Pool Reno Project
Cloth. A detailed and expansive structure isn’t necessary for some simple sail-like shades. While you can easily spend thousands of dollars on a sophisticated shading system with guide wires and the like, a few posts, some wires and fabric will set you back a minimal amount of money and be a really nice way to shade the patio. As with the umbrellas, doing some research into the material for the shades is important. And make sure that the cloth is pitched to allow rainwater to fall off of it. Without that pitch, rainwater can puddle up in the middle of the cloth sail, causing the fabric to stretch and be ruined — or, worse, causing the whole system to collapse because of the weight of the water.
3. Roll down a blind. Shelter your deck from the sun’s heat with a solar shade that can be easily pulled up and down on a roller. These are particularly good for protection from the hot westerly sun in the afternoon, but they can be left open during the rest of the day to let you enjoy views. Choose a light-filtering fabric that reduces the glare and blocks direct sunlight without darkening the deck. Allow for tie-downs to secure the shade in place at the bottom during windy days.
Choose a sail with high UV protection, and make sure you choose one that is also large enough to give you sufficient shade on your patio or deck. An easy test to see how a potential sail throws shade is to hang some string where the edge of the sail would be and watch where the shade of the string ends up as the sun moves across the sky. Overlap several sails to add a statement and create more shade coverage. Tip: Waterproof sails are great as a carport. But remember that waterproofing also makes it windproof, so you need much stronger anchorage to keep it in place. Check the pitch of the sail, as you’ll need to design for water runoff — you don’t want water to pool underneath.
6. Don’t be blind to the vertical. It’s getting late in the day, the sun is dipping and suddenly the sun’s rays stream horizontally under your overhead shade structure straight into your eyes. What do you do? Try adding a vertical element to your shade setup. Attach a curtain rod to your pergola and hang outdoor curtains that can easily be drawn for shade and privacy. Built-in retractable shade screens can be quickly lowered for temporary shade.
3. String up a canvas shade. Is there anything dreamier in an outdoor space than soft, diffused light shining through gently billowing fabric? Attach outdoor fabric to overhead wires so it can easily be retracted on a pulley, or run it through the frame of an existing pergola. When the weather changes, just fold up the fabric and store it in a drawer until next summer. You can even choose a material other than fabric, such as bamboo or shade cloth, for a different feel.
Looking for a simpler application that can save a few bucks? Drape a lightweight outdoor fabric underneath an outdoor arbor for subtle shading. If you don't have an arbor, you can add rings to the fabric and place it on wires, so you can open and close it like a curtain.
Intrepid Sail Awning If your needs are more temporary, freestanding options like the Intrepid Sail Awning from Corradi are available. This structure does not require footings and can be taken down and moved around with relative ease
Aluminum Fencing from Custom Design Fence and Deck, STL
Heat Pump usage cost, etc
Q