How To Install Sun Shade On Pergola

Fabulous Pergola Shade Ideas For Your Backyard

Pergola shades are highly customizable, making it easy to add style and function to your outdoor space. Pergolas are a great way to add additional living space beyond the walls of your home, allowing you to enjoy Mother Nature with protection from the elements. And once you figure out what type of pergola to have in your backyard, its time to look at how to shade it.

Whether youre installing a brand new pergola or renovating an existing one, the shade is an essential component to making your pergola useable and making sure it looks good. Ideas for your pergola shade include, but arent limited to, Roman-style canopies, metal roofing, or even a natural canopy from vines.

Here are some of the most popular and unique ideas on how to style your pergola to provide a shady, cool area for your family and friends to enjoy in almost any weather.

Attach The Drawstring To The Canopy End

Cut two pieces of nylon rope, each the length of your pergola, plus another 4 feet. Tie each to the end support bar, one at each end. Drape each drawstring over a horizontal support beam at the end of the pergola.

Pull the drawstrings down in order to move the pergola canopy horizontally and extend it. Loop the drawstrings around the cleats to hold in place.

Braided Steel Cable Framework Conduit Or Pipe Instead Of Wood

Your perimeter ‘framework’ can be anything you wish. Contractors often install a cable or pipe frawork above or below existing wood structures to allow lacing without placing fasteners in the wood beams and rafters. Braided galvanized steel cable or copper pipe or galvanized conduit is commonly used. Eye bolts or pipe clamps and turnbuckles at all four corners. Plus, eye bolts supporting cable in the middle of longer spans to eliminate deflection. Curving of the cable when perimeter is laced taut with rope should be avoided. Regardless of cable quality, smaller projects are fine with nearly any 3/16 inch diameter galvanized or stainless steel braided cable. Better cables are rated for higher ‘breaking strength’ and advertised as commercial quality Aircraft Grade, making making some 1/8 inch diameter cables stronger than a 1/4 inch cable. If you invest in stainless steel braided cable, Type 316 stainless steel has a greater corrosion resistance than Type 302/304. Do not use vinyl coated galvanized steel cables. Vinyl cable coatings turn yellow and crack, needing replaced long before the cable ever fails. Install cables with lots of quick-link thread connectors to allow for easier disassembly should you wish to drop panel seasonally, for extreme weather, or to perform maintenance on the framework.

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Installing Shade Cloth Fabric Like A Pro

Pergolas are great for providing shade at certain times of the day. But if the sun is coming straight down on your pergola or coming in at an angle to where it is shining through your beams or rafters, Shade Cloth is a perfect solution for obtaining shade any time of the day. We offer shade cloths with UV protection from 70% to 95% or more. Installing Shade Cloth or Shade Fabric is very simple and easy to work with.

Here is what you need for the installation of Shade Cloth:

• Rolled shade cloth to cover area
• Hammer or a staple gun
• Tape measure
• Safety goggles
• Box cutters
• Attachment hardware: screws, nails, or 3/4 or 1 staples

Measure And Cut Fabric

If you are making your own cloth pergola cover , measure and cut the fabric to fit the area you want to cover. The easiest way to keep pergola covers in place is to weave them in and out of the roof structure, so keep this in mind when determining how long the fabric should be. Also keep in mind that you will need additional length if you prefer the look of fabric drooping between each rafter.

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How To: Removable And Longer Lasting Method

1. Cloth Specifications

When measuring for a shade cloth it is suggested that the dimensions of the shade are ~6 / 15cm smaller than the frame they are to be attached to as this allows space for the lacing and correctly tensioning.

To get the best out of your shade and to make it easy to remove at the end of the season it is suggested that it is suspended under the pergola so it doesnt rub against any of the structure.

2. Measuring for your shade cloth

Unless you are getting a custom made cloth with edge tape and grommets then cutting the cloth to fit will mean using butterfly clips. The size of the shade cloth, therefore, becomes important as you need to allow for the cut edge to then be folded a couple of times before using the butterfly clip. Ensure you allow for this extra amount of material when cutting the shade.

Check with your cloth supplier for any specific advice.

3. Start in one corner

In the corner of the structure fix two of the hooks in place, one on the long edge and one on the short edge.

Using a short length of line, tie the corner of the shade to the hook on the short edge so it is about 3 / 8cm away from the structure. If you then thread some line from the hook on the long edge through the same grommet in the corner of the shade you should have the corner of the shade roughly in place about 3 / 8cm from each edge of the structure.

4. Repeat at the other end of the long edge.

5. Placing the fixings along the long edge of the structure.

How To Install A Shade Sail On A Deck Or Existing Building Walls

Do you have an existing back deck or a wall of the house that can be attached to? If so, great! Youre on your way. Mounting a couple of points of a shade sail on an existing structure makes things much easier.

You can attach one or two mount-points to a deck or wall, though you should be sure youre mounting to something structural. When youre planning how to install a shade sail on a deck, you want to be sure that you attach your sun shade sail to a deck joist or other structural member not just a piece of fascia or trim board. A strong wind can rip the sail off, and perhaps the fascia board, too! See below for more information on structural members behind the fascia.

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Attaching Sun Shade To House Fascia

YES. Due to the loads involved, simply screwing or bolting into the fascia is asking for trouble. The fascia is not designed to be a load-bearing surface and the original fixing methods alone are unlikely to be sufficient.

Instead, you should adjust your fixing location further away from the required position to allow the fixing to line up with one of the trusses or rafters that hold the fascia board. In some cases, you cannot attach directly thru the fascia into the rafter and then you should use a fascia support to reinforce the fascia next to the rafter. You can then attach your fixing to the fascia, ideally within a few inches / cm of the rafter and on the opposite side to the fascia support.

Can You Attach A Sail Shade To The Roof

No. Weve seen several handyman specials where the brackets have been mounted to a roof. The issue is that this can lead to leaks and weakens the overall roofing structure. Additionally, it can increase the work if someone needs to replace or fix your roof in the future. Overall, there are just better options. Its normally better to install the bracket to the wall just below the roof instead of on top even though the latter can provide a higher clearance.

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Pergola Installation Mistake No : Choosing The Wrong Vendor

Nothing is more frustrating than realizing too late youve made a mistake by buying from a particular vendor. Pergola installation shouldnt be a nightmare our pergolas have been featured on Military Makeover, DIY Network and HGTV. We were awarded Best Houzz for Customer Service for four consecutive years. Weve sold thousands of pergolas since 2008 all proudly built in the USA. With our high-quality products and top-shelf customer service, youll be enjoying your beautiful new pergola in no time!

What Is The Criteria For Choosing A Good Shade Sail

Durability some shade sail companies claimed that their product can withstand high wind loads of around 80 85mph but it really depends on installation and the age of the fabric, it is advisable if it is mounted to a pergola that cant be moved with the right accessories for mounting, nevertheless shade sails are easy to detach and can be disassembled when seasons change.

A good Sun Shade also has a UV protection and it depends upon the color of the fabric, the darker the color the more UV protection it gives. Some high grade fabric that is sold at home depot stores offers between 50 90 percent protection against ultraviolet radiation while commercial grade fabrics offers exceptional protection in terms of ultraviolet radiation, however it is design for larger areas.

Price the price of having one built in your home will differ according to the size, materials, accessories and the exquisite intricacy of the design. DIY sun shade set ranges between $20 and stretched up to a hundred dollars. Make sure that it offers a high UV protection and has a warranty for UV degredation.

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Size The Wire Ropes And Attach Turnbuckles

Extend each of the turnbuckles out as far as they will go by turning the two ends counter-clockwise to each other. Attach the three turnbuckles with the hook end to the three remaining eye screws on the pergola. Extend the free end of each wire rope to the eye end of the turnbuckles to get a general sense of where to cut the ends. Add 4 inches to your measurement and cut there, using wire cutters.

How To Install The Pergola Shade

Screw the snaps into the pergola. To attach the snaps to the pergola, grab the screw-in snaps from your kit. Determine where you want the first snap to be along your wood beam and screw the piece into place on top of it using a drill with a Phillips head bit or a screwdriver.

Repeat for all other snaps, measuring accordingly so the snaps line up with the ones installed on your shade.

Repeat with other side of shade. Once youve done your test run and determined the length, repeat the fold and snap install on the other side of the shade and hang according to above instructions, weaving it over one beam and under the next.

Repeat with all other shades. For the same look as ours, alternate the over/under positioning of each shade to create the look.

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Determine The Solar Orientation Of The Space

What is the solar orientation of the area the shade sail will cover, and will the shade sail be positioned correctly to shade the area during the appropriate time of day?

If youre primarily using the yard at noon when the sun is directly overhead, then this is easy: the sail goes directly above the sitting area. If youre using it late in the afternoon or in the morning, consider the effect the suns position will have on the area you wish to shade.

Depending on your location, the time of year, and the height of the patio shade sail, the area you want shaded may not be where you plan to put your patio sail! So be sure youve got the patio shade sail in the right location.

One great strategy is to pull up your address on and take a look at its solar positioning. Using Google Earth, you can virtually see how shadow and light impacts your property, and you can get a satellites eye view of where everything goes at different times of day, and different times of the year.

Pergola Placement For Shade

• How to Camouflage the Shed in a Back Yard

Pergolas provide attractive shade options for your attached patio or other areas throughout your yard. Many have open roofs, using wide rafters to cast shade for much of the day, although closed roofs provide the best shading options. Explore different yard locations to determine which offers you the best view or where you prefer to sit during the times you’d use the pergola most, such as after work.

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Different Styles Of Pergolas Shades

Choosing the right pergola shade for your structure depends on the climate where you live, as well as the space where your pergola is or where youre building it. How you plan to use your pergola will also impact your choice.

For instance, if youre hoping to take advantage of your pergola during the colder months, and you live in a cooler climate, a natural or living shade isnt the best option.

Up next, well detail some of our favorite options for pergola shade ideas to help you get started on your search, including:

• Classic pergola shades
• Canvas, or sail style shades
• Natural vine canopies

Learn How To Install A Shade Sail A Diy Shade Sail Installation Is A Budget

If a standard patio umbrella isnt cutting it, upgrade to a shade sail . These affordable sails are a beginner-friendly DIYproject that you can complete in a few hours.

Our deck gets hours of hot sun in the afternoons. This makes it both:

• unenjoyable during the summer and
• difficult to grow any plants.

Disclosure: This blog post contains affiliate links for products or services.

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Can You Attach A Sail Shade To Post

Yes. When you mount the brackets to the post, you will want to ensure that it will be an adequate support. We recommend a 4 x 4 wood beam or a steel or aluminum metal pole designed specifically for this purpose. You can either mount it in the ground with concrete or to large moval anchor. Weve seen a lot of people use an old tire thats been filled with sand or concrete. The beauty of this approach is that the pole is heavy meaning that it wont move, but it can also be tilted on its side and rolled to a new location.

How To Add Some Shade Over Your Pergola

There’s a better option than lattice.

Q: If we want to increase the shade over our pergola, is lattice our best option?

-LUELLA B., ATLANTA

A: Lattice works, but it does have some drawbacks. First, it will catch seeds, pods, and leaves. Second, it’s bulky and difficult to remove and store should you want more sun and less shade during cooler times of the year. If you are going to use it, go with a vinyl product and secure it with latches, even if each latch is nothing more than a block of wood with a single screw through the center. That way, you can easily take the lattice down for cleaning or removal. In northern climates, it also makes it easier to avoid snow and ice damage during the winter.

For me, though, a precut piece of sun fabric is a better alternative. You can buy it with varying degrees of sun-blocking performance. The higher its shade percentage number, the more sun it blocks. And because it’s lightweight, you can put it up in the spring or summer and take it down in the fall, hose it clean, let it air out, and roll it up for winter storage. It’s attached using a variety of clips, hooks, or a bungee ballan elastic loop with its ends joined by a plastic ball. You feed the loop through the grommet in the edge of the fabric, around the attachment point on the pergola, and back to the ball. Just pass the ball through the loop to secure the bungee.

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Pergola Shade Cloth Reviews

Shatex makes some excellent Sun Shade Fabric for Pergolas. This material is made of HDPE, is 90% UV Resistant, and is mold and mildew resistant.

It is easily cut, and the edges are designed to resist fraying and splitting.

These units are available in 8 x 16 pieces, though larger sizes are available if needed. As we mentioned above, if you need a seam for a larger installation, hide it at a rafter.

These are a great shade cloth for pergola choice, and should you want to add side curtain panels as well, these even come with clips to enable them to be used as curtains as well.

• Durability Material – manufactured of High Density Polyethylene…
• Protection – shade net blocks up to 90% of sun, works great for…
• Breathable Fabric – keep the air fresh and allow hot air to be pushed…
• Easy Installation – shade fabric comes with raw edge, it can be cut to…
• Size – Folded package. We offer you 100% Risk-Free Satisfaction…