Protect Your Deck with a Deck Canopy
Adding protective shades such as a deck canopy to your backyard deck area is often the best way to add usability to an outdoor area. Direct sunlight is a common problem for deck owners because it can make the area extremely uncomfortable to use. With the sun blinding you and searing your skin with UV rays, you might as well head back indoors. All of that beautiful patio furniture also becomes unusable because it gets very hot to the touch. These inconveniences result in the deck area becoming abandoned in the hot season- a time when it could be enjoyed most. Shades allow people to get back outdoors for those fun summer barbecues and family get-togethers.
If you don’t have any type of awning over your deck, it may seem like an impossible task to hang shades around the area. A deck canopy is a better solution than single shades because it mounts to the wall by your deck and hangs overhead. These systems consist of a metal frame with a fabric canopy on top. Many of these systems can collapse and retract as needed using either a manual crank or electric motor. The colorful fabric on top can be selected to match the current decor and furniture sitting on the deck.
These canopies are typically placed over the patio door on the deck area. The shade hovers over the deck area by the door where users can set up their outdoor furniture. Under this protective shade, users are free from the blaring sun and risk of sun burns. Mounting is fairly easy, but should be left to the experts if you do not have experience with this kind of installation. In only an hour or two, the installation will be complete and the canopy will be ready to use.
One important decision to make before choosing a deck canopy is whether to get a motorized or manual crank system. If you want a model that retracts, this is a decision that must be made. Hand crank canopies are cheaper but require users to turn a handle bar to open or close them. Granted, this process only takes a minute or two, but greater convenience can be obtained from a motorized model. These units use an electric motor to open and close the canopy in seconds. Users press a button on a wired or wireless control pad to operate it. Deck canopies are some of the most flexible outdoor shades around.
For a more portable shading solution that can be easily moved around, a cantilever patio umbrella can be a great alternative to stationary deck canopies..
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