Covered patio or not for sun protection? (homes, price)

[wit-nit]

Extending the patio has many benefits, cooler area, less cooling bill, more attractive looking and a big selling point when you decide to move.
Every home I've owned here I added onto the patio, no matter which way it faced and have never regreeted it. Big patios are big plusses in AZ especially if you entertain a lot. Every home I sold one of the big compliments we got from buyers was about how nice and big the patio is.

[MarianR]

Why plan big windows on the west wall in the first place? Is it too late to make them smaller?

[LBTRS]

Originally Posted by MarianR

Why plan big windows on the west wall in the first place? Is it too late to make them smaller?

Or get a lot that doesn't have a west facing backyard? Your back patio will be useless in the summer evening regardless of your patio extension. The low evening sun is going to cook that patio.

[Desertspiritsteve]

Would another option would be to spend 4K on a row of fast growing heavy shade trees that will grow and shade as much of the west side of the house as quickly as possible. You are going to get some bad reflected UV rays off the deck itself bouncing up into those big windows. Some sort of outdoor rug may cut that glare until the trees shade the area. And of course my favorite...Roll-a-shields on those big windows so you can make it midnight and cool in the bedroom at four in the afternoon in July. If you really don't care about a bigger patio maybe some of these things might help or be even cooler.
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[El_Waiboi]

A real nice misting system for the patio would make a world of difference too...

[wit-nit]

Originally Posted by LBTRS

Or get a lot that doesn't have a west facing backyard? Your back patio will be useless in the summer evening regardless of your patio extension. The low evening sun is going to cook that patio.

Coolaroo drop down/roll-up shade screens work wonders for west exposures. You can find them at Lowe's or Home Depot.

[EDnurse]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

Rule number one for Arizona living: shade! You will never regret having more covered area and shade on your patio, NEVER. 6K is nothing - you will get it back if you sell (in which case you have only paid a small part of it) and you will enjoy the outdoor space and the cooler room.

I totally agree with this post. Your bedroom WILL feel like an oven in the pm and early evening. By all means extend the patio.

Western exposure is horrible. Extend the patio, plant a shade tree nearby, put the dark screens on, forget the film. There is no such thing as over kill when mitigating western exposure.

[PoppySead]

Originally Posted by EDnurse

I totally agree with this post. Your bedroom WILL feel like an oven in the pm and early evening. By all means extend the patio.

Western exposure is horrible. Extend the patio, plant a shade tree nearby, put the dark screens on, forget the film. There is no such thing as over kill when mitigating western exposure.

I'll add to this. Extend the patio then get some roller blinds for around the outside of that patio you can put down around 2pm. They sell them everywhere.

[Guitarmaan]

Originally Posted by EDnurse

Western exposure is horrible. Extend the patio, plant a shade tree nearby, put the dark screens on, forget the film. There is no such thing as over kill when mitigating western exposure.

Wait a minute. You guys are worrying me now

Our backyard faces West, and our back bedroom is in that area with no protection. Are you saying we are going to cook? This will be our first AZ summer. We are "heat junkies", but should we be concerned?

[EDnurse]

Originally Posted by Guitarmaan

Wait a minute. You guys are worrying me now

Our backyard faces West, and our back bedroom is in that area with no protection. Are you saying we are going to cook? This will be our first AZ summer. We are "heat junkies", but should we be concerned?

There is heat and then there is heat. I've been in AZ for 20 yrs. After the summer temp hits 110 degrees, it doesn't matter to me: I find it unbearable.

Best way to "enjoy" a backyard with western exposure is to create LOTS and LOTS of shade. You will feel a temp difference in that back bedroom. It will be considerably hotter that other parts of the house.

I'd say yes, you will cook. BUT that's only my opinion. You need to experience a couple of summers here. Maybe you'll be fine with the heat. Who knows.