Patio Covers and Other Considerations A patio cover can be anything from a retractable canopy to a pergola or fixed roof. If you have a small yard with simple shading needs, you can buy or make your own privacy screen, spray hood, or stand-alone umbrella. If you plan to build something more permanent, work with a professional, such as an architect or landscape architect, to make sure your building complies with city codes and is properly designed. Other things to consider before planning, designing and building a patio deck are:
- Budget
- Architectural style of your house
- Building materials available in your area
- Location
- Size and extent of patio and roofs
- Orientation of the patio to the sun, for example to a bright southern or cooler northern location.
01 Add a sheet of Perspex
Finish the pergola with a clear sheet of Perspex, a UV-resistant plexiglass that helps filter harsh rays while maintaining openness. Designed by Hong Kong’s Alexandra Lauren, this rooftop terrace has plenty of texture and bright colors to draw attention to the seating area.
02 Neutral finish
Install a roof overhang to protect your patio from rain or bad weather, like this space from South African firm LevEco Architects. Use neutral finishes to help the space blend into the yard.
03 Hang a shade sail
One of the easiest and cheapest patio cover ideas is a shade sail. Blanco Bungalow installed a large shade sail in this Los Angeles backyard to protect it from unwanted sun and neighboring windows overlooking the space. Lights around the edges of pergola provide ambient light after dark.
04 Plant climbing vines
One of the easiest ways to add patio cover is to decorate it with natural greenery. Carson Douglas Landscape Architecture covered a custom redwood pergola with vines for a lush organic feel.
05 Use galvanized steel
Try galvanized steel if you want an idea that walks the line between rustic and modern. Gast Architects added shade to a grooved concrete patio in Arroyo Grande, California with a custom steel frame finished in corrugated galvanized steel pergola.
