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Many of our customers have reminded us that people who have balconies love their outdoor space too, and that their (tinier) outdoor oasis is just as important as folks who have larger homes. Fact is, many of the same principles and needs apply to small spaces like balconies, and we’re happy to share the love with our balcony loving brethren.
Shading your family and friends from the summer sun is a priority for everyone who loves the outdoors, especially those with a limited space to move around. We’ve asked our patio/deck/balcony experts (you remember them, the absolute best in the business) to put together a few balcony shading ideas. Let’s take a look…
Shade sails can be used as temporary cover, or more permanently attached for year-round protection of your balcony. Available in five different sizes and a ton of colors, it’s easy to select a shade sail that will make your balcony pop!
PRO TIP: When mounting rectangular shade sails, two opposite corners should be slightly higher than the opposing corners to give rainwater a clear path.
For decades, our homes have been shaded by roller shades indoors. Inexpensive, excellent ways to block the sun’s rays when you need to, and open to the sky when you want. Outdoor roller shades work the same way, in fact the special Aurora solar screen fabric allows you to see through the shade while it continues to block 97% of the heat without creating a closed-in feeling.
We’ve called retractable awning the magicians of the patio (and balcony) world… they’re there one minute, then POOF they’re gone. The Advaning Slim Gray Series MA1410-A108NG manual retractable awning blocks up to 80% of the UV rays while extended. Use the Easy Pitch system – the simplest and most convenient way to adjust the canopy’s pitch angle – to keep the shade in just the right spot as the sun wanders through its trajectory.
Think of a pergola as a slatted roof above your balcony. The one shown here is nice in that the slats are small and close together, providing a strong shade for your loved ones while they enjoy your balcony. Pergolas are an inexpensive long-term solution to your balcony shading needs, and we love the small close slats here.
The good thing about building a little roof over your balcony is that the tiny space means it’s pretty cheap to do. Let’s assume that this small balcony originally had a pergola on top (looks to be the case) … for $50 in wood for the supports, $100 in plywood for the base, and your roofing material. If you’re cutting costs, you may want to run from the Spanish tiles here… at $15 each they would cost over $2,000. The idea is sound, though, and will make spending time on your outdoor balcony cool and comfortable.
With a lofty 11’ wingspan, the California Umbrella 194061166000 market umbrella is perfect to provide ample shading to a small area. We particularly prefer this umbrella for its double wind vent system designed to keep it stable when lesser umbrellas have taken flight. We think this may be the perfect umbrella… fiberglass strength, huge 11’ diameter and available in three different fabrics and a ton of colors.
Umbrellas are fantastic ways to shade areas of your balcony… but sometimes that pole is in exactly the wrong place. Choose a cantilever umbrella from Galtech to get the absolute best available, with unique features that will make your life easier. The Galtech International 887BK54 cantilever umbrella features its Easy Lift system… with a simple life of the handle, this umbrella effortlessly opens for shade and protection in no time. Need to adjust the angle of the umbrella? A simple turn of the wheel will tilt your umbrella perfectly.
When considering adding a roof to your balcony, we urge you to strongly consider an acid etched glass panel roof. The etching on the glass makes it partially opaque, allowing some light to come through while still keeping many of those harmful UV rays at bay. The ornate ironwork on this roof is perfect for the gothic stone architecture; perhaps modern aluminum would be more in line with your home. Regardless of your framing choice, a glass roof is a classy, stylish way to stay cool in summer.
As you can tell, our spatially challenged patio and balcony friends have plenty of ways to beat the heat in the summer. Here at Patio Heat and Shade we’re all about you getting the absolute most out of your outdoor oasis. We do this by providing you with fantastic options for shading, cooling and heating your patio or balcony… to keep your family and friends comfy so the party can go on long into the night.
Take some of these options and consider how they might work on your balcony. Do you have the space for a market or cantilever umbrella, or would you rather select an awning to handle the shady heavy lifting? Is building a roof or pergola an option for you, or would your landlord not approve (perhaps a cantilever umbrella is the best option)?
Get creative with the options we’ve shown you, and we’re sure you can find the right solution to your patio shading woes. If you’re still unclear, you can always call our patio experts and pull from their decades of experience to guide you to the perfect solution. Give us a call… we promise to treat you like family.