Aside from a fixed canopy next to our dying above ground pool, we completely abandon our south and west-facing deck from late June to Sept. even in our northern Connecticut location. Several years ago we purchased an inexpensive windsail off the shelf at IKEA and loved it as long as it lasted. Unfortunately it was not sturdy and it's shape did not match the setting. But we recognized it's potential and are looking to replace it. It did make a difference, and, the rustle of the sail and rattle of the fittings in a breeze transported us to the deck of a sailing vessel. We are now exploring purchasing agricultural shade cloth to fabricate our own sail, as well as exterior Roman shades for south-facing windows. Various grades of this are available from Growers Supply and FarmTek.
