Summer Project: Turn Your Backyard Into A Shade Resort

With summer being just around the corner, you’re probably already planning on hosting a barbecue or get-together with your friend and family. But lingering in the sun for too long can lead to some nasty sunburns, or even worse a heat-stroke. Having your backyard or a patio shaded during the summer months is essential if you want to enjoy yourself without having to worry about getting too much exposure from the sun. That said, here are some fun summer project tips you can use to turn your backyard into a beautiful shade resort.

Door and window awnings

Similar to house awning, door and windows awnings can be fixed or retractable and are made from aluminum, Fiberglas or a sun-resistant fabric. They are mostly used to shade the rooms which are directly exposed to the sunlight and to block glare bouncing in from the windows. What makes them so popular is that easygoing and slightly seashore look they give off, which many homeowners find really attractive. Fixed awning have a tendency to slightly vibrate and produce some noise when it’s windy outside, which is something you should take into consideration before investing all of your money.

House awnings

House awnings are excellent for covering up large space in front of the house. They are the go-to choice for many homeowners for a couple of reasons. First, they can be retracted to let the sun in when necessary and appear virtually non-existing unless you know where to look. Secondly, they can be stretched in order to not only provide shade for those hot summer days but also to block glare going into the adjoining room of your house. Depending on the size of the house awning, it can be an easy do-it-yourself activity or it may require you to call in the professionals.

Shade sails

Shade sails are ideal for covering up large quantities of space. They are made out of an elastic fabric which is stretched between poles or from house roof or fascia to a pole. They can easily be incorporated into your home’s existing architectural design and complement it as an additional design element. Although you can install most of them by yourself, some may require elementary construction skills such as forming and placing concrete in order to erect the poles which will hold the shade sails in place.

Pop-up canopies

Using a square or rectangular footprint, pop-up canopies are basically stretched fabric supported by vertical poles. They are extremely easy to set up and are ideal for both good and bad weather, as they provide shade during the sunny days and shelter to keep you dry during the rain. They are irreplaceable when it comes to various social events and family gatherings, however, they do tend to get uplifted and overturned when it gets really windy, so make sure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully when securing them to the ground.

Pergolas and arbors

Arbors and pergolas can look absolutely gorgeous when done properly. But they do require some carpentry skills and building and setting one up is really not a one-man job. Not to mention that without some wines or other greenery to cover it, it won’t provide you with much shade. Alternatively, you can use other sun-resistant shade cloth to get some relief from the sun, however, they only take away from the arbor’s amazing look instead of adding onto it. The material of choice when it comes to pergolas and arbors is wood, although they do come in vinyl and wrought-iron varieties.

Umbrellas

Whether you’re thinking about a beach umbrella or a patio one, they are a cheap and easy way to get away from the scorching sun. They come in many different varieties: some are retractable and some are not, some are freestanding while other require a heavy base to keep them vertical. But almost all of them are designed to fit into the hole of a patio table. Combine them with a couple of beach chairs and you’ve got yourself a comfortable and convenient way to enjoy the shade.

These are just some of the best tips to cover up your backyard and protect yourself from the glaring sun. Other ideas you can use to keep yourself cool during the summer include evaporative coolers which draw and cool the hot air or high-pressure mist systems which release water in order to absorb the heat from the air.

You can also set up an outdoor ceiling fan to your gazebo or a patio in order to add some cool breeze or an outdoor shower for a quick splash of water to cool down. Whatever you do, just make sure that you are 100% positive you can finish the project. If not, investing in professional help might be your best idea.