By now, everyone knows that the sun’s rays are dangerous and that sunscreen and shade are your best summertime friends. Unfortunately, not everyone has shaded areas on their property so they need to create it themselves. One of the best options available is a canopy. Canopies are durable and they’re wind and rain resistant. Here are four places you should install a fabric canopy.

Above Your Deck

People use their decks for everything from reading to dinner parties. Unfortunately, the weather doesn’t always cooperate and this makes it the perfect spot for a retractable fabric canopy. Canopies come in all sizes and can be customized to fit large or small areas. A durable canopy repels raindrops and the shade it provides makes your deck usable even on the hottest days. It also protects the wood and your furniture from fading.

Over an Outside Patio

Another great spot for a canopy is over your outside patio. Patios are popular spots for hosting barbecues and parties, and with the protection of a cloth canopy, you’ve got additional living space. Canopies come in a variety of colors and patterns to match any lifestyle and can be installed over a metal or wooden frame. Any time you decide you want to see the sun, the cover retracts in minutes.

As a Pergola Cover

Pergolas are unique sitting areas that have become quite popular for backyards and gardens. These structures are crafted from wood or vinyl and feature crisscrossed overhead beams. Since a pergola doesn’t offer much shade, it’s an excellent spot to install a canopy. The canopy can be custom-made to fit any size and will easily fit between a pergola’s rafters.

Across a Pool

If you’re lucky enough to own a pool, you know it can get pretty hot in the middle of the day. A canopy is a great way to shade a section of your pool for instant relief from the sun. If your kids are using the pool all day long, a canopy will give them a cool spot to swim to and prevent sunburn. Since canopies come in so many colors, your pool will look like a fancy resort area and of course, you can retract it at any time.

If you love spending time outside but still want protection from the sun, a retractable canopy is a smart solution. Canopies are great for decks, pools and patios for fun all year long.