Garnish With A Flower Canopy
Embellishing a wooden pergola with a canopy of climbing plants and flowers bursting with vibrant colours is one of the most exquisite ways to enhance your pergolas design. If your plant covering is dense enough, youll have more protection from weather conditions with a gorgeous decorative flourish to boot. Imagine the rich fragrance drifting from your flower adornment after a light summer rain. Idyllic.
How A Pergola Cover Can Enhance Outdoor Living
1. You can stay outside as much as you wish.
Theres no need to worry about precipitation or the sun making your patio uncomfortable. Sit back and relax. Youre cool and protected.
2. It can beautify your home and your yard.
With an eye-catching design, a pergola cover can add an element of intrigue, beauty, and sophistication to your home.
3. It can create a natural flow between the inside and the outside.
Your patio and your backyard are a part of your home. Adding a patio cover creates a seamless flow between your home and your yard. It enables you to incorporate your patio as a usable aspect of your yard, creating a more fulfilling outdoor environment. And trust us: your patio will become one of your favorite places to be.
4. A pergola cover can keep your deck cleaner.
Debris, bugs, and other undesirable elements are not hard to clean up, but why would you want to bother? Just walk out and enjoy.
5. You can entertain without the fuss.
Make the most of those backyard barbecues, pool parties, and everyday gatherings without worrying about rain spoiling your plans.
6. It can preserve and protect your outdoor furniture.
Rain and sun can damage and discolor your patio chairs, tables, couches, outdoor firepits, and other aesthetic features. In this regard, a patio cover can actually help you save money in the long run. And speaking of money
7. A pergola cover may increase the value of your home.
Flat Roof Pergola Ideas
When looking at a flat roof for your pergola, its important to consider proper drainage. If a pergola roof is completely flat, rainwater will pour down the sides in an unappealing and impractical manner for the wrong kind of water feature! If youre going for a flat roof, it needs to be slanted at a slight angle. Your pergola most likely already has this slanted design but if not, you need to add it by increasing one end of the pergola structures height.
Fixed panels, whether wooden, metal, or plastic will work fantastically as flat pergola roof designs. It all depends on your personal style and budget. Keep reading for more ideas specifically for waterproofing your pergola and making additions to a modern pergola.
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Retractable Pergola Covers & Awnings
We are an international manufacturer, distributor, and installer of residential retractable patio and deck pergola covers. At RetractableAwnings.com, we offer a myriad of options that can not only protect you from the harsh elements but can also inject a fresh aesthetic into an otherwise dull outdoor space.
Using Top Runners To Achieve More Shade
To gain more shade, you could simply install more top purlins by positioning them closer to each other.
How you choose to space the top runners on your pergola is a totally up to you, just remember the further apart the runners are spaced, the less shade the pergola will provide. A good place to start is by spacing runners 3 inches apart to provide a bit of shade. The first runner is attached at the exact center of the arch, with additional runners placed at 3â³ intervals on each side. This is the most shade that can be provided with the top runners, so if youâre looking for more shade consider adding one of the other options we talked about above like a canopy or lattice top.
Pros
If you want shade you need to establish some type of a roof on top of your pergola. In other words, youre looking for a covered pergola. Considering multiple types of materials that can be used and different construction options, we present these 8 shade ideasfor covered pergola designs that are proven to work climbing vines, retractable or fixed canopy, permanent corrugated roofing panels, decorative metal shade plates, shade sail and lattice panels, and even using top runners.
Each idea requires a different budget, and some are much less expensive than others. Also, all of them offer different looks. Just remember, what you put on top of your pergola will affect its look and by extension the look of your patio or backyard.
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Waterproof Pergola Roof Ideas
Covering your pergola with a waterproof cover not only keeps out the rain but also protects your structure from water-based damage including rust, mold and rot. The cover also blocks the harmful UV rays from the sun. Here are some great pergola roof cover ideas for shade, privacy and protection from rain, UV rays and snow.
Pergola Covers That Provide Extra Shade
If youre not a sun seeker in the least and need the top level of shade protection, you can choose from different add-on covers for your pergola. Shades pergola owners really love are those that protect their friends, family, and pets from undesirable weather that can pop up without warning.
A privacy pergola is a structure that not only can give you the sun protection youre seeking, but also your own semi-private retreat! It may not be quite the same as a solid cover like a pergola with tin roof, but youll get just as much enjoyment and beauty out of it, and still have some air flowing down that you wouldnt get with a wood or tin roof pergola.
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Diy Clear Corrugated Covered Pergola Attached To The House And An Existing Deck
Covering our deck has been on the to-do list since last year when we refinished our old deck with new paint and stain. For this project we built a DIY covered pergola attached to the house and attached to our existing deck. We then covered the DIY pergola with clear corrugated plastic roofing sheets to create a dry, sunny, outdoor living space. Here is the complete DIY tutorial for building a clear corrugated covered pergola attached to the house and an existing deck!
Which Clear Tarp Is Best For Me
Crystal Clear Tarps are used for transparent clear porch patio curtains, clear deck enclosure curtains to block out weather, rain, wind, pollen and dust. Translucent clear poly tarps are used for green houses or to block both view and rain, but allow partial sunlight to go through.
20 MIL and 30 MIL Clear Tarps are the same clear plastic tarps on many restaurant patios. These crystal clear tarp curtains are made from marine vinyl and ideal for home deck enclosure, house porch enclosure and industrial space divider curtains. Block out cold weather, rain, wind and pollen for a more comfortable living space. Fire Retardant Clear Tarps, aka, Flame Retardant Clear Tarps are available.
These are 4 common types of clear tarp or clear plastic tarps:
30 MIL Clear Tarp – Material: 30 MIL Marine Clear PVC Vinyl
- Clarity: Crystal Clear. Made in USA
- Thickness: 30 MIL.
- Flame / Fire Retardant Version: Available in 20 MIL Flame / Fire Retardant Clear Tarp.
- Applications: Restaurant patio porch clear curtain tarp, industrial building clear enclosure curtain, home deck patio and porch clear curtain for enclosure, boat wind curtains.
- Suitable Areas: Suitable for areas of colder winter weather and windy areas.
Clear Poly Tarp – Material: 7 oz String Reinforced Poly Clear Tarp
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Cover Attached To Top Of Pergola
The methods mentioned above for attaching shade cloth to the top of your Pergola would still be valid for canvas materials, making it suitable for heavier rain, as long as there is enough slope to ensure they drain. I found three different methods for attaching the cloth that if the whole roof structure of the pergola has a slope would still work. Check out How to Attach Cloth to Cover a Pergola. The main issue I can imagine is if using the batten technique you might trap water in the lower corners that may encourage the material to rot. Ensuring the water can all escape by maybe angling the battens and leaving a suitable gap at the corners should be sufficient.
Extending Down The Sides
Pergolas are often used to provide shade. Nevertheless, there may be times when you are sitting out under the pergola when the sun is rising or setting and it is too low in the sky to be shaded by the pergola. Consider extending the pergola to come down on one of the sides if this would help provide shade during these periods. In addition to shade, this is also a way to use the pergola to add privacy in cases where your back yard is visible to neighbours. This may also provide shelter from the wind if that is a problem if your back yard.
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Permanent Shade Covers For Your Pergola
Pergola shade sails, retractable canopies, and shade curtains all provide extra shade for your patio. Pergola shade sails are an accessory that can be added to protect you from overhead sunlight.
Our shade sails come in Polytex UV-blocking water resistant fabric in one of 6 popular color choices. They are sized to fit our freestanding Big Kahuna and Sombrero pergolas that range in size from 10 feet x 10 feet up to 20 feet x 20 feet. Theyre easy to attach and easy to remove during stormy weather or to store during the off season.
A retractable canopy can provide even more shade if youd like extra protection, as well as adding a little color to your canopy.
Canopies can be added to any attached pergola sized 8×8 up to 20×20 or any freestanding pergola sized 8×8 to 20×20. There are also other shade covers that can be added to your pergola that are not as permanent as a retractable canopy.
Semi-Permanent Shade Covers for Your Pergola
Another route you could go is to attach a screen to the sunny wall of your patio seating area. This allows you to quickly raise or lower the screen if you prefer to let the sun shine through. You can purchase side shades, shade panels for the sides of your pergola, or sun screens at many home improvement stores.
An attachable screen can also offer a little extra privacy if your yard is located in a more populated suburban neighborhood setting.
What Is A Pergola Exactly
Pergola is rooted in the Latin word pergula, meaning a flat projecting eve or an extended roof. It couldnt be a more fitting description, given that pergolas are traditionally built along one side of a house , often over an adjoining patio or deck.
Incorporating a pergola in your outdoor space adds an understated architectural element that helps define that space. Its not just the visual centerpiece of your yard its also the designated place to sit and relax or gather with family and friends for an outdoor meal.
In many ways, a pergola is a tale of two opposites its simultaneously open and structured fresh and classic simple and versatile. The design possibilities are virtually limitless.
With their dramatic stone pillars and hefty wooden crossbeams, early pergolas had a decidedly medieval feel. Modern pergola design, on the other hand, embraces a wide range of materials and styles to blend in seamlessly with your home.
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Uv Protection & Weather Ability Marlon Cs
Long-life corrugated & box profile polycarbonate glazing is 200 times stronger than glass and highly resistant to impact damage making it the ideal glazing material in a wide range of applications where the sheet may be exposed to risk of hail, vandalism or accidental damage. Its strength is maintained over a broad temperature range making Marlon CS Long-life suitable for use in climates that experience hot or cold temperature extremes.
Diy Pergola Shade Ideas
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These first few pergola cover ideas provide a lot of shade and some protection from rain but arent totally waterproof.
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Fabric Top Pergola Covers
There are several choices of fabric for covering a pergola. Of course, you cant just throw a piece of cloth over the pergola. You need a way to secure it and if you live in a snowy climate a way to easily remove it for the winter.
One obvious method is to put grommets around the perimeter and tie the cover on with cord or rope. If youre handy with a sewing machine, you may be able to sew a cover yourself. Otherwise, you can order custom-made covers from places like thenaturalhome.com.
The fabric pergola awning in this photo, from the March 03 issue of The Family Handyman, is easily removable. We sewed a full-length pocket along two edges of the fabric, slid ½-in. metal conduit into the pockets, and held the cover on with the hook-and-loop straps sewn to the awning. The cover is easy to install and remove, and rolls up for storage.
You can also purchase retractable pergola awnings. Keep it closed for a shady escape or open it to catch some sun rays.
Diy Flat Pergola Roof
I love the pergola in my backyard. I like the light that the open ceiling provides. But I dont like getting rained on when Im under it. So I found a solution that lets me have a cover from the rain and still see the sky above clear polycarbonate roofing panels. Then all I had to do was figure out how to put a roof on a flat pergola, and I was all set!
A while ago I posted some waterproof cover ideas for pergolas because I was looking for some inspiration for covering the pergola over the grill area in my backyard.
It isnt an area that I use that much when its raining, so you might be wondering why I need a waterproof cover for it.
After every rain, the countertop and grill are covered with leaves and bits of flowers that have to be washed off before you can use the grill again. Which makes me not want to use the grill that much
Plus, it would be nice not to get soaked if a downpour happens to come through right when Im cooking .
All that to say, I finally made a decision on what roofing to put up and got it installed. And Im really happy with the way it turned out.
What I ended up going with is the clear corrugated polycarbonate roofing panels that you can install right over the top of your existing pergolawhich is exactly what I wanted.
Keep reading to find out how to put a roof on a pergola.
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A Diy Project You Can Be Proud Of
A pergola can be a DIY project that you can be proud of. Theres an excellent choice of pergolas on the market today that come pre-cut with all the necessary hardware to make it sturdy and secure. The installation process is uncomplicated, as long as you are good with directions and have the right tools on hand. Nevertheless, you will still need someone to help with getting the posts and rafters up. If you still think its too much to handle, hire a professional who can do the job for you.
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Install The Clear Corrugated Roof
Next, you will install the wood roof supports on top of the wood slats and then install the clear corrugated roof on top of these roof supports. As far as painting goes, you should at least paint the wood roof supports before installing them because once the roof is attached it will be very hard to paint, and impossible to paint the top .
Supplies:
- Corrugated roof panels we used 8x 26 wide panels at 12 lengths from Home Depot
- Horizontal plastic closure strips, packs of 6 we used 8 packs of 6 to cover our 4 roof supports at 16 long each support
- 2×2 wood roof supports we used 8x 8 lengths, but you could use 4x 16 lengths, or whatever length you need for your project to at least create 4 roof supports across the top
- 1.5 Decking screws
- 1.5 Fastener Screws
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Summon Your Inner Fashion Guru
If youre into fashion, why not let it show in your outdoor area design? This is probably one of the most stylish pergola cover ideas Ive seen lately. The folding pattern with the draping fabric on the sides is super unique and fashion-forward.
The white adds a sophisticated, chic feel and creates the illusion of a bigger space. You can even complete the look with some modern white outdoor furniture, as demonstrated by backyardmastery.com.
A Pergola Cover Adds Shade Privacy And Character To Your Outdoor Living Area
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A pergola is a great way to add a little shade and a sense of privacy to your patio. But the open latticework doesnt provide complete shade or any protection from rain. If youre planning to build a pergola, or want more shade or rain protection than your current pergola provides, consider adding a cover.
What is a pergola cover? The answer depends on your needs. It could be anything from a simple canvas sail to a full metal roof. Here are five pergola cover ideas for shade, privacy and protection from rain and snow.
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