Hello everyone,
This year we want to progress further with our garden planning, and the topic of shading has come up.
Since we also have a small child, shading has become important to us.
We have a newly built house and are now entering our third summer – we’re getting tired of using two €50 (about $55) umbrellas as our only shading solution.
We have a terrace that is 4 meters (13 feet) deep and 8 meters (26 feet) wide, facing south. The sun shines directly on the terrace all day long.
So far, we haven’t looked much into the pros and cons of different shading options, but we definitely want to tackle this “project” this summer.
--> We don’t need to sit outside in the rain, so a fixed, permanent roof is NOT necessary.
--> We have/want weatherproof furniture that can stay outside uncovered even in light rain, so again, a permanent roof isn’t required here.
--> It’s quite windy where we live, so some kind of side protection would be nice, but that might be too expensive for us right now.
--> We want a future-proof, long-term solution, but ideally also a cost-effective option.
At the hardware store, you often see “cheap” patio roofs – so the question is: are these any good?
What do you think about an awning? We’re not opposed to that, as our main focus is on shading.
Regarding sun sails: we haven’t looked into these yet, but we increasingly see them in our new housing area. Are they weatherproof? Can you leave them up all year? The disadvantage seems to be that they’re permanently stretched, so you can’t let the sun in sometimes, right?
In the end, I’d just appreciate some input and maybe some of your personal experiences. Surely some of you have already tackled this project and can share your thoughts.
Thanks!
This year we want to progress further with our garden planning, and the topic of shading has come up.
Since we also have a small child, shading has become important to us.
We have a newly built house and are now entering our third summer – we’re getting tired of using two €50 (about $55) umbrellas as our only shading solution.
We have a terrace that is 4 meters (13 feet) deep and 8 meters (26 feet) wide, facing south. The sun shines directly on the terrace all day long.
So far, we haven’t looked much into the pros and cons of different shading options, but we definitely want to tackle this “project” this summer.
--> We don’t need to sit outside in the rain, so a fixed, permanent roof is NOT necessary.
--> We have/want weatherproof furniture that can stay outside uncovered even in light rain, so again, a permanent roof isn’t required here.
--> It’s quite windy where we live, so some kind of side protection would be nice, but that might be too expensive for us right now.
--> We want a future-proof, long-term solution, but ideally also a cost-effective option.
At the hardware store, you often see “cheap” patio roofs – so the question is: are these any good?
What do you think about an awning? We’re not opposed to that, as our main focus is on shading.
Regarding sun sails: we haven’t looked into these yet, but we increasingly see them in our new housing area. Are they weatherproof? Can you leave them up all year? The disadvantage seems to be that they’re permanently stretched, so you can’t let the sun in sometimes, right?
In the end, I’d just appreciate some input and maybe some of your personal experiences. Surely some of you have already tackled this project and can share your thoughts.
Thanks!
W
WilderSueden8 Feb 2024 12:49Why choose slats? I don’t see any real advantage, and it’s one of the more expensive options.
You just need to think about what you want. Is it only for shading, or do you also want to leave things outside sometimes? Don’t just consider sunlight from above. What about low sun angles and wind coming from the side?
You just need to think about what you want. Is it only for shading, or do you also want to leave things outside sometimes? Don’t just consider sunlight from above. What about low sun angles and wind coming from the side?
WilderSueden schrieb:
Why choose slats? I don’t see any real advantage, and it’s one of the more expensive options.
You have to think about what you want. Just shading, or do you also want to leave things outside occasionally? And don’t just consider overhead – what about low sun angles and wind from the side?Actually, it’s only for shading – I leave the table outside even when it rains, so I don’t necessarily need a roof.
With slats, I see the benefits of ventilation and controlled light – plus, they just look great aesthetically.
But yes, a retractable awning is also an option for us. Ultimately, we definitely don’t need a fixed roof.
I do see side wind as an issue – but there are pergolas with side blinds, and we have already considered something like that.
C
Costruttrice8 Feb 2024 14:00A louvered roof would be my first choice; I didn’t suggest it because the idea was to find an affordable solution. I think louvers have the advantage that you don’t have to close them completely, so you can still let in light (and air). In winter, they also provide interior daylight. Some suppliers offer louvers that can be fully retracted like a roller blind, which I consider the best option—then, in winter, you only have the frame in front of the window and nothing else. You can also close the sides with glass or fabric, as well as use vertical panels like a valance to block low sunlight.
Costruttrice schrieb:
A louvered roof would be my first choice; I didn’t suggest it earlier because the goal was to keep costs low.
I think louvers have the advantage that you don’t have to close them completely, allowing light (and air) to come through. We considered that at the beginning as well. We even had a roofing company show us such a system.
However, the price made us reconsider. It was one of the most expensive quotes. Although it looked nice, you also have to consider the stack height of the retracted louvers. For our size, 7m x 4m (23 ft x 13 ft), almost 1 meter (3 ft) was lost from the 4 meters (13 ft).
And you always hear stories about slats getting stuck, the motor failing, something leaking, and so on.
So I can’t really understand having no roof at all, even though we definitely want a roof for rain protection. And then glass is obviously best to allow as much natural light as possible, even on dull rainy days...
But if there is no roof, I would stretch a sail instead.
So I can’t really understand having no roof at all, even though we definitely want a roof for rain protection. And then glass is obviously best to allow as much natural light as possible, even on dull rainy days...
But if there is no roof, I would stretch a sail instead.
What I find quite interesting and have also seen with some house-building influencers:
A pavilion from "Weide." A full aluminum pavilion with a louvered roof. At 3.6x4 m (12x13 ft), the price is around €3,600, which is certainly not bad.
However, I wonder: How does wall mounting work with this type of roof concerning the roller shutter box? Is it feasible?
Or if it’s a pavilion, should it be freestanding?
A pavilion from "Weide." A full aluminum pavilion with a louvered roof. At 3.6x4 m (12x13 ft), the price is around €3,600, which is certainly not bad.
However, I wonder: How does wall mounting work with this type of roof concerning the roller shutter box? Is it feasible?
Or if it’s a pavilion, should it be freestanding?
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