A spring is budding, now is the time to sketch a fresh plan for outdoor areas. Whether you are designing a backyard patio, an urban rooftop garden, or a play and picnic area at a daycare, there are a few common tricks that can help you create an area that you will enjoy using.

How will I use this space?

 
• What will people be doing in this area – eating, talking, relaxing, playing? What areas need to be open and what need shade protection?
• Are people going to be in small groups, like separate tables in a restaurant patio? You can use a large patio shade system for places like a restaurant, where people will be centrally located. Gardens, schoolyards, or parks may use multiple, small retractable awnings to mark different small spaces where people can gather.
• Are they going to be all facing a central point, like a stage? Retractable awnings and butterfly awnings are ideal here – no posts to impede the view and they can retract completely when necessary.
• Provide an adequate number of seats – but also provide clear places to stand for spaces which may have people moving around a lot. Some high bars around the edge of the patio space both sets a boundary for the patio and makes a comfortable and interesting place to stand and chat.

How structured does the space need to be?

• Near permanent. Patio enclosures mimic a sunroom, with a permanent frame and sliding panels that can be moved to make the space almost entirely open or shut to make it entirely closed. These provide the best climate protection and are great for outdoor eating, smoking areas, or sitting spaces.
• Shade for comfort. Retractable awnings protect from sun, UV, and heat, give a nice flair of color, but can be completely retracted and disappear as needed. This is great for balconies, gardens, patios, and play areas which are used primarily during the day, require shade protection, and will be used in a variety of ways.
• Ad hoc. Freestanding awnings like the Torino or Padova can be moved into position (with a little elbow grease) and then rearranged. This is useful for schools or retail centers which do a lot of outdoor events.

 What are my colors?

• Always coordinate your exterior designs – awning fabric, rugs, or cushions – with your interior furnishings.
• Where is the sun? UV rays can fade fabrics in only a few months, particularly delicate fabrics used for table linens. Try to position seating under retractable patio covers or retractable awnings to reduce UV exposure and fading; if that isn't possible, then a few well-placed drop screens can provide additional sun protection.

 Where are my boundaries?

• Provide some fence between your space and the outside to prevent unwanted access into your space. Storage benches, planters, or tall bar tables are great room dividers and are useful.
• Instead of concrete or tile, consider using soft materials like rubber nuggets or sand to delineate the patio area. These materials are great for kids and also come in contrasting colors to add more interest to the landscaping.

Things to remember

• Make sure that there is a very slight downward slope for your seating area so that rain flows away from the spot instead of pooling.

Although not common, some municipalities (especially in downtown areas) may require permits before installing patio enclosures or retractable awnings

Playing Outside

Summer in the South is hot. Hot enough that golf – a sport built on tradition – is rethinking its reliance on bentgrass for greens. Golf courses in the heat-and-humidity of states like Georgia and Texas are transitioning to heat-tolerant Bermudas and zoysia grasses. This reseeding acknowledges that not all climates are created equal.

Of course, grass isn't the only thing on greens. There are also golfers.

Golf course designers, especially for high-traffic municipal courses and smaller private clubs, can take a good look at the design of tee boxes and the transition points between holes. How well are you meeting the comfort needs of your golfers?

A few seating areas with well-placed freestanding awnings can provide a pleasant respite before golfers start on the back nine. Butterfly awnings make excellent shade protection over tee boxes; they can cover a massive amount of space, but can be retracted to be nearly invisible, with almost no barrier overhead.

Even outside, using a simple retractable awning reduces temperatures anywhere from 8 to 20 degrees. Just from the shade.

And it does not have to be a permanent change. The Torino and Padova freestanding awnings can be moved into position for a tournament and then removed when a competition is over. Multiple awnings can even be clustered to create a temporary pavilion. Butterfly awnings can be extended over grandstands or general seating, providing maximum comfort in the heat of summer.

Best of all, freestanding awnings and butterfly awnings have a small installation footprint, so they can make a big impact on your audiences without damaging your grounds

Company Bio

RetractableAwnings.com an A+ Better Business Bureau member for 19 years has been assembling and distributing the highest-quality, best-designed European sun, wind, rain, bug and snow protection systems for 25 years. This is our passion – finding unique and lovely solutions to make the outdoors more comfortable and more useful. From private homes to major architectural and landscape design projects, we have the expertise to help. Just ask: 1-866-438-2964 or 305-628-2424.

Retractableawnings.com Inc.
Corporate offices and fabrication
5160 NW 165 Street
Miami Gardens, Florida, 33014-6303
Tel 1-866-Get-Awnings or 1-866-438-2964
Tel (305) 628-2424
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it