· by Michael Blair, Nashville's Deck
Middle Tennessee summers are hot and humid, and an unshaded outdoor space faces west is unusable in exactly the hours people imagine using it. Siting and shade matter more than size or finish.
Orientation first
A west-facing patio takes the full late-afternoon sun and radiates heat well into the evening. An east-facing one is pleasant in the morning and shaded by afternoon.
Where the position is fixed, shade is the fix, and it needs to block a low western sun rather than an overhead one.
Shade that works in July
Deep overhangs, solid-roofed sections, adjustable louvres and shade sails all block considerably more than a conventional open pergola.
Deciduous trees are the best long-term answer: shade in summer and sun in winter, at no running cost. Planting one is a decade-scale decision worth starting now.
- Prefer east or north exposure where you have a choice
- Solid or louvred cover over the seating area
- Deciduous shade trees on the west side
- Light-colored paving; dark surfaces radiate heat
- Ceiling fan under any covered section
Airflow and insects
Moving air changes perceived temperature more than a few degrees of shade. An outdoor rated ceiling fan under a covered area is the highest-return addition to most Nashville patios.
It also disrupts mosquitoes, which do not fly well in moving air — often more effective than any spray.
Building for the shoulder seasons
Nashville’s genuinely pleasant outdoor weather is spring and autumn. Designing for those months rather than for July gets far more use out of the space.
A fire feature extends autumn and spring evenings substantially and costs a fraction of the cover needed to make July workable.