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SHADE
Shade is vital in hot, sunny climates. There can be a temperature difference of 10 degrees or more between a shaded area and a sunny spot. In Georgia particularly, the blazing late spring, summer and early fall sun, coupled with extremely high humidity, can make staying outdoors unbearable at times. However, the trend is moving more and more towards investing in our homes and making the indoor space and outdoor space as enjoyable as possible for spending time with friends and family. Shade can make a nice difference in how much use and how often you will use your outdoor spaces. There are many different ways to create some shade for your outdoor space. Screened porches, covered porches and patios, arbors, pergolas, Tree plantings and other plantings can all have a nice impact on your enjoyment of the outdoors. Various structures, if properly placed, can provide shade throughout the day, even in the absence of large trees. Shade structures can be porches, decks, gazebos, arbors, umbrellas, or a combination of any of these with vines and other plant material.
When planning for a shady space to utilize a shade structure, there are several things to consider and plan out prior to implementing the design and construction. Make observations of the location where shade is needed, throughout the day, especially the time of day you imagine that you will be most likely to use the area, on at least three different days. Note the amount of full sun the location receives. Note any nearby houses, trees or shrubs. Document the shape and size of the shaded area, if any, created by existing plants and structures.
Decide how much space you would like to have. Decide what shape the shaded area should take and what materials you wish to use to create your shade structure. Choose a structure type that will best fit all the intended uses of your shaded area. Areas near pools, spas or saunas do not need all-day shade in all directions. A barbecue or outdoor kitchen needs a shade structure which will allow smoke and cooking odors to dissipate such as a covered picnic shelter or canopy.
Decks can also provide a great shade area by building a patio below the deck. This is not an option for all decks due to the deck height off of the ground but is a great way to get out of the hot sun during the day. As the sun goes down you can move up to the deck as the temperature drops to a level that is comfortable outside. We also do a great system under the deck that seals off any moisture and creates a roof over the patio where no rain penetrates. There is nothing better than being outdoors during a late afternoon shower and staying dry. No need to put the food away or keep any of your outdoor furniture cushions from getting wet
Decks should be positioned in the backyard in such a way as to gather as much sun as possible. However, they are most comfortable and enjoyable if they also provide access to shade. Below are a few options to provide some shade while spending time on your deck.
Overhead structures such as covered porches, pergolas, arbors and trellises do this while at the same time providing a sense of security and shelter on the deck. Outdoor structures such as these divide and define different deck areas and add a vertical dimension to the horizontal lines of a deck. These shade structures can serve several purposes at one time and can be modified as the needs of the family change over time.
An arbor is a freestanding 3-dimensional structure made up of posts and overhead horizontal joists or sloping rafters that create the illusion of an outdoor room. It is specifically designed to provide a shaded space for the enjoyment of its occupants. It can also incorporate latticework to provide for the growth of vines and climbing plants. The latticework can also provide a measure of privacy from neighbors. Benches and other forms of freestanding seating can become an interior feature of the arbor and provide a refuge during a rain shower or a special area in which to find calm and quiet.
A pergola is an arbor that is attached to the home. The house wall provides excellent support while eliminating the need for half of the posts. The pergola's open-roofed structure is supported away from the house by columns. The pergola shades windows and glass doors from the glare of the summer sun but permits the lower winter sun to reach the interior.
A trellis is a structure constructed from smaller scale lumber that is designed for climbing plants or vines to grow against or over. It can be freestanding, mounted vertically against a wall or can be used horizontally as the ceiling portion of an arbor.
A pergola or arbor can balance sun and shade by means of the direction and spacing of the joists or rafters which work like the horizontal slats of a venetian blind, blocking and allowing light as the sun travels through the overhead sky. Shade devices such as umbrellas or awnings are less permanent solutions but do not provide the dramatic design elements created by arbors, pergolas and trellises.
All of the options above are items C & M Residential Services excels in. We have built hundreds of structures mentioned above and there is very little outdoors we cannot handle. Once the new outdoor structure is completed it will soon become a dramatic design feature that will enhance the aesthetic look of the deck as well as its function.
Call us today or visit us online at www.cmresidential.com
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