Child Item

How to attach shade to a pergola?

Looking for suggestions on how to tackle shade options to attach to my stratco sanctuary pergola that was put up a short while back.

My yard gets very harsh west sun in the late afternoon/evenings and ultimately makes this area pointless.

Pergola is also a custom size 3.48m width.

Unsure of where to start.

Difficult to get great pictures but hopefully the message gets through.

Find more posts tagged with

Tools and Materials

Building and Construction

Heating and Cooling

Comments

Jewelleryrescue

Hi @amySA

I really detest that late westerly sun so I will try give you a few options to try tame it,

In the budget range options not all to your liking but options

I would plant a row of trees tall and slender near the fence line, so you can still see whole yard or a hedge closer in towards your pergola along the gravel line this will block the sun and give you two zones in your yard make your yard seam bigger. Down side is plants take a few years to grow to sun blocking size. So you can use tallest in expensive color bond fence posts and string shade cloth across mean while.

Using your pergola posts string shade cloth across the top of the post or full length.

Or color bond posts and wire trellis fast growing vine like star jasmine or honey suckle

Medium costs

Put in waist height planter boxes and medum size plants to filter to light not completly block starting to form and out door room.

Good spot for your BBQ and a serving area put in behind to the roof line siloette panels would really stand out you can always put white polycarbonate roof sheets behind that or Sparking beehive roofing either clear or gray shading. Make use of the light.

A cement bottled wall would look incredible with the sun shining through different colored bottles a real stand out feature powered by the sun.

Out door blinds

Coolaroo 3M wide x2.4m Crank Operated Extra Wide Outdoor Blind Graphite

https://www.bunnings.com.au/coolaroo-3M x2-4m-crank-operated-extra-wide-outdoor-blind-graphite_p0491278

I/N: 0491278

$199

Create an out door room 3 sides More cost but not excessive

Windoware Outdoor Quiklok Sunscreen blind 3x2.4m Night Sky

CAN BE CUSTOM MADE

https://www.bunnings.com.au/windoware-outdoor-quiklok-sunscreen-blind-3x2-4m-night-sky_p0340564

I/N: 0340564

$493.50

Easy DIY Install, No ropes, No cords, No pulleys.
Adjustable Lock-in Positioning.
Cut to Size Available.

The QuikLok Channel Guided outdoor blind, is your easy DIY outdoor blinds solution.

The Channel guided system holds your blind in place, and lets you lock your blind to any height along the channel.

No Ropes, no cords or pulleys.

Simply unlock.
Pull the blind too your desired height.
Lock in place.

Well some start up options to help free your imagination.

amySA

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/34089#Comment_34089

Thanks for your reply!

Always interested in using plants as shade as a preference although you are right, will take some time.

Temporary shade cloth would be my first option as a immediate shade although unsure how I would attach as It does also get a bit windy here being so open.

A permanent blind option would likely be something I would be interested in, unsure how to mount to the Pergola, hoping someone might be able to shed some light on this for me?

Jewelleryrescue

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/79326#Comment_79326

Hi @amySA

Shade cloth can wrap around post and atttach to its self using light wire like a thread, or a heavy duty twine, Hold it up high like holding your socks up a simple wire hook to roof or other.

You could metal screw timber to the posts and screw or staple shade cloth to that too.

Wind wont catch shade cloth as is allows wind through not like sail cloth.

permanant blind option will have channels the blind slots into these channel made for your custom space will metal screw the blind channels to your existing posts The blind people will want to know gap between posts take a top measurement and bottom parrallel measurement and use the smallest measurement.

Keep an open mind as there are other blind companys too with different styles some electric if you wish but mounting will be very similar.

hope this helps

amySA

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/104012#Comment_104012

Thanks, I think I am understanding the temporary option in attaching to the sides. Attaching anything to the top is a little difficult as there Gutter and beam are so closely attached there is no gap/holes to be able to thread anything through.

The timber attachment might be an idea however I haven't worked much with metal and I'm not sure how to attach this?

I think in term of purchasing a blind I'd be more inclined to avoid the channel blinds, perfect the roller blind look.

Previously sought out prices from blind companies and nearly fell over with what the costs involved were 😅 with and without installation costs. Didn't seem viable to spend 1/2 of the cost of the Pergola itself on one blind!

MitchellMc

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @amySA. It's a pleasure to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about shading a pergola.

Some great suggestions from @Jewelleryrescue there.

It's quite easy to attach timber to metal through the use of metal self-drilling screws. They're quick to use as no pre-drilling of the metal is required. Once you install a timber beam between the upright posts, you'll be able to install the vast majority of outdoor blinds.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

amySA

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/34098#Comment_34098

Thanks for your reply @MitchellMc

Would you suggest I attach the timber to the face of the upright posts? Unsure how I would do it between then specifically.

My other idea I had would be running cable wire along sides and top, securing with eyebolt hooks through posts and then attaching shade cloth with shade cloth butterfly clips. This would be I guess a little bit more fiddly but would sit flush.

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/79346#Comment_79346

Face mounting will be the easiest approach, @amySA. You could position the timber flush in between the posts, and you'd need to predrill the post and use long timber screws through the posts into the end of the timber.

I like your idea of the cable and shade cloth, though you're correct that it could be slightly fiddly. I think using a blind would give more functionality and a more professional level of finish overall.

Mitchell

amySA

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/104029#Comment_104029

Thanks @MitchellMc I think I understand. I have temporarily fixed a shade cloth with zip ties for upcoming hot weather until I can get to work on something more permanent.

As @Jewelleryrescue suggested also looking into some raised beds, considering something perhaps like clumping bamboo or that might grow high to block.

Unfortunately with my temporary attachment of shade cloth and watching the sun it hasn't quite covered all the areas I was hoping. Even with the future blind plan I will still have hot afternoon sun coming through on this angle as you can see

On this side there is no additional post as it connects to the roof.

Any ideas?

EricL

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/119079#Comment_119079

Hello @amySA

My suggestion is to make sure that you are using Coolaroo 3.66m Graphite 90% UV Heavy Duty People Cover Shade Cloth. I have the same material in my garage and it effectively cuts down on everything including glare from the sun.

Eric

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/119079#Comment_119079

Love your work, @amySA! That looks like a great semi-permanent solution.

For the wall, I'd cut a length of 42 x 18mm 2.7m FJ Pre Oiled Merbau Screening down to the height of your shadecloth. Position it against the wall and mark the top, middle, and bottom where it aligns with your mortar lines in the bricks. Pre-drill holes in the timber at these marks with a 5mm timber drill bit. Use a STAHL Masonry Kit 8mm Drill With 50mm Blue Wall Plugs to drill holes in the mortar at the mounting locations and tap in the plugs.

Wrap the shade cloth one and a half rotations around the timber and place it against the wall. Screw through the three holes and into the mortar with the screws included in the STAHL kit.

You can also use this method to neaten up your attachment method to the posts; just use metal self-drilling screws to attach the timber screening to the posts.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

Jewelleryrescue

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/128073#Comment_128073

Hi @amySA

You can add more shade cloth like on the fence side like you allready did with a timber rod at the bottom to weight it.

A bbq if it suits your plans will also block half that light,

amySA

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/133931#Comment_133931

All great ideas thank you.

I have seen some posts with people installing permanent shade screening using the Jack's products.

Anyone think it could be viable to possible use the concrete stabilising plates and install something like that for covering half the length of the open side?

It would be quite close to the paving area, unsure if that would have any implications.

EricL

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/133931#Comment_133931

Hi @amySA

Have you considered a removable shade using Taskmaster 5 x 50mm 316 Stainless Steel Snap Hook. This will allow you to remove the shade when you don't need it. It would also be possible to shift the position of the shade, another way would be to use the shade cloth to extend the shade cover of the pergola.

Eric

amySA

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/137587#Comment_137587

Thanks @EricL snap hook would be a great idea, I think I'd rather something I could keep up most of the time.

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/140095#Comment_140095

You could certainly use the Jack's Screen-Up products @amySA. An individual paver wouldn't be adequate for mounting, but there are side pieces that allow you to connect directly to your brickwork and those would be suitable.

Mitchell

Child Item