When it comes to spending time outside in your garden, there’s no better place to be than on your patio. The proximity to your house means that you have access to everything you need during the day as well as protection from the strong Calgary winds. You then get the benefits of being outside during the summer months of the warmth and sunshine, and your patio always makes an excellent base for your family and a supervisory command post for the parents. However, without any form of shade your summer fun will be cut short, which is why you need to invest in a hybrid patio cover.
What is a Hybrid Patio Cover?
To understand how a hybrid patio cover works, you need to know what a regular patio cover looks like. Fortunately, it’s as easy as it sounds: it’s a permanent roof that sits over the top of your patio while keeping the sides open for fresh air and views out over your garden. They can be attached to your house or free standing depending on how close your patio is to your home. Free standing patio covers require posts at all corners to support them, while attached patio covers can float like a sail or have supporting posts depending on the size and weight of your patio cover.
What Makes It Hybrid?
Patio covers come in two forms; solid and lattice. Solid patio covers provide full protection from the sun, while lattice covers allow some sun in. A hybrid patio cover uses both of these styles to meet the needs of your patio goals.
Innovative Patio Cover Ideas
The hybrid concept for a patio cover gives you plenty of scope to come up with a unique solution for how you want to use your patio. Here are some ideas to get your started:
- Alternating covers – for a visually striking patio cover, consider having alternating sections of solid and lattice designs going lengthwise across your patio. This will give you an interesting mix of sun and shade on your patio as well as giving you a good mix of heat and cool throughout the day as the sun changes positions overhead.
- Central shade – another way to get a combination of light and dark in a more organized fashion on your patio is to have the central part of your hybrid patio cover be solid, with lattice patterns spreading out like fingers. This will give you a dedication place to sit under during the heat of the day, while giving dappled shade elsewhere.
- Central lattice – finally, consider a unique design where your whole patio cover is solid exception for a section in the middle which is latticed. This is ideal if you put a firepit or chimney under the central section, or if you have a seating arrangement around another central feature like a coffee table. This will keep your patio cool while allowing for more air circulation throughout the day.
