There’s something special about summer in Calgary. Maybe it’s the relief from the longer winter months, or maybe it’s the seeming wall-to-wall sunshine that covers the city all season long. Whatever the reason, you’ll want to spend a lot of time outside on your patio or deck during the summer to make the most of the season. However, the midday sun can be overbearing at times, and you’ll be hankering for a little shade to create a true outdoor haven just outside your back door. A patio umbrella is a good idea, but for a true summer upgrade, it’s time to talk about patio covers.
Patio Covers vs. Patio Umbrellas
To understand why you need to think about a patio cover upgrade, it’s important to know the difference between patio covers and patio umbrellas. Patio umbrellas are exactly what they sound like: a big umbrella that you open up over your patio. They provide a certain amount of shade for part of your patio and they provide some protection from sudden rainstorms (though you’re out of luck if you’re sitting under the edge of the umbrella!). However, they have a couple of big drawbacks. Firstly, if you’re out on your patio for a lengthy period of time, you’ll have to manually rotate the patio umbrella to keep you under the shade, and secondly you have to put them up and down each day so they don’t get blown around or damaged overnight.
A patio cover upgrade solves both of those problems. A patio cover is a solid cover for your entire patio or deck that attaches to the exterior wall of your home and provides permanent shade all across your deck. They are usually made from a mixture of vinyl and aluminium so you’ll always have full protection from the midday sun, as well as the usual Calgary pop up showers.
Make The Most of Your Patio Cover
When you install your patio cover, you’ll start by simply enjoying the new space for longer periods of time. However, as you get used to having the patio cover, you’ll want to turn it into the central feature of your whole garden. If you have young children around, your patio is a great place to supervise their summer time fun, and the patio cover gives them a cool shaded place to come and relax, all day long. If you like to entertain your friends and family during the summer months, then your patio cover gives you the full protection you need to feel confident about putting a permanent dining table set up out on your patio. The patio cover will keep the direct sun off your food, and will also help to break up the strong Calgary winds, helping you to enjoy al fresco dining all season long. Finally, if you like to use your patio for quiet romantic evenings, the patio cover gives you overhead space to hang string lights and speakers from to make your patio into the ultimate outdoor haven.
