a button.
3. Motorized Louvered Roofs
These motorized roofs can be tilted to allow for sunlight to shine onto the patio during the morning or into the early afternoon, but the slats will be closed during the hottest part of the day to prevent the patio from overheating. Another benefit of motorized louvered roofs is that the louvers will open and closed to the presence of rain so that the patio remains dry. These types of motorized systems can cost more money than other shade options for patios.
However, for those who use their patios as an extension of their homes, the investment in a motorized louvered roof can transform the function of that patio throughout the year. Shade sails are made of high-density polyethylene and are stretched between two anchor points. These anchor points can be made of the sides of the house, trees, or dedicated posts.
4. Shade Sails
The angular look of shade sails works well with moddern homes. Furthermore, the fabric of the shade sails allows for air to circulate around the patio structures; solid roofs do not allow for air movement. Using shade sails allows for the coverage of areas that are not covered by other types of awnings.
Shade sails can be installed between two points in the yard. To ensure the wind does not damage the shade sails, the installation of shade sails must take into account the strength of the anchor points. The fabric of shade sails will last between five and eight years before needing to be replaced due to the UV rays that fall onto the fabric.
The advantage of shade sails is that they add very little visual weight to the yard; from a distance, they appear as sculptures. However, when walking into the shade of the shade sails, the temperature will drop. Large market umbrellas are another popular option for providing shade for a patio.
5. Large Market Umbrellas
These umbrellas come in a variety of sizes and can cover a dining table for four without any installation requirements. The offset base of the umbrella allows for the individuals to not bump their heads on the umbrella pole when seated at the table. Additionally, the umbrella tilts to follow the path of the sun so that no individual gets exposed to harsh sunlight.
Umbrellas with cranks in their base will allow for the umbrella to be opened and closed. Additionally, umbrellas with a vented top will allow the heat to escape the umbrella. Umbrellas made of solution-dyed acrylic fade much more slower than those made of cheap polyester.
Furthermore, if the umbrella weights 50 lbs., then it will be dangerous if there is a sudden gust of wind if the umbrella is not secured with proper ballast. When selected properly, these umbrellas will provide the flexibility that is often needed for those who have different areas that require shade at different times of the year. Another shade option for a patio is the planting of trees in the yard.
6. Trees
Trees such as a maple, a redbud, and a honey locust will grow over time to provide shade for the patio and yard. The shade that the leaves of the trees provide will provide cooling benefits to the yard. Additionally, planting trees will provide other benefits to the yard, such as birds that live in the trees and the insects that live in the yard.
The downside to planting trees is that it will take time. Trees typically take eight to twelve years to reach the size where they will provide shade for the patio. However, faster-growing tree species can be planted to speed up the process.
Additionally, while waiting for the planted trees to grow, vines can be planted on temporary structures. The benefit of growing a tree is that the grandchildren will enjoy the tree just as much as the parents who planted the trees when they were young. In comparison to awnings and shade sails, planting trees will last for decades.
Another of the options for shade is bamboo roller shades or reed screens that are attached to the structures in the yard. These shades are made of natural fibers rolled into a shade and can be lowered or raised to control the sunlight that enters the yard. These shades filter the sunlight to a soft glow and provide privacy from the neighbors yards.
7. Bamboo Roller Shades
The bamboo fibers will expand and contract based on the humidity in the area; thus, bamboo shades work better in dry climates. The addition of natural bamboo roller shades provides an earthy texture to the area and adds the sound of the fibers rustling in the breeze. These shades will need to be replaced every few years.
However, the low cost of these shades allows for the homeowners to easily replace them as needed. Additionally, bamboo roller shades can be planted with the addition of plants that will grow over time to create living walls. Finally, vertical shade structures such as hedges, screens, or curtains can also be used.
8. Vertical Shade Structures
While many people focus on creating shade for the area overhead, vertical shade structures will block some of the sunlight that falls at a low angle onto the patio during the mornings and evenings. These vertical structures will increase the comfort of those who use the patio. For instance, a row of pleached hornbeam or powder-coated aluminum screens can be used to transform the exposure of a western exposure into a usable area for the residents who live in the home.
These vertical structures will also increase the privacy between yards and they can define areas in large yards. Additionally, outdoor drapes of weather-resistant fabric can be mounted on these structures so that the fabric will sway in the breeze. This addition is helpful for those who live in apartments or condos whose regulations require that permanent structures are not built onto the property.
Whatever shade structures are selected for a patio, whatever benefits they provide to the structure, all of the best shade solutions will respect the way that the individual lives in their outdoor area. For instance, a motorized awning may be best for those who are busy with work or other activities so that the awning does not need to be opened and closed often. However, a pergola may be best for those who wish to incorporate a garden into their yard and who are willing to wait for the plants to grow to provide full coverage over the pergola.
Each of these options will allow the patio to become the place that the individuals in the house prefer to gather with their friends and relatives. Once individuals have experienced a comfortable shaded area in the backyard, they will prefer shaded areas to non-shaded areas in the yard.
