Outdoor Kitchen Shade Solutions: Design & Product Guide
Outdoor kitchen awnings can transform your outdoor space and summer experience. Rather than preparing food in the sun, roasting like you’re on a grill, you can cover the whole area with relaxing shade.
Plus, when that warm summer rain arrives, you won’t need to dash inside. Instead, you can sit out under the outdoor kitchen awning, enjoying that sweet summer rain ASMR.
But we get that outdoor kitchen awning options can all be overwhelming if you’re new to the topic. So, in this guide, we’re going to break down the best outdoor kitchen shade ideas and help you know what you need to buy:
Best Types of Outdoor Kitchen Shade Solutions:
Here’s a look at the best outdoor kitchen awnings you’ve got to choose from:
Retractable Awnings
Retractable awnings, as the name suggests, retract from a closed to a fully open position while staying mounted to the wall. This allows you to customize your shading at any moment, while also storing it away safely when a storm arrives.
Retractable awnings use a fabric canopy system and are available in both motorized and manual-crank versions.
Solar Shades
Solar shades, also known as roller blinds, use a vertical, roll-down fabric screen system. Mounted to beams or wall openings, they’re perfect for blocking low-angle sun while maintaining airflow and views.
Solar shades use a technical mesh fabric that is very good at blocking UV rays and reducing heat. Like retractable awnings, solar shades are valuable in manual or motorized outdoor shades.
Zippered/Track Systems
Zip-track kitchen shade solutions, such as those from Rollac, are a more modern system in which the fabric edges lock into side channels on the supporting beams. This creates a very tight seal with no gaps.
The motorized design prevents flapping and billowing in the wind while totally blocking wind, rain spray, insects, and debris. This can make them ideal for year-round use.
Pergola Covers
Pergola covers work wonderfully for any outdoor kitchen that doesn’t have a wall to mount an awning on. Instead, using a pergola frame allows them to provide overhead shade with a fixed fabric.
You can also get retractable pergola covers that let you switch between open sky and full cover, depending on the weather and your mood.
Cantilever or Freestanding Options
Cantilever and freestanding shades are also suitable if the kitchen is slightly farther from the house. They provide the support for the shade, while leaving space for the grill or dining table.
What Types of Materials Are Best for Outdoor Kitchen Shades?
Don’t overlook the importance of the material your outdoor kitchen shade solution is made from! Otherwise, depending on your climate, you may be constantly sweating in the heat or forced to replace it due to mildew.
PVC-Coated Polyester
PVC-coated polyester is very popular due to its low entry cost. Its plastic properties make it ideal for rainy climates, as it’s very waterproof and resistant to mildew. They’re also good options for zip-track systems, as the coating seals out moisture and blocks UV rays.
On the downside, they trap heat. So, if you’re after a more breathable option, it might not be for you.
Acrylic Fabrics
Acrylic fabrics have become an industry standard due to their strong UV resistance, fade resistance, and water repellency. They’re also considered more breathable than polyester.
They do, however, cost slightly more than polyester and can be more difficult to clean if you’re in a wet climate prone to stains and mildew.
Vinyl
Vinyl is a heavy-duty solution for windy and debris-heavy environments. They’re very unlikely to sustain damage and are fully impermeable, making them perfect if you never want rain in your outdoor kitchen.
Mesh Fabrics
Mesh fabrics, often fitted on zip-lock outdoor kitchen shade solutions, come in various levels of opacity (usually from 70% to 95%). Each one offers a different level of view, airflow, and heat retention. However, in all cases, they excel in hot climates by blocking UV and heat while allowing a gentle breeze through their small mesh openings.
If you want privacy, then this is the way to go.
Which material is best for durability?
We recommend opting for PVC polyester or acrylic blends if you’re concerned about the lifespan of your outdoor kitchen awning. These materials resist fading and mold best and are wind and rain-resistant.
What to Look for in an Outdoor Kitchen Awning?
Outdoor kitchen shade solutions must withstand what your local environment throws at them (often literally). But you must also balance that with what you want from it in terms of user experience. For example, if you’re in a very hot, dry climate, then a near-indestructible vinyl isn’t going to be much fun.
Wind Resistance Systems
If you live in an environment where wind is very rare, you can read on. If not, then a wind-resistant kitchen awning system must be a priority.
Systems such as zippered track, tensioned fabrics, and articulated arms can keep your kitchen shade stable during strong winds without flapping or tearing. Which, trust us, is a real perk, because loud, distracting, flapping shades can get quickly irritating.
Heat Tolerance
If you want to avoid getting burnt or cooked by the sun, you have a couple of factors to consider: UV rays and temperature.
Materials like breathable mesh allow air to pass through, creating a gentle breeze and fresh, breathable air. Acrylics and PVC do the opposite, but are strong at deflecting UV rays, which can reduce surface temperatures.
In hot climates, we recommend breathable meshes as you can’t replace airflow, especially when cooking.
Grease and Moisture Resistance
When cooking outdoors, your outdoor kitchen shade solution will be exposed to some degree of grease and moisture. Polyester and acrylic fabrics reject moisture without absorbing stains, making them as easy to clean as with some soap and water. Fabrics are more prone to absorbing vapors but still allow airflow.
Privacy
Finally, there’s privacy. If privacy is your concern, a zippered track system is ideal. They operate vertically, acting almost like tinted windows, so your neighbours can’t peer in on your family summer evenings.
Professional vs DIY Installation
We recommend trusting the professionals, as any misalignment or miscalculation can lead to expensive problems down the line, or annoying issues like slack fabric that billows in the wind. Not to mention, there’s a whole bunch of electrical wiring and structural anchoring that you need to do, while meeting local codes.
For smaller outdoor kitchen spaces, you can go the DIY route, but only if you’re comfortable with ladders, DIY tools, and the pressure involved.
Maintenance by Material Type
Should I Get a Motorized or Manual Outdoor Kitchen Awning?
Manual Systems
Manual systems are the less expensive option, offering a straightforward extension and retraction system. There’s no need for power, and you simply use a crank or pull cord system. These are ideal for outdoor kitchen shade solutions you won’t use often or that cover only a small space.
Motorized and Electric
Motorized outdoor awnings have become the norm in the past few years, especially as they’re now relatively quiet. With the flick of a switch or remote, the awning will move on its own. If you plan to use your outdoor kitchen shade solution often or have a large space to cover, go for it.
Smart and Automated
Smart, automated outdoor kitchen awnings have arrived in recent years and have really transformed the ease of finding shade. Rollac’s, for example, come with sensors for lighting and storms, so they’ll fold away neatly in the event of stormy weather. You can also control most smart awnings from your phone, so you don’t even have to move a muscle.
Choosing the Right Outdoor Shade Solution for Your Budget
Shade Based on Kitchen Size and Layout
If you’re looking to provide just localised shade over the kitchen island, consider a cantilever umbrella or a roller solar shade.
If you’re after anything bigger or have an L-shaped outdoor kitchen, then a wall-mounted or pergola roof is the way to go. If you want vertical protection, consider a zippered side screen.
Budget
- Small and manual shade solutions: $500 to $2,000.
- Motorized and mid-range sizing: $2,000 to $6,000
- Premium smart zip-track systems: $6,000+
Enjoy Wind-Resistant Outdoor Kitchen Shade Awnings with Rollac
At Rollac, we specialize in high-quality shading solutions designed for modern use across a variety of climates.
We welcome you to browse our products and contact us today if you have any questions about which outdoor kitchen shade solution is best for you.
We’ve been innovating sunshade technology since 1984 and have crafted our products to adapt to even minor inconveniences by adding automated sensors and our game-changing Zip Shade Tech.