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Patios can serve a number of useful functions for homeowners, including, but not limited to entertaining and decorative appeal. However, patios tend to heat up during the summer and remain hot even through the night, thus reducing the period of its usage. Still, this is not inevitable, but a problem that can be managed using the right methods.
Here are some suggestions for keeping the patio cool during hot summers:
- The simplest method is to splash cold water onto the patio on a regular basis. However, this is both a short-term solution and an enormous waste of water.
- Another simple, but more long-lasting method is to install shades for the patio. A gazebo makes for an excellent choice, but can also prove to be either too expensive or too heavy for smaller patios. Under these circumstances, patio umbrellas make for credible alternatives to gazebos.
- Fans can also serve to circulate the air and provide a refreshing breeze for patio users. Ceiling fans can be installed, but even something as simple as setting up oscillating fans can do the job.
- Lighter colors reflect light, while darker colors absorb it. As a result, painting the patio in lighter colors can reduce the heat that is absorbed into the patio’s material. Bare concrete is notorious for absorbing large amounts of heat.
- Having sizable plants surround the perimeter of the patio reduces the sunlight that can heat the patio while still letting in the wind.
For more information about patios and patio renovation, please contact our specialists here at Triad Associates.
