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How Much Shade Does Pergola Provide

Where You Place Your Pergolas Matters

How much shade does a pergola provide?

Pergola placement is another important factor when it comes to shade. Is it on the east side of your house or the west? If its on the east side, you can expect more shade during the evening hours. If its on the west side, the opposite is true, and you will enjoy more shade in the morning.

Its also worth asking if your pergola would be next to your home or on your back patio deck. Pergolas attached to or next to your home will benefit from the additional shade the building provides, while those further away will have to rely solely on the structure itself. A sail shade soft canopy can increase the UV protection your pergola provides and shield you and your guests from light rain.

How Can A Pergola Be Customized

A pergola can do so much more than simply provide shade. In fact, a pergola can define an outdoor space, create a destination for friends and family, and provide a garden focal point. One idea for turning an average pergola into a stunning outdoor feature is to grow climbing plants. Depending on the plant and the location of your pergola, climbing plants can either be grown directly in the ground or in containers. Another idea is to build benches and planters into the pergola. Additionally, If you plan to enjoy your yard at night adding rope lighting to your pergola creates a beautiful effect. Finally, if you wish to make your pergola into a private sanctuary you can add garden lattice to one or more sides, or drape outdoor fabric near each post.

The columns or posts of a pergola can add a decorative touch. When selecting posts or columns try to match the architecture of your home. Wooden posts can be embellished with brick or stone pedestals. Pergola columns can help add to the overall style of your yard. Precast concrete columns are often used to create a Mediterranean look.


By MMC Fencing & Railing

Creative Ways To Add Shade To Your Pergolas

Pergolas are unique structures that have been in use for hundreds of years. They were originally used to train vines to grow over the top, which created a type of canopy and shade for the user.

Today, pergolas are often left open to add definition to an area. They may also have covers, canopies, or other types of top added that can provide shade.

Pergola tops come in a wide range of styles both permanent and temporary, and can add a lot of style, interest, and function to your outdoor design. If youre wondering how to incorporate shade into the pergola that youre building, check out these 11 pergola sun shade ideas:

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The Size Of The Pergola

When youre first starting to look at pergolas, its important to take into account the size of the pergola that youll need. The size of the pergola will be dictated by several factors, including the size of your backyard, how much shade you want the pergola to provide, and how many people you want to be able to comfortably stand or sit under the pergola.

If you have a small backyard, then you might want to consider a smaller pergola. If you have a large backyard, then you can go with a bigger pergola. Its also important to think about how much sun exposure your backyard gets. If your backyard gets a lot of direct sunlight, then you might want to get a bigger pergola so that it can provide more shade.

Another factor that will dictate the size of the pergola is how many people you want to be able to comfortably stand or sit under it. If you just want a small space for two people to sit in relative comfort, then you dont need a very big pergola. However, if you want a space for a group of people to gather and mingle, then you will need a bigger pergola.

In general, its best to err on the side of getting a bigger pergola than one that is too small. Its much easier to make a smaller space feel bigger than it is to make a bigger space feel smaller. Once you have an idea of the size of the pergola that you need, then you can start looking at different style options.

Q: Do Your Vinyl Models Have Beam And Rafter Inserts

Do Pergolas Give Shade #PergolaWithScreen #PergolaPlansFree

A: Yes. Vinyl is not a structural material it merely is a sleeve that surrounds wood timbers. When you buy a vinyl structure from us, we include all necessary wood timbers. We use pressure treated lumber SYP #1. If you desire extruded aluminum inserts for the beams and rafters we would be happy to quote you.


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Introduce Scent And Color As Well As Shade

Planting climbing roses is one of our favorite pergola shade ideas, introducing beautiful blooms and fragrance, along with extra cool to the area. They can provide privacy for a yard thats overlooked, too.

There are lots of different climbing rose varieties that can be used to create pergola shade.

‘Theo Clevers roses work well planted next to pergolas or porches where they will give a great display in combination with climbers,’ recommends Marcus Eyles, horticultural director at Dobbies , ‘This variety has a gentle aroma of strawberries and has beautiful rosette-shaped flowers in large, tight clusters. They are also suitable for growing in larger pots if you only have space for containers on the patio.’

Pergola Shade: Pratical Solutions For Every Outdoor Space

For those of you just starting to look at pergolas as an outdoor living accessory, you may be shocked to learn they dont really provide much shade and they certainly dont protect from rain. It leads one to wonder why they exist at all then. Perhaps a little history is in order to shed light on the origins of the pergola and its evolution to the pergola shades you see in backyards now.


Pergolas have been built for centuries to protect from the sun and provide shade. They are simple frames covered with a variety of materials that tend to vary according to geography or time and place in history. Our pergolas here in North America are really an idea that is incomplete when only rafters are overhead. A fully featured pergola includes a sun screen of some sort.

Most people build a pergola to relax outdoors in a space that is inviting, comfortable and with a modicum of privacy. These characteristics encourage spending more time outdoors and thats what outdoor living is all about.

Rain protection is another feature that is a highly desirable feature for a pergola. I reviewed a variety of pergola covers in an earlier blog on pergola roofs. However, sun protection is the primary purpose of every pergola regardless of geographic location. The interesting thing is the variety of materials that can be used to screen the sun. Lets look at the different ways to create pergola shade.

Reeds and Leaves

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Do Pergolas Provide Enough Privacy

For many homeowners, privacy is a big concern. If you want to feel more secluded in your backyard but dont want to build a fence, a pergola can be a great solution. While a standard pergola has no privacy screens, the process of installing fabric walls or screens is straightforward to do at home.


To create more privacy surrounding your pergola, you can add the following materials to the walls:

  • Lattice wood paneling
  • Horizontal wood
  • If you want to go a step further, you can also build wood walls that add a level of privacy to your pergola. Many homeowners create a pattern similar to the ceiling of the pergola for a harmonious design. Leave small gaps between the wallboards, allowing proper ventilation and privacy.

    Stain And Seal Pergola

    A Covered Pergola Is A MUST Here’s 5 Reasons Why | Cover Your Pergola

    You actually want to stain a pergola before you set it up. The reason behind that is because staining a pergola is pretty hard once its already built and itll be pretty difficult to reach all areas in a matter of trying to get every single corner. You also will need to seal it as well and youll need to do touch up before you start installing the pergola post.

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    Other Options To Get Shade

    There are certainly other options to get shade in your yard if you dont want to spend the money to get a pergola. If youd like to keep more money in your wallet, it might be better to buy umbrellas.

    There are various types of umbrellas that you can buy to provide yourself with shade while sitting in the yard. You can purchase patio umbrellas at department stores and hardware stores.

    These large umbrellas do a fantastic job of providing you with shade. Combining these with patio furniture will give you a good spot where you can sit in the yard and enjoy yourself.

    You can stay out of the hot sun on a summer day using an umbrella. These umbrellas are substantially less expensive than pergolas.

    Of course, they dont look as nice as pergolas either. Patio umbrellas dont serve the exact same purpose as pergolas, but theyre great for giving you ample shade in the yard.


    An awning will be another way to get some shade. You can install an awning on your home that extends over your patio or deck.

    Its an excellent way to stay cooler when outside. This will keep the sun out of your eyes and make it more comfortable to spend time enjoying your patio or deck.

    In some ways, having an awning might be more practical than having a pergola. However, many people think that pergolas that are attached to the house look nicer than awnings.

    Hang Curtains On A Pergola

    While shade from above is important, shade around its sides can be crucial for day-long comfort.

    In this idyllic setup, weighted sheer curtains are hung from the rails installed below the wooden framework of the pergola. As well as offering shelter from the sun, these pergola shade ideas give the space a softer edge and add both color and pattern.

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    How Does A Pergola Provide Shade

    4/5pergolashadePergolasprovide

    Generally, a pergola is a wide-open structure with four support beams, no walls, and a decorative roof design, such as a lattice. For shade or even a touch of shelter from the elements, screens can be added to the roof or walls, although the primary purpose of a pergola is not to shelter its users.

    Similarly, what is the best way to orient a pergola for shade? For the best shade coverage for the majority of the day with an open-roof pergola, place it so the rafters orient north and south. As the sun travels, the rafters cast wide lines of shade under the structure, except around midday when the sun is directly overhead.

    People also ask, does a pergola create shade?

    Pergolas provide shade.Although they look somewhat unfinished to the untrained eye, pergolas do provide shade. The size of the beams and their spacing will determine exactly how much shade is provided, though a pergola on its own can never create a fully-shaded space.

    Are pergolas worth it?

    A cedar pergola is more expensive than a pressure-treated pergola, but youll typically get a longer serviceable lifespan from cedar. Vinyl: If youre looking for a pergola that requires very little maintenance, vinyl is certainly worth consideration.

    Motorized Louvered Roof For More Shade

    Do Pergolas Really Provide Shade

    For extra UV coverage on warmer days, consider our Signature Louvered Roof products that are designed with adjustable roof louvers that can rotate 180 degrees. The louvers can be opened to allow full sun, rotated for partial coverage, or closed for cooling shade or shelter from the rain. Our automated system with optional sensors will enable you to control the louvered roof using your smartphone or handheld remote control.

    This state-of-the-art technology gives you total control of your outdoor environment. Create a comfortable backyard oasis bathed in sunlight, dappled shade, or open to the stars at night.

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    How Do You Make A Pergola For Max Shade

    To make a pergola for max shade, youll want to use materials that are thick and heavy. Thick wood or metal posts will block more sunlight than thin ones because theyre less transparent so they absorb heat better.

    The roof should be made out of something like shingles instead of asphalt which lets some UV light through . You can also buy tinted glass or plastic to put over the top of your pergola which will create an even greater level of shade!

    Layer Up Roof Materials

    If you’re designing a pergola its worth considering layering roof materials to provide sufficient shade.

    In this spacious scheme, a structure of wooden beams creates an airy roof. To provide extra pergola shade when the sun is at its highest, above is a second roof structure comprised of loose willow branches that offers an escape from the sun while still letting in pretty dappled beams.

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    The Bioclimatic Pergola: For Bespoke Shade

    Modern, attractive and practical, everybody’s talking about bioclimatic pergolas! They have adjustable louvres that can be motorised or manually operated. This particularity provides protection from the sun and also enables you to control the elements. By tilting the slats up to 135°, you can create natural ventilation to air your pergola in case of intense heat. You can enjoy the sunshine when it is not too strong and shade your pergola when necessary. You can also protect yourself from bad weather by closing the retractable slats of the bioclimatic pergola if there is a sudden shower!

    Interested in a pergola project? Get the support of our AKENA technician-adviser to carry out your project!

    Fabric Or Shade Cloth

    Sunair Outdoor Pergola System

    Canvas fabrics can be used to provide your pergolas with shade and can be arranged in almost any type of design you can imagine. Be careful of using fabric in wet climates like the south and northeast since water can pool in the fabric in the unsupported areas between the rafters of the pergola.

    Another great option is shade cloth that you usually find on the top of greenhouses. This product can do an excellent job of protecting you from the sun. The only issue for pergola owners is that this cloth can create an inexpensive look that not all pergola owners may like.

    One of the true benefits of using fabric is how it easy it is to repair or replace. Unlike other materials that may have more of an artistic design, the more utilitarian look of the fabric means that changing it out over time without missing an aesthetic beat is quite easy.

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    Fabric Pergola Shade Panels

    Of course, many people would rather design their backyard in a contemporary way compared to a natural foliage look. Luckily, there is a solution for that as well.

    How much shade does a pergola provide? Well, in this case, quite a lot. If you live in a particularly sunny area with little to no rain, try using a fabric pergola.

    You can go with one large piece or multiple strips that create a more dynamic vibe. Going with more pieces will allow you to improvise with the design and assemble a unique pergola. This way, youll be able to match the rest of your exterior with the shade provider.

    Also, the wavy nature of the strips will allow some light to go through and let you enjoy a little bit of sunshine. So, for a fun, modern solution, think about giving fabric pergolas an opportunity.

    If youre thinking about a pergola installation in South Florida, think Cricket Pavers. Give us a call, and well find the best solution for your backyard.

    How Much Shade Does A Gazebo Offer

    Because of their design, gazebos provide much more shade coverage than a pergola. For one, the roof of a gazebo is continuous and offers complete cover from the elements and the suns rays. Also, unlike its flat-roofed cousin, gazebos have pitched roofs to allow rain to run off the sides. This full-roof design means that objects stored under a gazebo are exposed to less UV radiation and rain, making them the ideal place to keep outdoor furniture.

    So there you have it! If you need shade for your backyard shindigs this summer and youre thinking about adding a pergola or gazebo to your backyard deck or patio, contact our team of backyard experts so that we can help find the perfect fit for you.

    For over 30 years, Backyard Discovery has been producing the highest quality wooden swing sets, playhouses and backyard leisure products for the home. Our team of innovators and specialists are passionate about bringing our love of quality family moments to your backyard. We are everyday parents just like you, while also expert craftsmen with a long legacy of building great products for millions of customers. We strive to take kids outside where they can flex both their muscles and their minds.

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    Installing A Fabric Shade

    One of the most common ways to add more shade to their pergola is with a fabric shade. The fabric will fill the gaps between the boards, providing a drastic increase in overall sun protection.

    There are numerous fabric shades designed exclusively for pergolas and will withstand harsh weather conditions.

    Choose a fabric that is made for outdoor applications and will not degrade when exposed to sunlight. Outdoor substances will absorb most of the UV rays from the sun, allowing you to relax with minimal exposure. A fabric shade is the easiest option for adding more shade to your homes pergola.

    If you live in a location that frequently has rain, we recommend breaking up your fabric shade into strips. In some cases, a fabric shade will accumulate water and collect in the center of the pergola. The water can run off when the fabric cuts and no flooding affects the structural integrity.


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