Needing Shade: An Elegant Solution
An Interview with Matthew Castriotta of Patios Plus
by Mike Bundrant

Imagine two scenarios:

1.  You walk out into your backyard, take a brief look around, and encounter that familiar but uninspiring feeling that your home is not what it could be.  You see “plainness” all around you and do not feel at peace or connected to your environment.  It’s difficult to unwind and escape the pressures of the day in this setting.

2. You walk out into your backyard and feel like you’ve just entered an exclusive resort designed with you in mind.  You’ve forgotten the stress of the day and can allow yourself the luxury of relaxing into this integrated setting where all of the elements seem to fit together in harmony with each other.  In this quality environment you feel connected to the best life has to offer.

Our home can be an expression of who we are and what is important to us.  A healthy lifestyle includes creating a living space that reflects the quality of people we are on the inside.

When I first met Matthew Castriotta of Patios Plus in Murrieta, I described to him what I thought a home environment should do for us. I commented that our homes should be a respite where we feel we can let go of stress, connect to the environment and feel at ease with ourselves.

“That’s exactly what we do for people,” Mathew didn’t miss a beat. “We create an environment where you feel like you're on vacation. Lots of custom lighting, sounds, television, fans, roman columns…there is a lot we can do. We don’t just do patio covers, but also custom hardscape, fireplaces, decks and barbeques.  We create a complete environment.  It all ties together right down to the potted plants…all part of creating this special place.”

Patios Plus uses Alumawood™ to create shade. Unlike real wood, Alumawood™ won't burn, get termites, crack, peel, warp or rot. Alumawood™ stays looking new for years and years, so you'll never have to worry about spending money and hours of back-breaking work to scrape, paint and repair your shade structure. And using Alumawood™ is friendly to the environment because it helps preserve out nation's forests. Best of all Alumawood™ costs less than wood when you factor in maintenance costs (see www.needshade.com).

“When you know you don't have to maintain something, that relieves a lot of stress,” said Matthew.  Watching your patio disintegrate all around you year after year is discouraging.  Our products allow people to enjoy their homes without worrying about that.  That’s one of the reasons I got into this - I believe in it. I could never sell something I don't believe in.”

Patios Plus has not had a single complaint registered in 25 years of doing business. This is hard to match.  Perhaps it is proof of their belief in what they do.

“Why is it important to live in a quality, peaceful setting?” I asked Matthew.

Matthew replied, “I don’t think in our busy lives that every one has time to go on vacation. However, you can create an environment in your home that makes you feel that way; that puts you in that place. Some people need to go all the way to Hawaii to get that….but it's worth the effort to create an environment in your own back yard where you can have that every day. It not only adds value to your home, it makes your every day life wonderful. Living in that environment is a priceless experience. When I come home every day, I walk in and it is just instant comfort.”

“Also,” Matthew continued, “I think creating a home that fosters health involves mitigating the sun and protecting people from skin cancer.  A certain amount of common sense goes with shading your home and your children.”

I always enjoy discovering elegant solutions.  Common solutions solve problems. Elegant solutions solve those same problems and create opportunity at the same time.  The problem: you need shade.  A common solution would be to throw up any old patio cover.  Patios Plus provides an elegant solution that not only gives shade, but also an opportunity to create an ideal place to live.

Their company motto seems to fit:  “There are patio covers and then there is Art.”

You can reach Matthew Castriotta and Patios Plus in Murrieta at (951) 698-8998 or by visiting www.needshade.com.