Wondering how to get shade on your deck? Most deck owners will tell you that having a deck is one of the best ways to relax and enjoy your backyard…except on hot, humid summer days when the sun just won’t set! In Southern Ontario, the summer heat can rise into the high-20s and even mid-30s and feel even hotter with humidity. Though it’s important to pay attention to potential heat warnings and stay indoors when necessary, the average summer sun shouldn’t keep you from enjoying your backyard. In this article, we’ll look at some of the best ways to add shade to your deck, the pros and cons of each option, and their average price – so you can find shade no matter what your budget is! For more information on making the most out of your backyard and your deck, contact the experts at Jay Fencing now!

How To Get Shade On Your Deck – What’s The Best Method?

What is the best way to enjoy your deck, even on hot summer days? When it comes to overall best protection from all of the elements, including harsh sunlight, rain, wind, and even insects, as well as best value added to your home, a gazebo is an excellent choice. Though you can find many standalone gazebos, others can be built directly onto your deck, maximizing your deck’s usability and creating the perfect amount of shade and shelter!

With a gazebo, the possibilities are nearly endless, which makes it perfect for your new backyard shelter solution. Though open gazebos do offer a good amount of protection from the sun, an enclosed gazebo will provide more protection from the rain and sun as it is closed on all sides. Depending on the climate of your area, either an enclosed or open gazebo may suit your needs.

Gazebos are an investment. Though they can increase the value of your home, they do cost more upfront. To ensure your gazebo stands the test of time, it’s best to ensure a professional installation company builds your gazebo right from the best materials.

Interested In Your Own Beautiful Gazebo?

If you are unsure if a gazebo is the best choice for your home and your budget, consider some of the other sun-blocking options outlined in this article. Though a gazebo is an excellent choice, it may not be ideal for your current living situation (for those that rent instead of own a home, for example) or for those with lower budgets. See the comparison below for other great methods!

How To Get Shade On Your Deck: Methods Comparison

Adding shade to your deck can be as simple as buying a large patio umbrella, or it can be a home renovation project, such as adding a roof to your deck. In the graphic below, we’ve outlined the pros and cons of six popular deck shelter solutions, as well as their average cost and overall durability.

Common Deck Shelters – Options Overview

Before choosing the right deck shelter solution for you, it’s important to know all of your options first so you can make an informed decision and feel good about your final choice. Whether you choose to simply buy an umbrella, or plan for a bigger renovation, preparation and planning are key for all home additions!

Deck Roofs

Sun Protection Rating: ★★★★☆
Protection From The Elements: ★★★☆☆
Ideal For: Homeowners

Building a roof to your deck can be a great permanent shelter solution. A well-built deck roof can last a very long time without requiring significant maintenance. Depending on the materials used to build your deck roof, you will likely never need to replace it or repair it, unless an unforeseen accident occurs.

When built by a professional, your deck roof will be durable and provide a great deal of protection from the sun and other elements like rain. However, as with any structure that lacks walls, depending on the location of the sun, some parts beneath the roof may be exposed to sunlight at different points in the day.

A high-quality, attractive roof added to your deck can also add value to your room. Adding a roof to your deck makes it easier to screen in your deck if you choose to do so in the future, which can help keep moisture and bugs away.

Unlike other options listed here, building a deck roof is a major construction project and will likely require a big budget and lots of patience. It may cost more or less depending on the current layout of your home and yard, and depending on how much of your deck you would like the roof to be built over. It is important to work with professionals. An inexperienced installer could build a roof that does not stand up to the winds and rain, becomes easily damaged, or even collapses. Because it is a small addition to your home, it’s important to know the bylaws of your area – you may need a building permit to add a deck roof.

Gazebos

Sun Protection Rating: ★★★★☆ / Protection From The Elements: ★★★☆☆ (open gazebos)
Sun Protection Rating: ★★★★★/ Protection From The Elements: ★★★★★ (enclosed gazebos)
Ideal For: Homeowners

When you choose a gazebo, you will have nearly endless options to choose from. Gazebos come in a wide variety of styles, sizes, and designs. It’s easy to find or build a gazebo that fits all your wants, needs, and your budget.

Gazebos have posts that surround the structure, which makes it easy to add temporary mesh or screen to help minimize the amount of sun let in through the sides. Adding mesh or screen can also reduce rain and insects! Of course, this is not a necessary addition, but it can help control the elements. An enclosed gazebo is essentially a room of its own, keeping out wind, rain, sun, and bugs!

Gazebos do require a higher budget. Though they can add value to your home, you will have to pay more upfront. If you choose to build an enclosed gazebo, the style that will provide maximum protection from sunlight, you will typically need an even bigger budget. Enclosed gazebos are often the most expensive option due to increased labour and materials. If you are looking for a DIY project, a gazebo is not a great choice for you.

Deck Umbrellas

Sun Protection Rating: ★★☆☆☆
Protection From The Elements: ★☆☆☆☆
Ideal For: Homeowners or renters

Adding a large patio umbrella or two is one of the most traditional ways to add some shade to your deck. Deck umbrellas are cost-effective and generally aesthetically pleasing too! Though deck umbrellas are often used to provide shade, they can also help protect from light rain as well. Deck umbrellas are the easiest option to install on our list – set-up generally takes less than 10 minutes!

Although deck umbrellas are generally effective at providing shade on your deck, they, unfortunately, provide limited protection from other elements and lack durability. If you forget to close your umbrella during a heavy rainstorm or an extra windy day, you may find yourself with a flying umbrella headed towards your neighbour’s yard! Deck umbrellas are generally smaller than most other options listed here. That, and the fact that they do not offer any protection from the sides, means that you may have to frequently adjust them to deal with sunlight coming in from different angles depending on the time of day.

Hanging Canopies

 

Sun Protection Rating: ★★★★☆
Protection From The Elements: ★★☆☆☆
Ideal For: Homeowners, possibly renters – Ask landlord before installing

There are many different types of canopies, each with their own pros and cons. Even within each type of canopy, there are subtypes that all come in various sizes. Some popular types of canopies include:

• Awnings
• Large retractable canopies
• Sectioned retractable canopies

A hanging canopy, or awning, can provide a good amount of protection from the sun. It is a structure built right on to your house’s wall. Some hanging canopies are retractable, meaning you can “put them away” when you want to sit out in the natural sunlight. If your deck is placed away from your home, a hanging canopy may not be ideal as it will not have a wall to be built on.

If you enjoy DIY projects, hanging canopies are relatively easy to build, though they may be a bit difficult to build for inexperienced do-it-yourselfers. They are also easy to use and generally easy to install. When built with high-quality materials, hanging canopies can last for many years without needing repairs or replacement. They provide a moderate amount of shelter and protection from the rain, depending on the style, but little protection from the wind.

Some hanging canopies cannot retract, and therefore do not allow you to choose when you want sunlight and when you want shelter. This may be problematic on cooler days when you may want the warmth from the sun.  Canopy columns may also get in the way of other parts of your deck, or may not blend in well with your existing structures. Though they do provide a good amount of shelter, it is unlikely you will be sheltered on very windy or rainy days.

Portable Canopies

Sun Protection Rating: ★★★★☆
Protection From The Elements: ★★★☆☆
Ideal For: Homeowners and renters

With a portable canopy, you can choose to buy one for your long-term needs or to add temporary shelter to your yard when you need it. Portable canopies are generally large and take up more space, making them ideal for larger backyards or decks. With a portable canopy, you can move your shelter from place to place wherever you currently need protection from the sun!

If you are looking for extra protection, some portable canopies even come with fabric ‘walls’ or mesh coverings to provide extra protection. They are generally affordable and come in different styles and sizes for different budgets. Though portable canopies do come in different sizes, the majority of them are quite large. This means that if you have a very small deck, a portable canopy may not fit properly, or it may take up your entire deck.

They are not easy to customize, most come as-is. Though some portable canopies are made with durable materials, they are not the most durable option for heavy storms or windy days.

Removable Tarps

Sun Protection Rating: ★★★☆☆
Protection From The Elements: ★★☆☆☆
Ideal For: Homeowners, possibly renters – Ask landlord before installing

Removable tarps are a good way to temporarily or more permanently protect you and your deck from sunlight. Because they are removable, you can add them whenever needed. They can be made from many different materials, and are generally a cost-effective shelter option for your deck. Most tarps are made from water-resistant materials, which means you won’t have to worry about maintenance. Tarps are flexible and can be placed in many different ways, including as a temporary roof, or temporary walls, depending on your deck layout and where you need protection from the sun.

Tarps are usually easy to find for any budget, but they are not generally aesthetically pleasing. If you are looking for an option that adds beauty and value to your yard, you are unlikely to find that with removable tarps. Though you can choose when to put up your tarp, this may eventually become tedious, especially if there are many sunny-then-rainy-then sunny days in a row.

Other Sun Blocking Methods

Though we have outlined the most popular ways to get shade on your deck above, here are some other methods that may require a bit more creativity or an open mind! Check out these ideas below.

Pergolas

Pergolas on their own provide very little protection from the sun or the elements. That is because they have no walls, no floor, and an open-style roof. However, there are many creative ways to turn your pergola into the perfect sun-blocking option! Though pergolas are not typically built onto decks, they definitely can be – and with a bit of love, they can be effective sun-blockers for you and your deck. Adding climbing vines to your pergola or other plants can help add extra shade. You can also choose to buy a tarp or mesh to enclose the top of your pergola or create a DIY retractable roof shade.

Hanging Gardens

If you don’t have a pergola or another existing structure that would allow the addition of climbing vines, but love the idea of a floating garden, then consider building your own hanging garden! It may take a bit of work and a green thumb, but with some wood, rope, and a lot of hanging flowers, you can create your own hanging garden on its own or above your deck! Over time, the hanging flowers will grow and provide more and more shade, creating a natural way to stay out of the sun.

SkyLift

The SkyLift is a brand of built-on patio covers made to be different. Using their unique design, they ensure that the deck and patio cover is elevated more than the average cover. This ensures that debris does not pile up on the top, and that moisture build-up and leaks are less likely to happen. Because of this great design, the SkyLift does allow more sunlight under the cover – which may or may not be ideal depending on your preferences. You can learn more about the innovative SkyLift here!

Shield Your Deck From The Sun With Jay Fencing!

There are many online guides and YouTube videos on how to build DIY deck shelters. However, building most of these structures from scratch or even from a kit can be a challenge. Ergonomic issues such as strained muscles, heat exhaustion, or fatigue can halt the process and result in serious injury.

DIY can also end up costing more due to improper installation – repairs and even replacements down the road can result in many unexpected costs.

One of the best ways to avoid unexpected costs and DIY frustrations is by choosing a reputable installation company. An experienced installer will help you know what’s best for you and your property, will know and understand fair pricing, and will only do the highest quality work. Avoid pitfalls and skip right to the beautifully installed deck shelter or gazebo of your dreams with Jay Fencing! 

“We are very pleased with our new deck with gazebo. I was very impressed by the
city inspector’s comment that whoever built the deck takes great pride in their
work. Again many thanks.”

– Bob – Read more testimonials here!

At Jay Fencing Ltd, you can feel confident that we will only recommend products or services that are best for you and your needs. This means you won’t be buying any unnecessary products or services that will make the price go up. We offer free onsite consultations for all the jobs we quote on!

Sources:

familyhandyman.com / todayshomeowner.com / heavydutytarps.ca / lowes.com / skylifthardware.com