Maximising Natural Light Under a Covered Patio: Glass, Louvres, and Clear Polycarbonate Options
TL;DR: Modern styles and materials allow you to enjoy your outdoor space with natural light but still have protection from changing weather. Choose the right material along with carefully placed reflective materials and bright foliage for the biggest impact.
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When you add a roof to an outdoor area you make it a viable option when weather conditions are not ideal. That includes not just rain but excessive heat. The blazing sunshine that is often seen as the hallmark of good weather comes with a major drawback: heat can be uncomfortable and direct sunlight can be harmful to health in more ways than one.
But there is another consideration when choosing your patio covering: if you’re not careful you can make the area too dark. You don’t want to be out there in your patch of nature with a light on because you’ve got carried away with the protection. Fortunately, there are ways of having the best of both worlds - and it is a question of design, especially when tailoring your setup to north vs south-facing backyards where sun angles vary dramatically.
Material Options
What design means in this context is harnessing the advantages you have and maximising elements that may not be immediately apparent. Ultimately it is best to secure the services of professional patio builders in Melbourne, but here are a few ideas to think about first.
Your outdoor roofing needs to keep the water out while letting enough light in, and there are ways of doing this. Using glass is one option, and if not actual glass, then an alternative such as Perspex – which is really a trade name commonly used to refer to an acrylic material that is transparent. Clear polycarbonate is another variant that will have the same effect.
An adjustable patio louvered roof is another possibility. Just as with venetian blinds on windows, you can have the slats open, partially open or shut depending on the time of day. Comparing a louvre roof vs fixed roof patio reveals that louvres offer unmatched control over both daylight and ventilation while effectively preventing drafts. If you want operable roof panels that can also adjust to overhead sunlight, the Stratco Sunroof system provides an engineered solution designed for flexible light ingress.
What is an Outdoor Designer?
We’ve all heard of interior designers and to a lesser extent garden designers such as the splendidly named 18th century British genius Lancelot “Capability” Brown. In Australia we have legendary figures such as Edna Walling, Paul Bangay and James Durie.
An exterior or outdoor designer is someone who can combine a bit of imagination with simple logic to make the most of your patio area through bespoke outdoor design and construction. They will look at light sources out there and the possibility of directing light to where you need it. It might mean moving a plant or two, cutting something back or introducing bright vegetation rather than dark greens.
Light reflection can help enormously too, so a designer will look at the walls and the floor with a view to getting some brightness to where it is needed.
Rustic, Rambling, Classical or Contemporary: What is Your Style?
If you pay as much attention to the design of your outdoor living area as you do to what is indoors you will have a certain style in mind, and the overhead part of your patio should reflect that. Opting for glass, louvres or a synthetic transparent material will have an influence on the atmosphere you’re creating, and you can enhance the whole ambience with judiciously placed plants to provide splashes of colour. Exploring modern veranda design ideas can spark inspiration for sleek architectural finishes, evocative wall hangings, fire pits, or chimineas. Don’t let your imagination and creativity end at the sliding patio doors.
The roof of your patio may not be the most noticeable part of your property, but it can have a profound effect on how appealing the area is. You want it comfortable and practical, suitable for lazing or reading, but also fun for entertaining friends and family in the evenings. For ongoing care once installed, familiarising yourself with routine louvre roof maintenance will ensure moving components and light seals remain in top condition. So, think about what you want up above, and if you need tailored advice, contact our team to get started.
