Patios are usually created to be in full sun. Not necessarily, in hotter regions, the scorching midday sun, but enough sunshine to relax, feel good, and absorb some vitamin D.
Patios are also a hub for family-centered activities and for friends to gather outside around the barbecue or fire pit.
However, it is possible to have too much sun. Adding an awning or shade sail to your patio designs will help filter the suns burning rays and also be a shelter from a passing shower or storm. The addition of an awning or shade to your patio can be a very smart move for creating a more comfortable outdoor atmosphere.
Awnings can be either permanent or retractable. A permanently fixed awning, as its named, stays in the same place and never moves. Most often it’s some type of shading cloth attached to a permanent metal frame. Retractable awnings can be put away fast and easy and are available in either electric powered or crank operated models. Retractable awnings are especially useful in properties or landscaping ideas where they must be taken down for winter and put back up again in spring.
You may also use a shade sail as a possible alternative to a complete awning. If a shade sail to fit your exact size and needs, you can put several smaller ones together or have one custom made. Shade sails work by a simple tension system – the sails are anchored to tension points which are usually attached to walls or to the tops of poles stuck into the ground. Where awnings are most often permanent, sails are portable and can taken to a new home and reinstalled if you happen to move.
Shade covers were once all made out of canvas. Today however, there are lots of different colorful fabric types that are used for making shade cloth. As also a way of garden decorating, these newer cloths are very durable and weather resistant which lessens the chances of sun or storm damage. The space between weaves creates different levels of filtering, giving you more choice about the amount of protection you want. It also affects cost.
Shade sails and patio awnings keep sun lovers safe from too much sun while enjoying their patios. They can also reduce glare, and can be found in colors to suit any existing color scheme.
