As summer approaches most people begin to think about spending more time outdoors and improving outdoor living space.
And if you have an uncovered patio or deck you probably want to know the best way to provide shade and cover from summer rain showers.
The factors that need to be considered when planning patio covers include where you live and predominant weather conditions, how much time you like to spend outside on your patio and what types of activities you generally enjoy in your outdoor living area!
In this multi-part online guide to patio covers, we present an overview of your options, followed by detailed ideas on each type and even how to build your own patio cover.
Types of Patio Covers
There are two basic types of patio covers you can consider; permanent structures such as pergolas, arbors and gazebos or removable patio covers such as retractable awnings, umbrellas and fabric canopies.
A permanent patio cover will entail more effort and cost but can significantly enhance your patio or other outdoor living area, enabling you to enjoy spending more time outdoors.
By adding a structure that provides both shade and protection from rain and inclement weather, you add a new feature to your landscaping that both helps add visual interest to your property as well as making your patio a more comfortable all-season outdoor living space.
Building your own wood patio cover is a fun do-it-yourself home improvement project, but you could also consider options such as a pre-manufactured aluminum or acrylic patio cover.
On the other hand, if all you want is to provide basic coverage from the elements of sun, rain and wind when you are on your patio, then the less expensive and removable types of patio covers are a great alternative. Something as simple as a patio umbrella keeps the harsh sun off your patio table and can be put away during the winter months.
More elaborate options include retractable awnings which cover a larger area than umbrellas and are easily stored when not in use, leaving the natural surroundings of your patio and landscaping open and free of posts or other structures necessary to support permanent patio covers.
If you want something built to endure the elements, building a permanent patio cover using lumber has many benefits and adds value to your home. While a building permit may be required in your area, you can readily find plans for wood patio covers and do the construction yourself.
Be sure to consider options such as whether or not you want to enclose your wood patio cover, either with simple drop panels to protect your patio from wind and rain or simply use screens to keep out the biting insects.
Also consider whether you want to install electric wiring to light your patio and provide power for other electrical accessories you might like to operate.
The obvious disadvantages of a wood patio cover are the cost and time required to build and maintain a permanent structure.
Metal Patio Covers
Aluminum or wrought iron are also popular materials for the construction of a patio cover and require less maintenance than a wood structure, since they will not rot and generally have a finish to prevent rusting.
Manufacturers offer extruded aluminum frames that are easy and much quicker to install than a wood patio cover.
The disadvantages of a metal patio cover are that they can be damaged in high winds or storms and are not retractable.
Pergolas and Arbors
Decorative pergolas and arbors don’t offer any real protection from the elements other than providing some shade, but they can enhance the beauty of your patio or other landscaped areas.
You might also build a pergola or arbor to match your wood patio cover to tie the design elements together nicely.
Canopy Awnings and Retractable Awnings
Canopy and retractable awnings are a great alternative to more permanent structures like wood or metal patio covers.
The great advantage of a retractable patio cover is that is can be easily rolled up and out of the way when not in use, keeping it out of site and well protected during storms and easily extended when you want shade on your patio.
A retractable awning will be more expensive than one with aluminum or other supports that will make your canopy generally more difficult to put up and take down.
You have a great selection of fabrics, styles and colors to choose from when purchasing a canopy or retractable awning.
Patio Umbrellas
The least expensive solution of course is to simply use patio umbrellas to provide shade. Simple umbrellas will mount through a hole in your outdoor table and have a weighted base to support the umbrella.
The disadvantage of umbrellas is that they provide limited shade and no real protection from wind and other weather elements.
Pingback: Patio » Patio Covers Online Guide: An Overview
Patio covers are nice – the retractable ones are easy to use and care for plus you can get both sun & shade.
where are the plans
I'm looking for plans to build a patio cover. I would like to build a patio with approx 20'x20' concrete and , 20' x 20' raised(wood). this would mean the cover should be approx 40'long and 20' wide or whatever the most economic lumber cost would be.
Thanks,
there are many different things you can do to curb the effects of global warming, walk to work or ride a bike, car pool, recycle, support the right organizations, donations to organizations, tell a friend what they can do to help. Spread the word!
I am interested in getting my patio covered.
Hi, anyone interested in a low cost summer rain and shade system for a deck or patio. I designed a lean-to cover system for part of my above ground deck using heavy duty white tarp, in this case, 15 x 20 ft..I attached vertical support posts to the railing posts (3) and painted fence top rail with brackets at the top of the posts. On the house side I attached the rails (at a higher elevation bracketed directly to studs leaving a slight gap with a small wood block. The Tarp then is attached with short inexpensive bungee cords with plastic bulbs (available Ebay and other sources). I later added light weight rafters constructed from doubled 1x 4 redwood on hand which simply hook over the fence rails on the house side and are screwed to the posts on the other side. Tarps are also available on Ebay and others but be sure to use good quality. The tarps usually run $30-$40, far less than Sunbrella or other materials but may only last 2-3 years due to UV deterioration in full sun as on my deck. The cover goes up in Spring and comes down in the late fall, before any snow. This system has worked great to reduce temperatures on the deck and provide significant rain protection and withstands high winds quite well.
Thanks for sharing your affordable solution, Len!
This sounds like just the size and affordability that i need, can you send me a picture to my email address above. Thanks a lot.
Sorry, can’t see your email address and I’m not sure if I can post pics directly here. Anyone interested Email Lenasla@msn.com
Thanks, I get compliments from guests all the time. The inspiration for this design was the Mediterranean method of summer cover using white muslin sheeting. White tarp still allows a lot of ambient light while blocking direct sun. This solution also allows a larger size than the usual retractable awning with large open free space below. The rafters were added to take the weight of heavy rainfall which would cause some “cupping”. In this application, I was able to take advantage of the height of the house to slope the tarp away to drain. Attachment directly to the house also makes it quite strong and stable without the need for wind cross bracing, but there are ways this could be done as a free-standing cover as well, at far lower cost than a heavy wood structure, but looking more elegant than a car cover. One observation for anyone considering this. Tarps come in some standard sizes which can be purchased at lower cost than custom sizing so plan accordingly. TarpaFlex is good source. Happy to send pics if anyone interested. Also, as a Landscape Architect, I would available for consults in my area (northern Va.), Ha, ha!
Len…could I see some pics? This sounds like a simple solution for a temporary cover over my pergola. Thanks
If your pergola is flat topped, it should be quite easy to put a tarp over it, but need to think of an acceptable way to attach with bungees. The type I use are short, about 8-9 inch loop with a plastic bulb, stretch pretty well, allowing for some flexibility in sizing. I should think you could attach rails to the pergola rafters, possibly only on two sides at the rafter ends. The bungee cord goes thru the tarp grommets and then around the rail. The more bungees, the better for wind resistance. If rail is mounted on the rafter ends, then you have spaces to loop the bungees. If mounted on the sides of the rafters or any other flat face, such as against the house, you will need to provide an inch or so stand-off such as with a small block of wood, so the bungee can be looped around. All depends on your circumstances. Send Email to Lenasla@msn.com for pics.
Len- I’d love to see pics also please.
Kristal, Don’t know that I can post pics here. Send email address to Lenasla@msn.com and I can send them to you direct.
Rafter Tales. Seems to be some interest in pics of my canopy system. Not sure I can post directly. If you would like to post, let me know where I can send them or if I can directly.. Jpg format…. such as with a reply.
You can see my dog carl in the second photo down.
Pingback: Installing and Repairing Patio Covers and Gutters | RafterTales | Home Improvement Made Easy