Andover, MN|Local Classified|Gigs & Services|
A Neighborly Note on Shaded and Screened Outdoor Spaces for Andover Summers
Now that summer has settled in across Andover, backyards are getting a lot more use, and a question we hear often from neighbors is how to enjoy a deck or patio comfortably once the afternoon sun and the mosquitoes arrive. As a local builder here in Anoka County, we wanted to share a few neighborly notes on the kinds of shaded and screened structures that help extend how a backyard gets used through a Minnesota summer.
A covered porch is one of the simplest ways to add shade. Putting a roof over part of a deck creates a spot that stays usable in light rain and through the hottest part of the day, which matters when our summer sun sits high well into the evening.
A screened porch takes that further. For anyone who has tried to enjoy a still July evening in Minnesota, the bugs are a familiar problem. A screened space keeps the breeze and the view while keeping the mosquitoes out, and three-season rooms stretch that comfort into the cooler weeks of spring and fall.
For a more open feel, a louvered pergola offers adjustable shade. The slats can be angled to block direct sun or opened to let light through, giving a deck flexible shade without fully enclosing it.
A few things worth thinking about before adding any of these:
- How the sun moves across your yard through the day, since that shapes where shade actually helps.
- How you most want to use the space, whether that is dining, lounging, or keeping an eye on kids in the yard.
- That structures like these rely on proper footings, which in our area means foundations set for Minnesota frost depth.
We share this simply as neighbors who build outdoor spaces for a living. Andover is a wonderful place to spend a summer evening outside, and it is always nice to see backyards across the area getting more use through the warm months.