Your best option is to install a retractable lateral arm awning. Within less than 60 seconds, the awning can be opened or closed depending upon the weather. The colorful fabric on the awning is durable and is effective for blocking the sun's heat.

What makes a lateral arm awning unique is it only attaches to the house wall without vertical supports on the open end. The two arms have a joint in the center and work similarly to our own elbows. To understand this, stick both arms straight out in front of you. Now bend your elbows to bring your forearms against your chest (house wall).

The two lateral arms are spring-loaded forcing them toward the straightened position. The fabric is rolled up and stored in a housing mounted on the house wall. As you unroll the fabric to open the awning,the springs in the lateral arms keep the fabric taut.

The retractable awning will be made to the exact size you need. Depending upon its size, you can open it from only 1 foot up to 13 feet from the wall. The typical widths range from about only 4 feet up to 40 feet. Don't order one larger than you need because it will be more expensive.

The most common and least expensive method to open and close a retractable awning is with a hand crank on a long rod. It does not take much strength to operate one. Electric motor drives are more convenient and operate faster. Since the motor runs for such a short time, it does not use much electricity.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2006 - JAMES DULLEY / SENSIBLE HOME

ANSWER:
The sun's heat on a patio is worse than on almost any other surface. The concrete, brick or stone material, because of its thermal mass, absorbs heat and slowly warms up throughout the day. It holds this heat well into the evening when a patio is most often used.

You have several options to block the sun. An inexpensive white metal roof over the patio will block the sun and allow you to use the patio when it is raining. You may choose to cover only the southwestern half of the patio so you can move some chairs and still view the sky in the evening.

Building an open wooden roof over the patio with 2-by-8s or 2-by-10s on edge and spaced across the top, will block all but the direct noon sun. This will also allow you to have a view of nighttime sky, but it will not block rain.