There was so much rain since the patio cover was installed (including on the day of installation) that I couldn’t really tell what it’ll be like sitting under the roof when the sun is shining. The photos above from last Friday show part of the reason I wasn’t clear. The photo at left shows the roof panels clearly cast a shadow on the lawn. However, in the photo at right (special guest appearance by Leo), the shadow isn’t obvious. That day was the first time I noticed that.
And then came this weekend.
On Saturday, and especially Sunday when I was installing the gate lock, I thought to myself, “golly, that sun’s hot” (or similar words…). But, was it really? After all, when I was working on the gate I wasn’t standing under the roof.
Nevertheless, yesterday I researched options for awnings supplied by the company that installed the roof, and I think that it's a no-go. They crank out like an awning (ironic, since at one point I considered installing an awning), and are hooked to the beam running on the outside edge of the roof. They say that it’s best done with two people (first strike against it), and it’s meant to stay out all season long, which was strike two.
Getting people to help with things I can’t do is fine, but I want to be able to do routine things on my own. Having awnings that are “best” extended with two people is kind of deal breaker by itself. In addition, I don’t want shade all the time—especially not on rainy days—so that’s another important negative. The third negative is that I’m sure it’s probably expensive for what it is.
Right now, I think that, first, I should take more time to figure out what it feels like when the summer sun is shining, especially at a time when people (or even just me) might be sitting there. If I think it’s hot, I think a simple shade cloth (some people call them a “shade sail”) would be a better option.
I also noticed during the (many) rainstorms that when the wind blows the rain, hits the patio even though the roof extends over the grass a bit (the left photo above is the area I’m talking about). There are options for that, if I feel I need it, and the company also provides some, but I’m even less certain about any of that.
The truth is, I’m pretty much out of my depth with all this. I’m not a landscape/garden designer (or even much of a garden maintainer, if I’m honest), so I’m thinking again that maybe I should hire the folks who are. This is, after all, a Project!, but that doesn’t mean I’m necessarily going to do it all personally.
Besides, I still have lots of other projects, big and small, so it’s not like I risk running out of things to do. Running out of gumption to do them is another matter, but still—I have choices.
Turns out, though, that I’m still finding out what the exact shape of all these changes will end up being. But, honestly? That kind of makes them more interesting to me. That, at least, is nothing new.
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