Anyone who has lived in Calgary for a year or more knows that the weather in the city is one of its unique features. It holds the record for the most number of sunny days of any city in Canada, averaging over 300 days of sunshine each year. However, it’s also got a reputation for being the windiest big city in Canada too, with the nearby Rocky Mountains contributing to the frequent high speed gusts. Add in an average yearly snowfall of over 1.5 metres and you’re looking at a total mixed bag of weather that you have to deal with when you’re planning your patio makeover.
Patio Covers – A Quick And Easy Patio Makeover
When it comes to renovating your patio, there are some quick and easy fixes. These include re-grouting the spaces between the flagstones, pressure washing the whole space to get rid of accumulated dirt and debris, and changing up your patio furniture. However, most people don’t know that a patio cover is the quickest and easiest way to give your patio a whole new look.
A patio cover is exactly what it sounds like – a large cover for your patio. However, there are a lot of different patio designs to choose from. For example, you’ll need to think about whether you want it to be free standing, like a pergola, or attached to your house so it looks like an extension of your home. You’ll also need to choose between a solid cover, a lattice roof or a hybrid combination of the both, as well as the size and shape of your patio cover.
How Does A Patio Cover Help In Calgary’s Weather?
A patio cover is also the best way to help protect you and your patio from the extremes of Calgary’s weather. Here’s how a high-quality patio cover helps you to deal with Calgary weather:
- Protection from the sun – the obvious way a patio cover helps in the Calgary summer is to provide protection from the midday sun. Even if you choose a lattice patio cover, you’ll still get protection in the shade and you’ll notice a remarkable temperature drop on your patio, making it the perfect hang out space for hottest days.
- A wind break – when the winds start to pick up, most people feel they can’t enjoy an afternoon outside on the patio. While a patio cover won’t help with the strongest gusts, the shape of it in conjunction with the natural windbreak of your home will actually deflect a lot of wind up and over your patio, leaving you and your guests with a cooling breeze instead of a face full of debris.
- Shelter from the snow – while it’s true that you’ll be unlikely to spend much time on your patio during the winter months, your patio cover will keep the worst of the snow and ice away from your patio. This will stop the ice wedging erosion that happens when water seeps in between your patio stones, freezes and expands, potentially ruining the look and structure of your patio.
