Shelter from rain, shade from the sun

Varin, who has been building shade and shelter roofs for more than 25 years, said technology for building these structural additions had developed with the use of new raw materials such as aluminium, polycarbonate and sheet metal.

Shade and shelter structures have also been developed using both steel and stainless steel, and these are stronger than wood and cheaper than concrete. The materials also offer a decorative aspect that gives a home addition a different style.

Varin said many architects were designing shade and shelter structures copying the style and appearance of wood, but using steel. These included orchid houses and balconies designed to give a wooden appearance.

"We can copy orchid houses or other designs that specify wooden materials to serve our customers' demands," Varin said.

A few calls found Varin's claims were correct. The cost of an orchid house made of wood was quoted at between Bt2,500 and Bt3,500 per square metre. But when the same orchid house was built of steel made to look like wood, the price was between Bt1,600 and Bt2,200 per square metre.

Varin said steel or stainless steel was also easier to care for than wood, which could be attacked by termites. When using steel, a structure had to be coated with an oil-based paint every five years to protect the steel from humidity and to avoid rust.

Meanwhile, if your shade and shelter structure becomes boring, it is far easier and cheaper to change than a concrete structure.

So, at a time when we're all counting our baht, building a steel structure that shades from the sun and shelters from the rain may protect your savings as well as helping to boost your enjoyment of your home.