As the weather begins to warm up and the last cold nights of spring become a distant memory, homeowners across Calgary start to dream of the long summer days that can be spent outside on the deck or patio. However, with the warm weather come the pains of Calgary summers – the strong sunlight for multiple days in a row, and the occasional storm that spoils the fun. This is when part of your spring planning needs to look at providing shade and shelter for your outdoor areas.
Coverage Options For The Summer
When it comes to staying cool outside on your deck or patio, it makes sense to have some sort of overhead protection. However, you also want a structure that is open on the sides to allow a breeze through. Ideally, what you want is one structure that combines both of these, and what’s being described here is a pergola or a patio cover.
A pergola is a free standing structure (although it can attach to your home) which is made up of post and beams. The “roof” is a lattice structure which provides a dappled shade, and many people try to grow climbing plants or vines to provide natural shade (think of pictures of outdoor eating in an Italian trattoria). They tend to be more aesthetic than practical in nature, but they do provide cover for your outside space and define a seating or entertaining area.
On the other hand, a patio cover is attached to your home to extend out over your patio (although they can be freestanding). The roof is usually made of a solid material like vinyl or aluminium and provides a cooling shade over your entire area. They tend to be more expensive, but they’re also easier to customise if your patio area is unusually shaped.
Getting The Best Of Both Worlds With A Hybrid Pergola With A Cover
As with most home improvement projects, when you’re faced with a choice between two different designs, a hybrid model of the two is often the best option. The same is true for a hybrid pergola and you get these perks from a mix of the two patio cover options:
- A blend of shade and sun – you can make your patio be the perfect mix of full shade under the solid part of your patio cover and a dappled covering under the lattice. This gives everyone the option of where to sit.
- Separate areas on your patio – if you have a large patio, a hybrid pergola allows you to create definite areas. For example, you could have your seating area under the lattice and your grilling station under the solid area to provide shade as you cook.
- A unique design – finally, a hybrid pergola design is fully customisable, meaning that you’ll be assured of having a one of a kind patio cover to sit under for the whole Calgary summer.
