Whether you’re planning your first backyard upgrade or looking to enhance an existing patio, the insights and inspiration here are designed to help you make smart, lasting choices. From design tips to maintenance advice and before-and- after transformations, you’ll find expert guidance rooted in decades of shade and structure experience.
The popular Dig, Plant, Water, Repeat YouTube channel featured Goodwin-Cole and a beautiful Magnatrack roller shade that made the back of host Janey Santos' recently renovated outdoor space functional and enjoyable by shading it from the harsh afternoon sun.
Check out the feature and get to know Goodwin-Cole a little more and take a look at just how much function a roller shade can provide to any outdoor space!
Helpful in-house guidance from the Goodwin-Cole team, built for homeowners comparing
shade solutions, planning outdoor upgrades, and looking for expert
answers before they invest.
Featured Article
Read the Full Article
"The right shade solution isn’t just about covering a patio — it’s about understanding the sun, the space, and how the homeowner wants to live outside."
Manual and motorized drop screens both provide shade, privacy, and greater comfort, but the right choice depends on your lifestyle, budget, and how often you’ll use them. This guide compares the simplicity and value of manual screens with the push-button convenience of motorized systems to help you choose the best fit for your outdoor space.
Read the Full Article
Northern California’s winds are getting stronger and more unpredictable. In this interview, Jeff Cole, Head of Operations at Goodwin-Cole, reveals why professional engineering is essential for awnings, shade sails, and pergolas — and how cutting corners with DIY installations can lead to costly (and dangerous) failures.
Read the Full ArticleShort, helpful videos from the Goodwin-Cole team covering outdoor shade
options, product education, project ideas, and comfort-focused design.
Shade is more than a design feature. The right outdoor solution can support
comfort, UV protection, energy efficiency, and better use of your home’s exterior
spaces.
Approximately 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer during their lifetime, and unprotected UV exposure is the most preventable risk factor for skin cancer, according to the U.S. EPA.
Exterior shading can reduce cooling costs by 25-40% (Source: Shade Sail & Awnings – Energy Savings & Outdoor Shade Guide)
Quality shade structures can reduce temperatures outside by 20-45 degrees Fahrenheit (Sources: Science Insights – How much does shade reduce temperature?)
Up to 90% of visible skin changes commonly associated with aging are linked to sun exposure and UV radiation, according to the U.S. EPA
Quality shade fabrics can block up to 95% of UV rays (Source: Shade Sails & Awnings – HDPE Shade Fabric Guide).
Well-designed shade solutions are attractive to potential buyers and can increase your home’s market value significantly. They also enable owners to make better use of their outdoor space, making the home feel larger and more inviting.
With shade and optimized outdoor spaces, you can enjoy your yard year-round. Regions with marked temperature variation like Northern California benefit substantially from optimized outdoor living spaces.
We regularly feature helpful industry resources, outdoor-living trends, and expert
perspectives that help homeowners create more comfortable, functional, and
beautiful outdoor spaces.
Pergola Trends
A look at how homeowners are thinking about pergolas as flexible, design-forward outdoor living structures.
Read External ArticleIn Progress
Industry perspective on how residential style and outdoor living priorities are shaping awning design.
Read External ArticleAwnique
A homeowner-friendly overview of retractable awning benefits, considerations, and common decision factors.
Read External Article
We regularly feature helpful industry resources, outdoor-dining trends, and expert perspectives that help restaurant owners create more functional, optimized and beautiful outdoor spaces.
Patio Designers highlights how thoughtful restaurant patio layouts can add seating, improve ambiance, and use shade, lighting, heaters, planting, and weather protection to keep outdoor dining comfortable.
Read the Full Article
Sip The Style compares stylish ways to shade restaurant patios, including umbrellas, awnings, pergolas, shade sails, and natural greenery that help guests dine comfortably in sunny conditions.
Read the Full Article
ShadePro breaks down shade options by patio layout, wind exposure, budget, lifespan, and maintenance so restaurants can keep more outdoor seats usable during peak sun.
Read the Full Article
Walpole Outdoors shows how pergolas can define dining zones, strengthen curb appeal, increase guest comfort, expand usable seating, and support more year-round patio revenue.
Read the Full ArticleIn a few quick steps, see exactly how much new revenue your restaurant could earn each year by adding covered outdoor seating — using a custom pergola, retractable awning, slide-wire canopy, or shade sail from Goodwin-Cole.
Try Our Opportunity CalculatorIn a few quick steps, see exactly how much outdoor dining revenue your restaurant misses each year — and how much you could recover with the right shade and weather protection from Goodwin-Cole.
Try Our ROI Calculator
