There’s nothing like summer in Calgary. The brutal cold and snow of winter seem impossible in the face of what feels like eternal days of sunshine and heat. The season is designed for spending as much time as humanly possible outside on your patio. However, as all Calgary residents know, there are a few hidden problems with the joys of summer. Calgary’s reputation as the windiest city in Canada is well deserved, and with the high winds comes bugs and dirt that can ruin a fun afternoon outside. The long sunny days can also be overpowering at times, especially on a stone patio where the heat gets stored by the stones and reflected back throughout the afternoon. It makes sense therefore to think about a patio cover to help you and your loved ones get the most out of the summer in the city.
What Is A Patio Cover?
In its most simple form, a patio cover is a permanent structure that attaches to your home to provide shade and protection over your patio. The exact form of the patio cover will be decided by a variety of factors. The size and shape of your deck will dictate the structure of your patio cover, as well as the cost, as custom shaped patios will cost more to cover than those that use standard size materials. You can also change the form of the cover, ranging from a full lattice to make it feel like a romantic pergola to a full roof that almost turns your patio into an outside room. Finally, you’ll get to choose the materials, with the most common patio cover options being a wooden post and beam system or an aluminum and vinyl combination for a more modern look.
How To Choose A High Quality Patio Cover
Like with all home improvement projects, it’s easy to look at the overall cost of a patio cover installation and try to save as much money as possible. However, it’s also true that by trying to cut corners, you’ll end up with an inferior project. Some tips for getting a high quality patio cover in Calgary include:
- Pick long lasting materials – it may sound obvious, but you need to pay attention to the materials that you’re using to build the patio cover. You should be provided with some options that will alter the budget of the project, but you should be concerned with materials that will last the longest without need of repair or replacement.
- Talk about ongoing maintenance – another great conversation to have during the design phase of your Calgary patio cover project is to talk about the maintenance of your patio cover. These tips from the professionals will give you a roadmap about how to care for your patio cover and increase its longevity.
- Find a reputable contractor – finally, you need to work together with a local reputable contractor who understands the Calgary weather patterns and building codes. At Desert Sun Patios, our team of patio cover experts will be able to help you plan and build your dream patio cover project to help you get the most out of the summer in Calgary.