Maanta Stories

Shade over the water and light on the patio

Michael Toribio - Orlando, Florida

He wanted shade above the pool.
Not an inch more.

Michael Toribio lives in Orlando with his wife and two children, in a home where outdoor life is at the center: the patio with the barbecue, the pool steps from the veranda, the lawn ending at the lake. That patio is also his workspace, and the natural light that reaches it is a tool of the trade. The pool, on the other hand, was the only area that had remained without shelter.

Why that light couldn't be taken away

Michael works remotely in digital education — a choice made after his son was born — and the content followed: outdoor cooking for the family and, during the week, short videos for other parents.

Everything revolves around that patio, which is why the very first time we spoke he immediately set a boundary: shade above the pool yes, above the patio no. In Orlando the water gets sun all day long and during the peak hours the pool deck becomes nearly unusable — and with two young children, that means giving up the whole afternoon.

Michael, Orlando

"We spend a lot of time outside as a family, and this pool with its deck is everything to us. The heat is no joke."

A shade sail above the water, the patio left in the light

A rectangular EZ Breez of 16' x 20', secured with two Muscle Wall Kit x3 and tensioned on two anthracite EZ Mast poles installed beyond the pool edge. The diagonal between the four attachment points keeps the sail under tension and brings shade over the water during peak hours, while the barbecue, sofas and the area in front of the veranda remain in full sunlight.

The fabric is a micro-perforated HDPE: rather than acting as a barrier, it allows hot air to pass through, keeping the shaded area breathable even on windless days. We measured the perimeter together with Michael over a video call, before preparing the quote.

Rectangular EZ Breez 16' x 20' in breathable HDPE, Cloud colour. Fixing: 2 Muscle Wall Kit x3 for anchoring to the concrete wall of the house and 2 EZ Mast poles in anthracite colour.

The before and after, filmed by him

Michael documented the installation on his profile, starting from the uncovered pool at midday and ending with the same water with the shade sail above it.

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