The Temperature Difference With an Insulated Patio Cover

Forms of Protection

• On sunny days, an insulated cover provides shade from the sun. This reduces the temperature of the patio's surface and the air above it. On cool days, a patio cover allows the patio to retain heat. As heat rises, it encounters the cover and stays in the general patio area longer, much like attic insulation keeps a home warm in the winter. Patio covers also keep the patio dry, increasing its temperature by preventing evaporation of water after rainfall.

Temperature Difference

• Each individual patio and cover setup will offer its own temperature difference, which may vary from day to day as well as throughout the day, depending on weather conditions. According to ICC Evaluation Services, foam panel patio covers can make a difference of 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Insulated patio cover manufacturer Try-Tech notes that its products can alter patio temperatures by as much as 15 degrees.

Factors

• The amount of temperature difference that your patio cover provides depends on a number of factors. The patio's location is one important factor. Some patios receive cross breezes, which effectively blow warm air out of the patio's open sides even if there is an insulated cover there to prevent heat from rising away. A patio cover that only provides shade during certain hours due to its position won't offer as much protection as one that provides full shade throughout the day. A cover's height and material also affect its impact on temperatures.

Additional Solutions

• Adding an insulated cover is just one way of controlling the heat on your patio. Gas and electric space heaters, which produce warm air in a limited space, are also useful for making the patio enjoyable on cool days or evenings. An insulated patio cover can help trap the heat and make using a heater even more efficient, provided that the heater has adequate clearance and won't cause the cover to overheat. Removable walls or shutters allow you to enclose a portion of a patio to prevent wind, keeping the temperature at a reasonable level.