The Different Types of Patio Covers and How to Choose the Right One
When you wake up to beautiful blue skies and warm temperatures, your first thought is to head for your patio for a day of rest and relaxation. However, if you do so without a patio cover to protect you from the sun, you'll soon find yourself overwhelmed from the heat and looking for the nearest shady spot.
Rather than watch your patio go unused on otherwise beautiful days, consider installing one of the different types of patio covers that can quickly make a world of difference. If you're eager to get started but have little idea about which patio covering options may work best for you, our team here at Rollac has compiled important information on all types of outdoor patio shade options.
Why Cover Your Patio?
The most obvious answer to this question is to protect you from the intense heat of the sun as well as from harmful UV rays that can cause skin cancer. However, there are plenty of other reasons as well.
Keep in mind that by adding covering over your patio, you can enjoy being outside on days when it is raining, which can open up a variety of possibilities in terms of entertaining as well as what you can have on your patio, such as furniture or other accessories. Since we offer many types of outdoor structures that can be perfect for patios, working with us will make it easy for you to figure out how to cover your patio from rain.
Covering over your patio will also help extend the life of your space. Over time, both the sun's rays as well as rain, snow, hail, and wind can take its toll on your patio and anything you have on it as well. Whether it's concrete that begins to show signs of water damage or furniture that starts to fade and rust, our Rollac patio cover styles will keep your outdoor space in great shape for many years.
Different Patio Cover Types and Their Pros and Cons
If you're trying to decide between awnings and pergolas or perhaps canopies for your patio, you need to know the various pros and cons of different types of patio covers, which is where we at Rollac can be of great help.
Pergolas
Able to be self-standing or attached to your home, today's modern pergolas are becoming very popular due to their beautiful and striking architectural styling. Able to be made from many types of materials, pergolas can have louvered roofs that let you control how much sunlight enters your patio. However, beware if you're on a limited budget, since customized pergolas can be expensive.
Outdoor Structures
If you want to go all the way with a stylish and sophisticated pergola, a backyard camargue is worthy of your consideration. Transforming your patio into an extension of your home's living area, a camargue is usually motorized for added convenience and has loveres designed for excellent water drainage. But like traditional pergolas, a camargue may be quite expensive.
Retractable Awnings
Our Rollac retractable awnings are some of our most popular patio cover types. Requiring little maintenance and care on your part, retractable awnings come in many sizes, styles, and colors. Available as motorized or manual awnings, they can easily fit into budgets big or small.
Canopies
Easy to install, very affordable, and available in all sizes and colors, canopies can be a great option if the cost of a retractable awning exceeds your budget. Made from various types of materials, canopy fabric is easy to repair or replace if needed.
Solid Roofing
A solid roof over your patio will withstand wear and tear very well and possibly even increase the value of your home. To get this done on a tight budget, you might want to choose aluminum roof panels, since they are cheaper but still stylish and durable.
Outdoor Shades
Here at Rollac, outdoor patio shades such as our ZipShades are very popular due to their ability to cool a patio area by as much as 20 degrees within minutes of being lowered. Also able to keep insects at bay and give you an extra level of privacy, outdoor shades such as these are well worth a second look.
Choosing the Right Types of Patio Covers
Many factors need to be considered when you are choosing covering over your patio.
Materials
Do you want wood or metal? When it comes to maintaining your pergola or other outdoor structure, metal may do better than wood over time. However, if you want a rustic look that may blend in better with your home's exterior, wood is a great choice.
Quality
This is always important. Remember that if you choose the cheapest type of patio cover, you may save money initially, only to spend more and more in the years ahead with repairs and replacements.
Location
Should you live in a location where nasty tropical storms come calling on an annual basis, you may want to consider purchasing a hurricane-proof-pergola that is made to withstand high winds and is made of waterproof materials.
Budget
Even if you have a tight budget, keep in mind that you can still purchase many different types of patio covers that look great, are stylish, and very durable. For example, instead of a motorized awning, you can get a manual-arm retractable awning for your patio. Since the only difference in these is essentially the motor itself, you can still have style, elegance, and convenience at an affordable price.
Style
Take some time to consider the style of patio covering you desire. Do you want an awning or canopy that has bright colors and will stand out in a crowd, or do you desire an outdoor structure that easily blends into the outside of your home?
We've Got the Answers
Whether you're wondering how to protect your patio from hurricanes or just need some advice on which style of awning would look best on your patio, we've got the answers here at Rollac. By contacting us today on the phone or online, your patio cover dreams will come true.