Sunshine is one of the biggest draws of Southern California, but all this sunlight comes with a price: heat. Though sunlight can cause the interior temps of all houses to rise, homes with south-facing windows feel it most. Luckily, there’s a simple solution that can keep your home cooler: shade.
In this article, we’ll talk about how adjusting your outdoor patio design and materials can protect your home and your outdoor social gatherings from getting too hot.
Choose Your Location Wisely
The wrong placement could mean that you install a patio cover that doesn’t actually block the heat. If your patio cover or pergola is too close to your house, you’ll end up feeling the sun when it drops below the cover. Therefore, the further you extend your patio cover, the more shade it will provide as the sun moves through the sky.
Spend a few days tracking the location and intensity of the sun in your yard at different times during the day. Take note of when the sun is penetrating your windows most intensely and which direction it comes from, then use this information to determine the right size and location of your patio cover.
Read More: Do I Need a Permit to Install a Pergola?
The Right Amount of Lattice
The density of lattice (cross-beams) you place on top of your patio structure contributes to how much shade you end up with. Spacing out lattice boards further apart provides less shade but permits more air and sunlight. Boards that are closer together cool the area better by creating more shade. You can achieve maximum shade by installing a solid patio cover; however, this may trap some heat underneath.
Shade Cloth
If you have an existing open-lattice design and you’d like to create more shade without installing additional lattice boards, shade cloth is the solution. Shade cloth is a sturdy outdoor-rated soft mesh cloth that provides instant shade while still permitting breeze.
Laying shade cloth on top of your lattice is a relatively inexpensive, easy-to-implement update that can make a huge difference to control heat. Available in various colors like beige, green and black, you can choose the look that fits your space best.
Download Now: Patio Cover Project Basics.
Infinity Canopy
A trendy new option is the Infinity canopy, which is installed between widely spaced lattice boards. This unique, billowy design lets you change the amount of shade and air you let through by adjusting the coverage of the canopies themselves.
Infinity canopies are installed on a simple stainless-steel rail system that allows you to manually slide the canopy open or closed, depending on your desired level of patio exposure. You can also install additional canopy vertically to block the sun as it drops lower in the sky.
This is a great idea for your outdoor patio design if you want to beat the heat during the day but open up your patio cover to reveal the starry night sky. Different fabric colors and weaves allow you to get creative with the look while controlling the amount of light you permit to fall onto the patio.
FLEX-fence Louvre System
This smart louvre system isn’t just for fences. Installing FLEX-fence on your patio cover lets you achieve the wood aesthetic while still maintaining adjustability. It’s a beautiful way to create a substantial-looking patio cover that can be adjusted throughout the day.
Metal Roofing
If you’re looking for a clean, modern aesthetic, a metal patio cover might be perfect for you. Corrugated metal roofing for your pergola or patio cover has the advantage of being lightweight, moisture- and pest-resistant, and provides full shade for your patio. Metal sheets for patio covers come pre-painted in lots of different colors, so you can either match your house or add a pop of colorful contrast to your yard.
A patio cover is a great solution for a house that gets too warm due to excess sunlight. By taking a close look at where the sun is streaming in and applying some creative thought, you can brainstorm a patio design idea that looks fantastic while doing its job of blocking the sun. Whatever material or design you decide on, be prepared for your patio to elevate your backyard’s cool factor.