umbrellas, sails, awnings and gazebos — how to choose the best sun block for your space
6 minute read
a pergola by chilliwack-based vandenberg landscapes. suitable for larger spaces, pergolas are sturdier options typically made of wood or metal.
jeremy pue, white cloud producti
summertime, and the living is easy. unless you’re overheated and sweaty, desperately trying to sidestep the sun’s punishing rays. and punishing they are: according to melanoma canada, the leading cause of skin cancer is overexposure to ultraviolet radiation. extreme heat events, like the 2021 heat dome, are also becoming more common.
so, to save your skin and keep your cool while enjoying the great outdoors, you’ll need to throw some shade. following are some suggestions, from an economical sail or patio umbrella to an elaborate (and costlier) pergola or gazebo.
umbrellas and sails
not only are umbrellas and sails budget-friendly, but they’re also portable and adaptable to small spaces, especially balconies. and modern weather-resistant fabrics offer a wide choice of colour and pattern in addition to that most important of considerations, uv protection. while any umbrella shade is better than no shade, some marketing claims that they block up to 98 per cent of uv rays may be more promotional than scientific.
the effectiveness of certain colours is also up in the air. some marketers claim darker colours absorb more rays while lighter colours supposedly reflect more light.
an awning from patio gurus. awnings, umbrellas and sails are easy to keep clean using a soft brush or sponge and soap and water.
stobag
“i don’t know if there’s any conclusive information on that,” says stuart ilott, president at burnaby-based wizard screen solutions, which also operates patio gurus. “i know that darker materials attract more heat, and you’ll feel that sitting underneath. they also feel darker and smaller. a lighter colour material feels more open and airy.”
ilott says all patio gurus’ umbrella materials are 100 per cent solution-dyed acrylic, which is the most durable and colour fast. “vinyl is very limited in colour options, and the material doesn’t breathe at all.”
matt vandenberg, president at chilliwack-based vandenberg landscapes, says darker colours also fade faster. “even a high-quality darker fabric is going to go from a black to a charcoal, or a charcoal to a grey, faster than a brown, beige and other lighter colour.”
advertisement
aside from fabric, vanessa rienau, general manager at livingspace outdoor, says to consider where you’re going to hoist that sail or umbrella: “which direction does the sun come from so you can best angle it? how windy is the area? how much space do you want it to cover? umbrella sizes can range from eight feet to 20 feet and weigh anywhere from 100 pounds to 800 pounds. do you prefer a square, round, rectangular shape? also consider furniture, trees, shrubs or other structures that could inhibit the opening and closing of the umbrella. do you need it to tilt? also, does it need to be mounted to the ground, requiring pouring of concrete, or will it have a weighted base?”
rienau says a good-quality cantilever umbrella can range from $10,000 to $20,000 depending on the brand, model and size. “some high-end umbrellas are designed to last a long time, offering repairable/replaceable parts. other umbrellas are less expensive, not easily repairable, and designed to be replaced after a few years.”
regardless, she advises caring for any umbrella. always keep it closed when not in use, especially in high winds. “never leave it open in a tilted position, since wind could send it sailing across the yard. if you live near the sea, regularly rinse your umbrella of airborne salt, especially before packing it away for the winter.”
sails are even more versatile — and cheaper. available in a range of shapes, sizes and styles, from triangles, squares and rectangles of 6.5 x 6.5 up to 10 x 13, shade sails work best in a smaller space, but you could layer multiple sails to cover a larger area. sails are a little less resistant to weather, however, with heavy rain risking tears and leaks. high-quality material like acrylic or high-density polyester is more durable and offers better uv protection.
cost depends on size and material, but you can expect to pay between $50 to $600, even more to have it installed professionally. if maintained and cleaned regularly, a good sail should last anywhere from five to 15 years.
advertisement
canopies and curtains
these easy-to-operate (and easy on the budget) options can range anywhere from $130 to $200 and can be up and shady in under 10 minutes. sized at about 13’ x 13’, flexible canopies can be adjusted easily for height and will fold down for easy storage.
outdoor curtains block not only harmful uv rays but nosy neighbours’ eyes. available in a range of sizes and materials, from clear vinyl to polyester tarp mesh to light-filtering canvas, these coverings can be hung around decks and patios, gazebos and cabanas. sizes range from 54” x 96”-plus, and cost anywhere from $25 to $150.
retractable awnings
ilott recalls installing an awning for a surrey homeowner whose patio temperature gauge read 38 c. “after — 22 degrees, which shows how effective they are at cooling.”
whether manually cranked or motorized, awnings cast a shadow over decks, patios and porches and range in price from $170 to $5,000 depending on size, fabric and make. a good awning is made of uv and water-resistant fabric that resists fading and can even stand up to winds of up to 50 km per hour. some have wind sensors and will automatically retract in high gusts.
“the material itself has good colour fastness with a fluorocarbon topcoat antifungal treatment,” says ilott. “but if your backyard is filled with cedar trees, you’ll eventually get some algae growth on the material.”
awnings, umbrellas and sails are generally easy to keep clean, however, using a long soft brush or sponge and a mild soap and warm water solution.
a shade umbrella from livingspace outdoor. umbrellas are portable and adaptable to small spaces.
supplied/livingspace
pergolas and gazebos
these structures are sturdier (and costlier) options made of vertical posts, pillars and beams that either stand alone or attach to a house. they’re typically made of wood or metal and are ideal for a larger backyard or garden.
a pergola’s roof is usually open to allow air flow and partly covers an outdoor space. a gazebo is typically free-standing with a closed roof and can come with built-in benches and tables. they range from $1,000 to $2,000. neither protect you (or your outdoor furniture) from the elements, dust and dirt.
advertisement
a wood (usually cedar or fir) pergola starts at about $10,000, says ilott, and doesn’t stand up as well over time, needing to be resealed and stained over the years. it’s also susceptible to mould and rot.
aluminum pergolas are durable and long-lasting — up to 30 years — and are resistant to rust, warping and cracking. they range from around $1,300 to over $6,000.
vinyl structures are less expensive — anywhere from $950 to over $6,000 — and easier to maintain but more prone to damage from the elements.
vandenberg says a handy homeowner could probably build a wood structure, but metal post and frame is best left to a contractor. he also notes there can be a convoluted permitting process that, depending on your municipality, can be either quick or slow.
ilott says louvered roof systems are becoming more popular, albeit more expensive (ranging from $2,000 for diy to $35,000 for professional installation).
“they’re aluminum so really low maintenance and they can bear the weight of snow, and they have a gutter system for rain. when the sun is out you just tilt the louvres and get full light coming in.”
shade trees
you can’t get more natural shade than a broad-leafed tree. there’s also the bonus of the beautiful foliage they add to your backyard, not to mention the potential savings on energy bills: b.c. hydro estimates that shade trees planted on the south or west sides of homes can reduce cooling costs by as much as 35 per cent.
but with newer homes being built on smaller acreage, there’s precious space for large, stately shade trees. better options include species that are narrow and vertical. still, a good deciduous tree can cast a nice shadow. the downside is that they drop their colourful leaves every fall, making for a laborious cleanup.
“but once the leaves come off, light comes during the winter,” says vandenberg. “maple trees with the bigger leaves work well but they also don’t get so big that they become a danger to the house in 20 or 30 years.”
advertisement
he says fast-growing trees are another option, but the downside is they continue to be fast-growing. “after planting, in 10 years it’s perfect, but in 20 years it’s probably too big and too close to the house and starting to become a hazard. too often we’re taking out a massive tree and it’s very costly.”
an alternative, he says, is a pergola or arbour that can be covered in fast-growing vines like clematis, wisteria or honeysuckle. “they’re not only shady, but pretty to look at.”
share story
