Types of Outdoor Shades

What is the point of an outdoor shade? Owning a home doesn't mean staying inside all the time. On the contrary, many people like to relax right outside in the yard or perhaps on a patio or under a gazebo. These are all examples of shades, which are vital for protection from the sun if homeowners want to spend any appreciable amount of time outside near their homes.

The market is slowly expanding for shading options, fortunately. The word outdoor shades conjured up what used be the image of a gaudy colored umbrella stuck in the middle of a plastic table. Nowadays, we can pick from awnings, gazebos, pergolas, sun shades and canopies.

Structural shades include all the types that are built as fixed structures which are then either attached to the house or remain free-standing. The arbor is one such structure that is used most often in conjunction with a garden and accordingly arbor designs are a big part of landscape architecture.

For free-standing shading structures one can turn to canopies. On the porch these are converted into porch shades. Like a circus top, they are large tent-like structures which can hold a lot of people simultaneously. Very large ones are usually portable and set up only for the occasion. Whereas small ones are left in place permanently for everyday use. Canopies have also advanced to the point where they have all sorts of useful accoutrements. For example, some expensive ones provide their own heating (as long as they are plugged in), which makes the canopy useful even during fall and winter months when the temperature outside drops.

The shades of choice for the aesthete are the sail-shaped shades which can be used as outdoor patio shades. These are usually square or triangular pieces of shade fabric (canvas, vinyl etc) that are stretched out onto different kinds of frames. These skeleton frames can then be erected over the area of interest. Why are they artistic? Well, there really is no end to the kind of layout for these shades. They can be layered into different levels, at the same time spread out over a large surface area. Companies selling this type of shade will usually supply it by the square foot.

The easiest and simplest kind of shade is, of course, is the trusty old sun umbrella which usually acts as outdoor sun shades. Traditionally stuck into a heavy base and usually accompanying a table, pool and other shading umbrellas have also changed dramatically in the last few years. For example, the oldest umbrellas were opened with hand cranks on the pole. But now mechanical and other electric motors can be bought with the umbrella for easy opening and closing. And while the oldest umbrellas were uprights which got in the way of people's visions, the newest ones extend laterally from the pole to provide shade but do not obstruct sight. One caveat is that umbrellas can be felled by strong winds in hurricaes or other storms. It would be wisest to get one with a sturdy base so it is least affected by weather problems.

Finally, another kind you might consider for sun protection are awnings. Have you ever stood outside a store under shelter from rain? That piece of fabric over the storefront is the awning. Recall that they are usually wrapped around a frame which is then attached to the top of a storefront. There are awnings for homes too, especially for entrances to porches or patios where the residents spend time.

Awnings are useful for two reasons. For one, they provide direct shade for people underneath, as they lounge and relax near the entrance or enter and exit the building. For another, even when they are not being used directly, the awnings shield household openings from sunlight entering and heating up the house. In fact, these awnings are responsible for energy savings every year. Like umbrellas, awnings have advanced to the point where they are electronic and mechanized so as to reduce the amount of physical work to open and close them. Luckily, there is a plethora of choices for everyone looking for sun shades and porch shades, from the mundane to the sophisticated.