Bh 13

The single change that transforms most backyards is not planting, paving or a pool. It is cover. A backyard without shade is used for a few hours on mild days; the same backyard with a well built pergola or patio becomes the room the family lives in from spring through to the middle of winter. Cover is what converts outdoor area into outdoor living.

Shade also protects the investment already sitting outside. Ultraviolet light destroys cushions, timber finishes, outdoor rugs, televisions and barbecues far faster than rain does. Furniture under a solid roof lasts several times longer than the same furniture in the open, which means the cover often pays for itself in replacement costs alone before any comfort is counted.

Choosing the structure is a decision about light. A slatted or louvred pergola casts a moving pattern and keeps the space bright, which suits dining areas and pool surrounds. A solid insulated roof creates genuine all weather cover for a kitchen, lounge or television zone, at the cost of some light to the windows behind it. Glass or polycarbonate keeps winter light in while stopping the rain, and needs shade cloth or planting above it to be tolerable in summer. Many of the best backyards use two structures with different roofs for different jobs.