Decks and patios are often built to be ready to use. However, to make the most of your outdoor living space, you’ll want to build a roof over it. This way, you can be comfortable while staying outside and breathing fresh air, and use your deck or patio even when it’s raining and during extremely hot and sunny days. Fortunately, there is a wide range of patio cover options available nowadays, from large canvas umbrellas that are quick and easy to set up to louvered roofs that have to be installed by professionals but will provide you with excellent sun and shade control. Here are some interesting patio ideas that you’ll want to explore:
1. Louvered Roofing Systems
Installing a louvered roof pergola allows you to enjoy the best of both worlds. This type of roofing system is built with individual adjustable slats that can be rotated anywhere from 0 to 150 degrees at the touch of a button, which means that you have full control over the amount of heat, light, and rain that enters your deck or patio. With a louvered roof system, you can make the most of your outdoor living space since it will be functional 365 days a year, regardless of the weather.
2. Green Roofs
Green roofs can be an excellent investment since they can reduce the temperature of the surrounding air and make your deck or patio feel cooler. They also allow you to support wildlife by providing an eco-friendly habitat. Green roofs are often found on houses, apartments, and commercial buildings, but you can also build one over your patio or deck.
3. Trellises with Retractable Awnings
Just like with patio louvers, trellises provide a way to filter direct sunlight and reduce the amount of heat in your outdoor living space. Plant flowering vines that will climb over your trellis and give it a charming look and feel, or keep the trellis as it is and decorate it with LED lights instead — the choice is yours! Just remember that trellises won’t provide enough protection from the elements, so you’ll probably want to pair yours with a retractable awning.
4. Thatched Roofs
Who says that you have to travel to live in a tropical paradise? Building a thatched roof over your deck or patio gives your home a tropical look and feel and transforms your yard into your dream destination. Just make sure that your contractor uses the right kind of thatching for the project. Natural thatching materials are a great option if you live in a dry and hot climate. In contrast, synthetic thatching is highly recommended if the climate in your area is mainly humid.
5. Outdoor Fabric Roofs with Skylights
Depending on your landscape design, you might find that a traditional pergola would make the space too rigid and structured. If this is the case, you can install a tent-like cover made of flowy but durable outdoor fabric, which will soften the look and feel of your outdoor living space while providing substantial shading. Suppose the solid fabric makes the area too dark and dim. In that case, you can allow natural light to enter by creating a small opening at the top and covering it with sheer exterior fabric (or even installing an actual glass skylight).
We hope that this guide has provided creative ideas that you can use when designing your deck or patio cover! If you need additional tips, or if you have set your heart on installing a louvered pergola, don’t hesitate to call Outside Wholesale. We are proud to be an exclusive distributor for Sundance Louvered Roofs. We offer our professional products and solutions to homeowners and commercial property owners who want to build a world-class louvered roofing system on their patio or deck. Reach out to our team today and find out how we can assist you!