- Patios are great outdoor places to gather and spend time together.Red patio furniture image by Scott Latham from Fotolia.com
Patios are treasured outdoor spaces where people gather to spend time together and appreciate the outdoors. Having a cover can enhance your patio experience in several ways, from not having to worry about the weather when planning an event to offering much needed protection from sun and heat. There are several patio roofing options available. - Polycarbonate patio roofs look like glass but are actually made of Plexiglas, making them more resilient and less vulnerable to breaking. Available in a variety of tints depending on how much sunlight you want to penetrate, polycarbonate roofs protect you from the elements while still allowing some of the good stuff, such as sun rays, to pass through allowing you to grow plants on the patio. However, when faced with high wind and hail polycarbonate roofs are subject to damage and are not the most sturdy option.
- Pergola patio roofs are made from a lattice roof structure with individual rafters. Often employing nice, weather-resistant wood such as cedar or redwood, pergolas can also be made out of plastic or steel. Pergola roofing is a very simple, elegant and common option that allows about half the sunlight to pass through into the patio space.
Pergola roofs are highly decorative and a variety of plants will grow on beams and roofing. It's also fun to place lights and other sculptural elements to add style and personal touch. - Metal roofing is a very sturdy option that provides total shade. Made from overlapping corrugated panels, metal roofing is resistant to all forms of weather, including high winds, hail and snow. Metal roofing comes in several different colors and can also be painted to match the surrounding landscape and decor.
There are different grades of metal roofing depending on your style preferences and budget. Aluminum roofing is one of the more common options as it is relatively inexpensive. - Canopy and gazebo patio roofs are generally made from iron or wood and have movable fabric covers draped over the top. These styles of are very versatile and are available in a number of sizes and shapes. They are waterproof and provide ample coverage from the elements; however they do not allow any sun to penetrate and the covers will need replacing every several years.
Canopy and gazebo roofs are fun to decorate and often have trellises with vines and other plants growing on them. - Umbrellas are a much overlooked patio roofing option. Most used in warm-weather climes, these sizable umbrellas offer protection from the sun, are easily moved and can be simply replaced. They also shut down when the weather is perfect and you don't want a cover over your patio.
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