How to Keep Your Patio Cool in Summer?

Summer months are a wonderful time of year to enjoy the outdoors but sometimes that summer heat can be a little too much depending on where you are located or the time of the day.

There are several ways to keep your patio or porch cool. One of them being retractable screens (standard retractable screens, motorized screens, or large opening screens).

1. Use Retractable Screens

Retractable screens can be installed to cover your whole patio and create an outdoor oasis. You can have motorized screens or large opening screens cover the area or enclose it. Opt for a mesh that is more opaque to keep the sunlight at a minimum and shade the whole area. Retractable screens are designed to let fresh air in but can also block UV rays. If you have a sliding door, single door, or french door, by adding a retractable screen you can create more airflow but also add shade to your home to keep it cool.

2. Use Outdoor Shades

If you have an outdoor area or patio, you can use outdoor shades such as motorized screens to close in the area when needed to keep it shaded but also allow fresh air to flow through. The nice thing about motorized screens is that they are controlled by a remote, so if you have several screens enclosing your patio you can create an outdoor oasis with shade.

3.  Use Shade Sails or Pergolas

In order to create shade in your outdoor space you can opt for shade sails or pergolas which unlike retractable screens they cover from above to shade the area. They come with multiple material/fabric types, as well as colors. So depending on your home’s decor or outdoor area design, you can customize it to fit. The plus of a pergola is that you can attach a retractable screen to it. A motorized screen can be mounted to the top and create shade on the sides of your space.

4. Set up Canopies and Awnings

Canopies and awnings are also very useful in shading your space. Canopies are more of a stand-alone product that is not attached to your home but an awning is attached to your home and jets out to create shade. Awnings and canopies will create shade from above and you are not able to attach a retractable screen to it.

5. Create a Cross Breeze

One natural way to keep you cool in the summer is to create a cross breeze in your home. You can create this by opening one door and another across the way from it. To blow across the area you are trying to keep cool. This is the most energy-efficient way to keep cool. Think about adding retractable screens on these doors so that you avoid insects in your home and keep the area breezy. Depending on the mesh chosen, you can create shade in the interior of your home as well.

6. Use Ceiling Fans and Misters

To overcome extreme heat, you can add misters to your outdoor area where you might want to sit with your guests. This relieves the heat for the short term. Depending on the layout you could also add ceiling fans to the outdoor area or within your home. It generates more consistent airflow throughout your space. 

7. Choose Neutral or Light Toned Colors for Materials

Many of these options we have listed can be chosen in light materials to keep the area from getting warmer. For example, when choosing a motorized screen, retractable screen, or an awning, you want a lighter color material to not keep the heat in the area you are trying to cool down. 

8. Plant Trees and Bushes Nearby

If you have a patio that has green space you can plant some trees to shade the area. Of course, this takes time to grow and completely shade your place but it provides the best shade and privacy too. Bushes are also an option but you will want to make sure they are tall enough to shade the space. If you are on a patio in an apartment or townhouse you can purchase tall plants to shade the area around the perimeter of your patio or deck.

Retractable Shades Are the Best Option for Keeping Your Patio Cool in Summer

There are many options to keep your patio cool but retractable screens or shades would be the best option to keep your space cool and comfortable to enjoy. You can choose from a single retractable screen, a French retractable screen, a large opening retractable screen, or a motorized screen. Depending on your patio setup, it’s the best option to keep you cool but also keep unwanted insects out. Mirage retractable screens offer so many possibilities when it comes to shading a variety of openings and designs. You can also mix and match products such as motorized screens on some of the openings then a regular screen on one side or a large opening screen on that side. The variety of mesh and color options also offer extra shade protection in the home. If you opt for a Suntex 90 you will have the max opacity and can guarantee it will shade your space.

Conclusion

As you can see there are a variety of options to keep your patio cool during the warmest months of the year. You want to make sure that you and your guests are the most comfortable you can be. Depending on your home’s design or what area you are trying to shade and keep cool, you want to make sure that you make an educated decision.