Sitting in the backyard in a hot summer day sometimes can be unbearable. The strong sunlight in summer can really hurt your skin and eyes. When it comes to sunlight, it is what you can’t see that hurts you. The physics at work in sunlight may be complex, but the solution is age-old and simple: shade. It can be simple to make and it is easy to take care of. Most important, it works to protect you from the damaging effects of sunlight while still allowing you to enjoy the outdoors.
Rectangle Awning
Get Relaxed after a Working Day Under Rectangular Awning
A rectangle awning attached to the house is an attractive option for many people. It provides ready access to shade when you want it and retracts to let the sun shine in when you are ready for it. I can also block glare into an adjoining room of the house. Rectangle awning consists of a metal framework covered with shade fabric. The framework mounts directly on the side of the house. Some models have diagonal support arms. Others eliminate that obstruction with hidden “lateral” arms.
Pros: Rectangle awnings provide instant shade or quickly roll up when you do not need them. You do not have to take it down – no storage hassles. They do not require you to build a permanent structure on the deck.
Cons: Rectangle awnings are up to 20 ft. wide but only extend about 10 ft., so they will not completely shade most decks. Also, strong winds can damage the awning framework, if you leave the awning open in strong winds.
Installation: The installation can be easy DIY activity, or it can be an involved project that requires calling an awning contractor. The difficulty depends on the size of the awning, whether it is retracted with a hand crank or an electric motor, whether the awning is located above a door and the height of the awning above the patio or deck.
A Canopy
A Canopy is a Great Shady Mean for Gatherings
Canopy awnings are fabric-roofed structures supported by a freestanding, rigid frame that is bolted t your deck. The frame becomes a permanent part of your deck, and you can either leave the fabric up year-round or remove it seasonally.
With a rectangular or square footprint and easy setup, pop-up canopy stretched fabric supported by vertical posts are great for good or bad weather. They provide shade or shelter from light, rain at celebrations, family events and other gatherings.
You do not need to be advanced in mechanical skills to put this up in your backyard, just teamwork. However, pay close attention to the manufacturer’s recommendations for securing the canopy to the ground with stakes or other tie downs.
Pros: Canopy awning is good for full shading of compact decks or partial shading of larger decks. The shade cloth resistant to tears and will not sag. The fabric and structure can with stand rain, hail and strong winds.
Cons: Unlike retractable options, canopy awnings do not offer a convenient way to let in the sun.
Shade Sails
Do Not Get Sunburnt by the Help of Shady Sail
Shaped like a sail and stretched among poles or from a house’s fascia or roof bracket to a pole, a shade sail is as much an architectural design element as it is a shade structure. Need to know: You can install it yourself, but it requires some construction skill. For instance, you need to be able to form and place concrete to erect the pole to which the sail will stretch.
Pros: Shade sails come in different shapes and sizes. You can make your choice as per your requirement. The size of the cover will be determined, depending on eh place you are installing it. They protect from harsh rays of the sun. The materials used in these sails can block up to 98% of UV rays.
Cons: Shade sails can get dirty quickly due to various reasons.
Arbors and Pergolas
A Lovely Pergola in Your Backyard
You can build or buy this shade option. Building requires carpentry skills and usually the help of at least one person. No arbor or pergola will provide much relief from the sun unless it’s covered with vines or some other greenery or material to provide shade.
Pros: You can find wood for sale locally, no matter where in the US you live. If you have a carpenter, he or she has worked with wood before, it is easy to use. Wood is easy to work with.
Cons: Depending on the application, you will need to consider that cedar is pretty light, but pressure-treated wood can be pretty heavy, when it comes to footers or deck attachment. To keep wood looking its best, you will typically want to paint or stain it. There is no such thing as life time treatment.
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