Top 8 Ways to Protect Your Terrace in Cyprus from Bad Weather, Sun and Insects

An open terrace is a wonderful place to relax almost any time of the year. And of course, you would want to keep it open to enjoy the fresh air and beautiful views around. Unfortunately, in practice, this is not always possible: external factors can turn a terrace into a disappointment.

Moreover, you need to somehow protect the space from the weather or direct sunlight. We offer you several options that are perfect for Cyprus and will allow you to create the terrace of your dreams in your home or apartment.

Option 1: Frameless Glazing

This is one of the first options that comes to mind and which protects immediately from all external negative factors: sun, rain, wind, insects, birds, dust. Unlike any other type of glazing, frameless glazing looks very aesthetic and does not take up space.

The glass, which appears solid, provides excellent views and a feeling of openness.

The undeniable advantages of frameless glazing include:

1. Lack of confinement in space.
2. Providing panoramic views, which is especially important if the terrace overlooks the sea or mountains.
3. Reliable protection against Cypriot weather - rain, wind, dust storms.
4. The ability to cover the glass with a special film that will protect from overheating in summer and cold in winter.
5. Reducing external noise, which is relevant when located on a busy street or on the ground floor.
6. Complete safety for children and pets.
7. Aesthetic appearance, unlike ordinary plastic windows and even "soft PVC glass".
8. Does not "eat away" the effect of panoramic windows installed in the room and leading to the terrace.
9. Reliable protection against insects and birds.

Parts of the frameless window can be opened to provide fresh air. This option is universal and suitable for any type of property and the terrace itself: a small protruding balcony, a large balcony in an apartment, a relaxation area in a private house.

An interesting option is when the glazing affects not only the vertical surfaces ("walls"), but also the horizontal ones ("ceiling"). Thus, an open sky appears above the heads of those resting, and even in the presence of precipitation, nothing bothers them. It is beautiful and even romantic (for example, you can watch the stars at night).

Despite this, there are also several downsides that should be noted:

1. Expensive and complicated installation. Without sufficient experience, it's impossible to install frameless glazing on your own. Therefore, DIY installation is not an option, and you'll need to find good professionals.
2. Requires regular cleaning. The beauty of the glass lies in its cleanliness. Even small dirt can spoil the overall appearance, so you'll have to clean the glass constantly. It's not easy to clean from the outside, so cleaning services will be needed.
3. Enclosed space. Although it doesn't visually "constrain" the view, there is still a feeling of detachment from the outside world. Some may see this as a plus, while others will consider it a downside.
4. Does not retain temperature. Without special film, glass transmits both cold and heat well. Under the scorching sun, the terrace can become very hot, so you'll need to install air conditioning inside.

So, with frameless glazing, we essentially get another room with several glass walls. In some cases, this is the best solution that can be implemented in Cyprus. For example, it's perfect for the lower terrace of a villa where the family often gathers for relaxation or meals. However, closing a small protruding balcony is not always reasonable. Therefore, we will consider other, no less interesting ways to protect the terrace from external factors below.

Option 2: Roller blinds made of unusual materials

Roller blinds can be installed on a terrace either in one section or throughout the entire area. This option is suitable for small areas where there is already a roof. In a multi-storey building, it could be the protrusion of the top floor balcony, while in a private house, any simple roof directly above the terrace would do.

We found three decent options:

1. Bamboo blinds. They provide good protection from the sun, create shading, and are suitable for eco-style interiors. When fully closed, they completely obstruct the view, so they are suitable for full terrace protection only when no one is using it.
2. Glass blinds. They have transparent slats, which provide excellent visibility even when closed. They are suitable for protection against both wind and rain, as well as insects. They can become very hot in hot weather.
3. Polycarbonate blinds. Here, too, there are transparent slats mounted on an aluminum base. This is a very strong structure that protects not only from bad weather, dust, and insects but also from burglars (although, to be fair, there are few of them in Cyprus). They provide an open view, suitable for terraces with a roof and for pergolas.

Automatic systems can be installed on roller blinds and connected to a "smart home" system. This makes it convenient not to manually open and close them every time, especially if the terrace is regularly used.

Any type of roller blinds provides excellent protection against insects, wind, dust, and rain. Their major drawback is the disruption of the integrity of the open space. When the "curtains" are down, it will feel like sitting indoors rather than outdoors. If you have panoramic windows and a splendid view of the sea, it is better to opt for frameless glazing rather than roller blinds.

Option 3: Decorative lattice

Light, aesthetic, and can serve a number of useful functions. In contrast to glazing or roller shutters, it will not protect against street dust or insects, but it will create a feeling of being outdoors and make the interior of the terrace interesting and very cozy.

As a rule, lattice (whether it be wooden, metal, or plastic) is beautifully combined with climbing decorative plants. There are many evergreen flowers in Cyprus, so they are perfect for decoration in conjunction with a lattice.

The advantages of this method are:

1. The feeling of fresh air and being outside of the apartment or house.
2. Protection against regular rain, gusts of wind (if the lattice is dense).
3. Maintaining a temperature similar to the temperature of the air - which is quite good for Cyprus.
4. Protection against direct sunlight.

Of course, the decorative lattice will not protect against dust, strong wind, rain, insects, and cold. Therefore, this method can and should be combined with others, some of which we will list below.

Option 4: How to get rid of insects

In Cyprus, as well as around the world, there are many open terraces near cafes and restaurants. This proves that it's not necessary to enclose your own home terrace. You can enjoy its openness and freedom. The only problem is insects, which can appear on the island even during the cooler times of the year.

Mosquito netting is a good option, but it ruins the overall appearance and deprives the terrace of a special atmosphere. Therefore, let's not even consider it: let's just imagine that it doesn't exist. So, how do you protect yourself from mosquitoes, flying beetles, and (oh horror) wasps?

Here are a few excellent suggestions:

1. Plants that repel insects. It's always nice to add greenery to your terrace, and if you do it smartly, you might find that pesky midges and mosquitoes have become much less of a problem. Mint, lemongrass, lavender, rosemary, lantana, basil, and sage all repel bloodsuckers. These herbs have beautiful blooms, are suitable for year-round outdoor use in Cyprus, and emit a pleasant fragrance. If the terrace is large and belongs to a private home, you can plant coniferous trees around it.
2. Ultrasonic insect repellent. It works well against flies and cockroaches. It's non-toxic, doesn't emit any sounds or odors, and is easy to use and relatively inexpensive. The only catch is that it needs to be plugged into an electrical outlet, so one needs to be available on your terrace.
3. Insecticidal UV lamp. Suitable for dark hours, as it works by attracting insects with light. As soon as mosquitoes and midges fly close, they're killed by a current (which is not dangerous for humans). The drawbacks are that it's bulky and unattractive, although you can somehow camouflage it or hang it higher.
4. Gas trap. Quite effective, although it requires a constant connection to the network or a gas cylinder, which may be inconvenient. It attracts insects with warmth (especially relevant for bloodsuckers, which fly towards human breath) and then traps them inside. To achieve the desired effect, it must be constantly running.

It's important to understand that all of the methods listed above allow you to reduce the number of insects on the terrace by up to 90%, but not entirely. If even a couple of midges are a problem for you, it's necessary to fully enclose the terrace (with glass or roller blinds).

Method 5: How to keep warm during cool periods

Winter in Cyprus is mild, so sometimes even in January you want to go out into the sun, have a cup of coffee and enjoy the sea view. Or even gather a group of people and sit outside. 13-15 degrees Celsius - that's not so cold, is it? Or is it?

In the spring, Cyprus has hot days, but the evenings are noticeably cool. If you don't want to depend on the temperature "outside," you can solve the problem very cleverly: buy a special infrared heater. You may have seen such heaters on open café terraces.

An infrared heater heats up objects around it, not the air, so its "heat" is used very efficiently. In addition, the infrared heater consumes little electricity compared to other heating devices. It will be a life-saver for moments when you want to sit outside and summer is still "far away".

Option 6: How to hide from the sun

But of course, on Cyprus, people hide from the sun more often than from the cold. On the island, there are approximately 300 sunny days a year, so there's no need to be surprised. Sometimes the requirement to "protect oneself from ultraviolet rays" is the only one for property owners with a terrace.

Here are some suggestions for terraces of different shapes and sizes:

1. Awning. A small awning is perfect for cozy balconies in Mediterranean-style homes. It is inexpensive, practical, and easy to install. It can be easily replaced or removed for cleaning. It performs only one function - protecting from direct sunlight.
2. Climbing plants. And again, we return to the eco-green option. Ivy, wild grapevine, and other climbing plants quickly "crawl" in any given direction, so you can create a beautiful green arch in just a few months. It will also bloom a couple of times a year.
3. Beautiful curtains. They are suitable as a simple and effective solution. The downside is that the fabric quickly collects street dust, so those who live in the city center will have to remove and wash them frequently.
4. Several umbrellas. If the terrace is similar to a relaxation area near the pool (or perhaps there is already a pool or jacuzzi on your terrace?), or it serves as a dining/snack area, it is reasonable to install beautiful umbrellas. It is better to have several for each place, but alternatively, you can choose a very large umbrella with an impressive "coverage area".

A hard awning is suitable for large terraces that will protect not only from the sun but also from the rain. In apartment buildings, the awning is sometimes unnecessary: its function is performed by the floor above.

Option 7: Choose practical furniture for the terrace

According to Cypriot tradition, you can relax, not rush, and enjoy what you already have. That is, do nothing with the terrace and accept it as it is. Why not, considering that Cyprus is a clean, sunny, warm, and friendly place?

However, it would still be preferable not to have things on the terrace suffer from bad weather and blazing sunlight. Therefore, it is best to choose waterproof furniture (recycled plastic, rattan) and accessories that are reliably protected from bad weather (waterproof lighting, floor covering - tiles or porcelain stoneware).

Option 8: Buy an apartment with an already equipped terrace

As a rule, all new buildings of elite and business class in Cyprus are sold with finished decoration. This also applies to terraces (of which there may be several): they are equipped with maximum comfort.

At the planning stage, the location in the sun, privacy, material and type of fencing, installation of a pool/jacuzzi, and so on, are all carefully considered. Therefore, the property buyer receives a ready, clean, and beautiful terrace, where you can enjoy frappe and admire the azure sea from the very first day. It is also possible to negotiate with the developer to attract a designer who will create a unique interior and turn a simple balcony into a luxurious place to relax.

We recommend that you familiarize yourself with an interesting selection of real estate in Cyprus: here are described the most top-notch options for apartments with magnificent terraces.

Interested in property in Cyprus? Check out DOM! The agency's website features the largest database of real estate in the country - more than 30,000 residential and commercial properties throughout the island! Here you will find information on the latest developer projects. Choose and contact professional brokers who will help you make...

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