Pop-up thunderstorms and the sun’s harsh summer rays may keep homeowners from using the porches, patios and decks that sold them on the home or that they invested in to create an outdoor living space.
If homeowners want to be made in the shade, choices abound, depending on your budget and the size of your outdoor area. Whether sitting on the patio with a glass of wine, reading with a cup of coffee in the morning, or dining al fresco, some Atlanta area homeowners don’t want the heat, sun or rain to cramp their style.
“People want covers on their outside spaces because in Atlanta, the weather is so good most of the year that your outside space is almost as good as your inside space,” said Joyce Parker, sales manager for Cumming-based Adjustable Patio Covers of Atlanta. “It’s usable space, just like the space inside your home.”
Homeowners who thrive on outdoor living are investing in awnings, screens, canopies and pergolas for new or existing homes.
Adding an awning
An awning extends off the home, adding another dimension and detail to the back or side of a residence.
“Unlike a screened-in porch, an awning, whether it’s retractable or fixed, it typically is open on three sides. So you really get that feeling of being outdoors but under cover,” said Barry Adams, vice president of Norcross-based Peachtree Awnings. “An awning becomes an extension of their home. It extends their living experience to outside of their home. People like that feeling.”
Awnings can range from $2,000-$6,000, Adams estimates.
Ceiling fans and lighting can be added to a fixed awning, creating the feel of a room outdoors. A stationery awning also can protect electronic equipment such as flat screen TVs and elaborate outdoor kitchens with stainless steel appliances and granite countertops from the elements.
A retractable awning gives homeowners the flexibility of more sun or shade when they want it, moving the awning with a motorized mechanism or manually. High-end features could include a wind sensor and a drop-down screen for additional sun protection. Another luxury feature is the ability to adjust the pitch of the awning, said Adams, whose company offers a “flex-pitch” system. If the sun is low in the sky, the homeowner can adjust the awning so that the pitch is at a greater slant. Or the awning can be pitched higher for a more roomy feeling.
Most manufacturers say retractable awnings can withstand winds of 20 to 25 mph, while permanent awnings can withstand more substantial wind loads.
Manufacturers typically use welded aluminum frames for awnings, instead of steel frames, which can be more heavy and potentially rust, said Doug Dechert, owner of Newnan-based Southeast Awnings.
“Retractable awning products are something that people are starting to take more stock in,” Dechert said.
He estimates that installing a basic retractable awning starts at $1,500, covering a 12-by-10 foot area. The cost to install a permanent awning starts around $15 a square foot.
Dechert says homeowners should consider how often they use the outdoor space. For example, do you only want sun protection, or do you want sun protection and to sit outside during the rain and smoke a cigar or entertain? If that’s the case, a permanent structure is the best option, he said.
Adjusting the sun’s access
If flexibility is first, homeowners have options. One is a louvered roof system by Adjustable Patio Covers of Atlanta, whose system has appeared on the DIY Network show, “Ice My House: The Vanilla Ice Project.” Homeowners can push a button to control sunlight and shade using the system, which also has a built-in gutter.
The louvered roof system roughly costs $40-$45 a square foot in Atlanta, Parker said. Adjustable Patio Covers typically installs the system throughout metro Atlanta, with an average size of 220 square feet.
The cover can withstand winds of 140 mph. The structure is made of recycled powder-coated extruded aluminum and is manufactured in Cumming by Arcadia Louvered Roofs, which owns Adjustable Patio Covers and has an dealer network of 57-plus dealers nationwide.
The A-frame or gable cover can tie into an existing roof, be installed underneath a soffit, or be freestanding next to a house or in the yard. It also can be installed on top of an existing pergola, Parker said. In some cases, the covers have been used at varying heights, extending from a grilling area to a pool area to outdoor dining space. Extra features include ceiling fans, columns and rope lights in the gutter.
Another shelter option for homeowners is an insulated canopy system, which uses a thin layer of aluminum on the top and the bottom, filled with Styrofoam in the center, Dechert said. When the sun hits it, the canopy is insulated from the heat, and the system is highly durable and maintenance-free, he said. The cost is about $20-$25 per square foot.
Putting in a pergola
Over the last few years, homeowners have called Arbor & Sage, a Canton-based design/build landscape company, tired of the sun “beating down on their heads,” said president Rob Schweiger.
“A lot of people are really enjoying going outside more, then the heat is bothering them. When it’s just the heat, then a lot of times we’re building structures such as the arbors and pergolas,” he said.
Using an arbor or pergola with structural support posts and 2-by-6 material with 2-by-2 and 2-by-4 material on the top, homeowners can block the sun’s direct rays, Schweiger said. Costs vary, but for example, a 12-by-14 foot arbor could start at $2,000, he said.
For homeowners seeking to also shield themselves from the rain, a shingle metal or copper roof structure is an option. A gabled ceiling can give a more massive look to the structure, although it will cost more than a flat roof.
For the materials, cedar is more expensive than pressure-treated wood, but requires less maintenance and is not as susceptible to bowing and splitting, Schweiger said. One option is to wrap columns made of pressure-treated wood with a plastic-type product that adds to the size of the structure and requires no maintenance (the wrap also can be pre-painted for a finished look).
An aluminum pergola, also about $20-$25 per square foot, is maintenance-free, with no need to re-stain or risk of warping, compared to wood, Dechert said.
“It will last indefinitely. The downside of the pergola system is most of them are designed at best to create a 50-percent shade factor. You need to be sure that’s what you’re after,” Dechert said.
