Patio Covers & Shade Structures in Somerton, AZ

A young town, not a retirement town

Most of the shade market in Yuma County is built around winter residents. Somerton isn't that. With a median age under 30, the people calling here are families with kids — and the request is usually a backyard that's usable after school in September, a shaded play area, or a spot to run a swamp cooler and a table where the whole family fits.

That changes the recommendation. Airflow and budget matter more than fan beams and outdoor kitchens. A lattice cover or a well-tensioned sail often does more for a Somerton yard than the premium build does.

Farm-town realities

Somerton's economy runs on agriculture, and this is a working town. Dust off the fields settles on everything, which is one practical argument for aluminum: a factory-finished surface hoses off and doesn't hold a stain the way weathered wood does. It's also the reason we don't recommend finishes that need annual attention to anyone who's already working six days a week.

Growth, and patios that came with nothing

Somerton keeps adding people and buildings — a new high school opened in 2023, and newer residential streets have filled in around town. Builders almost never include shade. What you get is a poured slab off the back door, full southern or western exposure, and no structure of any kind. That's the single most common call from this town.

Local calendar

Somerton's annual Tamale Festival pulls more than 20,000 people into town, which is a decent reminder of how much this community does outdoors when the weather allows. The season people actually use their yards runs roughly October through May — shade is what extends it at both ends.

Good starting points for Somerton yards

• Shade sails — the least expensive way to shade a play area or an odd-shaped corner of the yard.
• Alumawood patio covers — lattice for airflow and price, solid when you want the rain off too.
• The shade chooser if you want to compare before you call.