What can I do about this awkward and insufficient patio cover?

last year

What can I do with this covered patio where the roof extends from the second story. Because it extends from such height, there is way too much sun and not enough shade. It's almost like the original builder was going to put in a balcony, but then decided not to.

Anything I can do to get more shade while fitting in with the design of the house? Anyone seen any solutions for something like this before? Simply adding a cover at the first floor feels doubly awkward.

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User

last year

last modified: last year

100% you need to consider which way the light directs, and what time of day you use the patio the most. We have a very shallow awning on our house, but deep shade all afternoon because it's east facing, so the house itself blocks the light.

You could design a big upper deck that extends past the colonnade -- as big as that concrete pad. The columns will go "through" the upper patio. The upper patio won't be as shaded, but maybe that will be used more like in the morning or something? It might look weird, or it might look fine. Ask the builder if they can design a realistic looking rendering. This could be a pretty expensive project. Also keep in mind that a deep patio cover will darken your living room or whatever is behind those windows.

A more practical, affordable solution is to have a big gazebo or pergola built out in the yard. If the "back" or one side faces the setting sun, you can give it a wall or curtains, which will help shade it from noon all the way to sunset.

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Comments (13)

houssaon
last year
Can you put in a pergola?
abilstein
Original Author
last year
Yes, although this is Texas so was looking for more shade. I wonder if I covered the portion of the patio closest to the house with a pergola, and then covered the extended patio with a pavilion roof? So it would transition from pergola to pavilion? That might keep it feeling from feeling double roofed while still providing plenty of shade?

Or is that going to feel too wierd because the transition is usually the other way around?
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PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
last year
I cannot see a pergola working in this situation but maybe get some pro help with drawings to see what can be done That overhang IMO was never thought out before building I almost would be tempted to remove that whole overhang and then build a proper pregola for that whole deck.The pillars are only holding up that overhang and cutting the useable space in 1/2 for no other reason
abilstein thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
Kendrah
last year
Could you add a balcony and change one of the second floor windows to a door of set of French doors? Then you could add a pergola or other kind of awning or shade that extends over the patio. I think that is the only way to make the two story columns look purposeful. A massive job though and not sure if you are looking to spend that much.
abilstein thanked Kendrah
Kate
last year
Maybe just a sail for now.
abilstein
Original Author
last year
Yes, I was thinking balcony with french door is probably ideal, but probably too big of a job and likely out of budget.
User
last year
Out of budget for now? Or forever? Because a balcony would be the best solution. A pergola is going to look kind of weird there. If you think you can wait for the current supply chain issues to die down, hold out until you can get what you really want.

As a temporary solution, get a shade sail or a foldable structure that is good enough to last you a summer. It won't be ideal, but just as a holdover.
abilstein thanked User
abilstein
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
Good point. I would be fine waiting for things to calm down if that meant I could do it right, and it would give me some time to save some more for a budget. A sail or something would be enough until then.

I've never done a project that large before. Any ballpark idea of what it would cost to build a balcony that looks original, along with some french doors? $25K? $35k?

Something along these lines (just the balcony part). Using the original columns and stucco style.
3onthetree
last year
I don't see where adding a pergola, lower roof, or balcony inside the upper roof helps you in shading the patio outside of the collonade. You obviously placed your usable space outside the collonade, because putting the seats/table inside the collonade appears to be too skinny and furniture would be right up against the windows, and staring past columns to the backyard.

The only thing a balcony or pergola inside the upper roof would do is make whatever you build outside the collonade, be tied more seamlessly back to the house. I really don't see much functional use for the area behind the collonade except a shuffleboard court.
abilstein thanked 3onthetree
abilstein
Original Author
last year
Good observation, and without consciously thinking about it, I think that's where I was going. I really want to cover the extended patio area, but just doing that feels awkward, and I was trying to figure out how to tie it back to the house. Because yes, the patio inside the collonade isn't the most usable.
decoenthusiaste
last year
Could you replicate half-height versions of the columns at the edge of the extended patio and build something like this using shade sails to cover the area? Or like the next one with more of a pergola look.
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A cheaper fix would be something like this over the extended patio. It could be sunk into receptacles in the ground and the upper parts snapped together with fittings. Then in the off season you could take it all down and store it away to get more light into the house.
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How about using awnings with the mechanism for holding them mounted between columns? It might work with removable fittings to open things back up in winter.
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abilstein
Original Author
last year
House faces Northeast. Starting to wonder if it would be okay just to covere the extended pation with a roof like that, attach to the columns, with a stucco trim and wall on the furthest side which will be getting the most sun. I may try to mock it up to see how it would feel.

What can I do about this awkward and insufficient patio cover?

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