subject: Creating Shade For Your Hot Tub [print this page] There are a lot of shade options to keep the sun off your hot tub. Here are some of the best options.
Trees
Sometimes the best solution is also the simplest! If you have any large, beautiful old trees, you can use them to shade your hot tub. If the tree drips sad or seeds, try to position your hot tub close enough to get some shade, but far enough to not get dropped on. The occasional leaves falling into your hot tub can be annoying, but the view of a nice tree is priceless.
Covered Decks
These can be fully covered decks, or covered only by a Pergola. Of the two, I prefer Pergolas. They are less of a commitment that a fully covered deck, letting some of the sun through. But they still can be used to provide full shade by just throwing a tarp over them. Pergolas can also look amazing if you take the time to train some ivy over them.
The main advantage of a fully covered deck is that it keeps the rain and the snow off your hot tub. This is good news if your hot tub cover was not built to withstand rain and snow.
Awnings
If your hot tub is directly adjacent to your house or garage, it is very easy to install a canvas awning to cover it. Awnings come in a variety of shapes and sizes. You can use anything from extendable storefront awnings that fold up against the wall, to remote controlled roller awnings.
A disadvantage of awnings is that awnings are easily damaged by winter weather.
Patio Umbrellas
This is the cheapest possible artificial shade. I find that with two or three patio umbrellas, posed at some creative angles, I can effectively shade most of my hot tub from direct sunlight.
Try to buy umbrellas that are extremely adjustable. They should have adjustable height and adjustable angles. This will help you create shade for different times of the day as well as different days of the year.
Hot Tub Houses
Some people who value their privacy like to build little cabins around their hot tubs. This makes it more intimate and protects your hot tub from the elements. This can be good if you live in a place with extreme cold one or two months of the year (for example, in Canada).
However, it is extremely expensive and/or time-consuming to build. It also obscures your view of the stars and your backyard.
