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Pergola top shade


Check Out These Smart Pergolas Sun Shade Ideas

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 you’re wondering how to incorporate shade into the pergola that you’re building, check out these 11 pergola sun shade ideas:

1. Fixed Pergola Roof

 

Pergolas are being used to help frame areas like outdoor kitchens, lounges, and entertainment areas. These spaces need more protection than an ordinary, open-topped pergola can give, so fixed roof pergolas are the perfect solution. This pergola is topped with a fixed canopy made out of polycarbonate panels. The panels are UV resistant, and offer shade and protection from rain and snow as well.

2. Tension Fabric

 

Simple pergolas need a simple shade option. These pergolas have a stretched canvas canopy that offers shade and protection from a sudden shower. They’re also light, and perfect for complementing modern or contemporary pergola structures that have clean lines and no lattice top.

3. Motorized Retractable Canopy

 

Sometimes you need shade, sometimes you don’t. That’s where retractable canopies can be of use. They roll out smoothly to offer total protection from the sun and rain, or you can retract them to let the sun shine in. Want just a little shade? Stop the canopy halfway across. These canopies work well with really modern and contemporary style pergolas, offering shade and protection along with very clean lines and a simplistic appearance.

4. Oversized Modern Design

 

If you’re building a pergola with a canopy, you will find many styles that let you create unique and interesting structures. This modern pergola design has a retractable canopy that extends past the legs of the structure on either side. This creates a more interesting appearance for the pergola and the area as a whole. It also offers extra protection on either end, and with the retractable canopy, you can also adjust the shade as needed.

5. Classic Canopy

 

Tension canopies make a great addition to classically styled pergolas. This pergola has columns and beams that have decorative ends, fitting a more traditional setting. The fixed canvas effortlessly matches the style of the rest of the canopy, but also offers some much needed shade. The open sections of the canopy let more air circulate as well, helping to keep things cool inside.

6. Retractable Fabric Lengths

 

The fabric on this classic pergola top is draped and folded over the top of the pergola, and is manually adjustable to give you the perfect amount of shade or sun. You can switch up the colors and patterns of the fabric as well as the placement, giving you even more options for customization.

7. Fabric Walls

 

One way to create a traditional canopy top for your pergola also allows you to create an adjustable fabric “wall” as well. This is ideal if the location of the pergola lets the sunlight angle beneath the canopy top. Now you can have additional, adjustable shade as you need it, along with privacy and a traditional pergola design. The fabric can be switched and adjusted as needed to customize the look as well.

8. Roof Extension

 

Having a pergola over a patio or attached to the entrance of a home is a very popular idea. A fixed canopy over a traditional-style pergola can create a cohesive look with the rest of the home, as well as protection from sunlight and the elements. Using fixed panels on the canopy of the pergola also means that it can get more use, even on rainy days, so the patio is more versatile.

9. Retractable Awning Style

 

If your pergola is attached to the side of a building, you can also make use of a retractable awning style canopy. Draw it out over the traditional pergola for shade as needed, or retract it against the building to allow some sunlight into the area. A traditional top on the pergola works well in both settings, giving more flexibility for use, and to the area.

10. Multi-functional Roof

 

If you’re building a pergola to be the cover for an outdoor kitchen or entertainment area, having a fixed canopy gives you lots of options. In this instance, electricity has been run to the pergola, allowing lights and ceiling fans to be installed on the frame. The polycarbonate panels on top keep the Sun’s UV rays (as well as any rain or hail) off of the sensitive equipment and keep it protected from the elements.

11. Subtle Style

 

Sometimes you want the shade and protection from the elements, but you don’t want to call attention to it. Fixed panels installed over the top of a traditional pergola can complete that design. The panels have a subtle appearance from below, so they don’t detract from the overall appeal of the pergola, but they offer unparalleled protection from the sun and elements, so the area below can get more use.

Shade Your Pergola in Style

Adding a canopy to your pergola design adds a lot more versatility and use to the space. It can add some additional style, or facilitate more modern designs. Visit Structureworks to learn more about how you can create the perfect pergola for your next project.

Pergola Covers | Compare Pergola Shades for Patio Cover at Pergola Depot

The best pergola covers for shade usually have 3 specific qualities. They’re sturdy, they’re stylish, and they blend well with the outdoors. Pergolas come in many shapes and sizes, but if you browse through popular magazines and pinterest pergola photos, you’ll find these same qualities that homeowners tag as some of the best pergola shade covers.

Qualities of the Most Popular Pergola Covers

Most homeowners are looking for durable pergola covers that will enhance their outdoor space. Quality materials, design elements such as notched wood, and density of rafters and top slats are features that make our pergolas popular. Our easy to install pergola covers or shade sails, offer an additional amount of shade and a touch of color. The durability of our products paired with appealing design features are top qualities that ensure you’ll have a sturdy yet appealing cover for your patio.

Sturdy

A quality pergola that can last through hurricane force winds, means you’ve chosen a quality patio cover that will stand up to the harshest weather conditions. Even if you don’t live in a hurricane zone, you’ll be happy to know you’ve chosen a solid structure that’ll last for years of enjoyment.

Stylish

For pergola covers, adding your own unique touch can be done simply by choosing a special end cut for rafters and beams. Once you’ve assembled your pergola, make your patio style shine by adding your own touches such as tie-back curtains, lighting, or brightly colored furniture. Choosing a more traditional pergola style blend well with many landscape and home designs.

Blend With Outdoors

I think that a pergola works best if it looks as though it’s always been part of the landscape. Wood pergolas can achieve that more easily than other types of pergolas.

Since pergola kits are natural patio covers that create an outdoor room, they’re a cost-effective way to add on to your home without going through significant home renovations. Pergolas provide a lot of shade all on their own or you can add a canopy or a pergola sail to create the ultimate shady retreat.

Transform any of our full size pergola kits into one of the best shade covers to provide some protection from even the sunniest of days. Our Big Kahuna 15×15 pergola offers the most coverage in a standard size. Add a retractable canopy to it if you choose to add another layer and add extra shade.

Other ways to create shade with a combination of structure and fabric are shade sail pergola covers made from waterproof or sunproof fabric. A pergola sail shade can be added to existing structures with the right hardware and attachments.

Pergola Covers that Provide Extra Shade

If you’re 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 you’re 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 you’ll get just as much enjoyment and beauty out of it, and still have some air flowing down that you wouldn’t get with a wood or tin roof pergola.

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. They’re 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 you’d 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.

Shades for pergola owners seeking to create a protected area can be purchased in many sizes and styles.A pergola side shade is one that can be rolled up when you want to let sun shine in, and rolled down to create privacy and a place to cool off.

Whatever amount of shade you’re looking for, a pergola perched atop your patio makes the perfect escape from the sun’s rays, and is one of the best covers you can find that adds beauty to your backyard! Whether you’re adding a pergola to your patio or building a pergola on a deck, the desire for shade remains the same.

beautiful arches for gardens and cottages, examples from photo

The classic wooden pergola, designed as a support for grapes, roses or other creeping and creeping plants, has long multiplied its functions. Today it is not only an element of landscape design, but also a full-fledged comfortable place for summer holidays.

Originally used as a support for climbing plants, this arched structure is often used today as a canopy, canopy or decorative element

What is a pergola

Contents

Pergola in landscape design came from the distant past. In ancient Rome, as well as in Spain, Italy and France, they served as supports for the vine. Over time, they began to be used to create canopies from climbing plants, especially in southern countries. They form an excellent shade and protect from excessive activity of solar radiation.

A pergola is a stacked construction with repeating sections connected to each other by boards, slats or beams

What is literally translated as a garden pergola is a canopy or extension. It can be wall-mounted - close to the wall of a house or other building, resemble a gazebo and be used as a recreation area. It can be an independent element, as well as collapsible and portable structures, which are often used for decoration at various festive events and ceremonies.

Advantages and disadvantages of using pergolas in landscape design of a site

The material for making a pergola should be chosen based on the stylistic design of the site and buildings. Designs should look light and elegant regardless of the material of manufacture, as well as be reliable, strong and durable.

The pergola should harmoniously fit into the landscape design of the site.

The arrangement of the foundation on metal anchors is able to withstand the own weight of the pergola, plants and the wind load created. If wooden supports are present in the structure, then their lower part must be concreted.

The frame of the pergola consists of many horizontal beams, vertical posts and crossbeams.

The structure of the arches must be proportional, that is, the width must be equal to the height or slightly more than the height, in order to give stability to the structure. The roof and walls should provide maximum shade during the midday heat, but also allow enough light to pass through at the same time.

Wood is the undisputed leader among the materials used to make pergolas

The popularity of wood is due to its affordability, high aesthetic qualities and the possibility of self-production

Natural wood is perfectly combined with other materials - stone, brick or metal

To protect the roof not only from the sun, but also from the rain, it is covered with a tarpaulin. It is better to place the entrance elements of the pergola from north to south, which will reduce the intensity of daylight, enhance evening and morning lighting.

Pergolas for vines and climbing plants are made from the following materials:

The dimensions of the garden pergola depend on the area - the larger it is, the larger the design can be. Each of them has its own purpose. Pergola for grapes, roses or relaxation are very different in design and functionality.

The vine pergola must be strong enough to support the vine during fruiting

Regular maintenance of structures will help ensure a long service life and an attractive appearance. Wooden and iron pergolas require seasonal painting and special treatment to protect them from decay.

The main types and types of pergolas for gardens and summer cottages

Pergolas in the country house are usually made small and light, but the structures for country houses look much larger and differ in functionality. Lighting, a barbecue, a summer kitchen, a fountain, a swing, creepers and flowers, and much more appear here.

A pergola can be a separate structure, standing apart from a building

Another type of pergola is a structure adjacent to a building and being part of a house or veranda

Having decided on the place and purpose of the pergola, you can create a step-by-step drawing that will help you correctly calculate the amount of materials , and be sure to take into account connections with adjacent trees or buildings.

It is very important to maintain a stylistic direction when creating a pergola: it must fit into the overall picture of the site and match the design of nearby buildings.

Pergolas may differ in shape, size, design and materials, but the height is the same:

The cheapest and fastest solution is to purchase a prefabricated structure. The custom-made option is more expensive.

Pergolas are divided into types depending on their purpose:

Other possible types:

Variants of placement of pergolas in the garden

Variants of placement of pergolas and arches on the site depend on their purpose.

So, for example, a pergola-arbor is located near the house. It is designed to create a recreation area, protected from the sun and rain, with furniture, a fireplace, lighting and other comfort elements. Pergola-screen, made of dense fabric, a great place for sunbathing in combination with massage and swimming pool.

Pergola can be square, rectangular, arched or inclined

The choice of pergola shape depends on personal preference and the appearance of other elements of landscape design

Venues for flamboyant ceremonies are usually decorated with a set of arches entwined with spectacular flowering plants, which create a unique, fairy-tale design of the area. But in such cases, special portable structures are used.

Which plants are suitable for making a pergola

Parthenocisus or five-leafed grapes are excellent for forming a monolithic wall of greenery on a pergola. He feels great both in the shade and in the sun, and is very actively growing. In addition, bright spring-summer greenery in autumn is replaced by crimson hues and noble gold.

Parthenocissus on an arched pergola in the middle of summer

Parthenocissus in autumn on a pergola with capital pillars

To make the pergola look beautiful and spectacular in the garden, you should follow some rules:

  1. For decoration, it is better to use plants suitable for the local climate.
  2. Use no more than 4 types of plants at the same time, as a too colorful pergola does not look very aesthetically pleasing and is difficult to care for.
  3. It is good to combine flowers with equal terms of development. In this option, some plants do not drown out the growth and development of others, a chic hedge is created.
  4. An excellent option - plants characterized by long flowering periods or having a repeated flowering phase. Then the trellis will look attractive regardless of the season.

Pergola decoration includes the planting of ampelous plants, which are distinguished by creeping or creeping stems. These include:

To avoid tying up elements of climbing flowers, hooks can be made on the pergola sections to fix and guide the young shoots.

Pergola in landscape design photo:

Climbing roses on a metal pergola placed over a bench for relaxing

Simple wooden pergola with cascading petunias in hanging pots

Clematis on a pergola decorating a natural stone garden path

Tips and tricks use of pergolas in landscape design

Experts advise to adhere to some recommendations for the operation of pergolas:

It should be remembered that in winter all structural flaws will be exposed, so the connection and fastening elements must be distinguished by visual accuracy.

The choice of color is important:

When constructing a pergola, strength must be considered with a margin, as plants will grow, develop and their weight will increase. Also, the structure braided with plants is exposed to air currents and powerful gusts of wind.

Most of the pergola manufacturing options are associated with the use of natural wood texture

The light design of the pergola looks beautiful against the background of bright green trees, shrubs or climbing plants

If the pergola is made from a combination of metal and wood, it makes sense to use different colors for each material.

The closer the roof bars are, the more shade you can get, but the plants get less light.

When installing structures along the walls of buildings, according to the instructions, a distance should be observed so that the plants do not weave along the walls, especially on the south side, and subsequently die from overheating.

Garden pergola is a fashionable, stylish and spectacular element in the landscape of a garden, park or plot, which, with the right arrangement, can become a comfortable and cozy place for the whole family to relax.

Video: Do-it-yourself pergola for grapes

Photo: Pergola as a spectacular decoration of a garden plot

Pergola in landscape design, photos, views, materials

Pergola - a small architectural structure that allows you to improve and diversify the landscape design of the site. This device for creating vertical gardening can be made with your own hands from any, even improvised materials.

Contents

History

The word pergola has Latin roots and is associated with the design of gutters. The first mention of the construction dates back to 1645. John Evelyn, who lived in the Italian church of Trinita dei Monti, wrote about her. Much later (at the beginning of the 18th century) they started talking about the pergola as an element for decorating the garden.

Since then, these buildings have become mandatory on the plots of rich people. Pergolas-arbors were intended for relaxation in hot weather, and vines were planted next to them to create coolness. Over the past century, the design has undergone many changes, it has become more elegant.

Modern structures

Today, pergolas are used in landscape design. Vertical gardening is placed next to gazebos, terraces, pavilions. In many areas, several objects located nearby are combined, creating between them a shady alley of climbing plants, including roses.

In fact, a pergola is a transparent or openwork gazebo located in the garden or next to the house. The presence of modern materials allows you to build structures of any shape and size. To create a shadow, any plants are planted around such a device, which will then wrap around the building and create a shadow.

Pergola can be made using:

All of these materials can be purchased from a hardware store.

Structures made of wood

Wood is considered optimal. The use of this material in landscape design is widely practiced, especially since the designs can be made by hand. It is enough to come up with an interesting shape and choose the type of wood.

Pergola with swing

It is best to use coniferous trees, as they are less exposed to external conditions, more durable. Pergola elements are covered with stain or treated with special antiseptics.

Construction of a wooden pergola

Constructions of various shapes and styles can be made from wood. It can be arbors of rectangular, polygonal or semicircular shape. The sides on such structures, as a rule, are made in the form of a mesh of thin boards.

The simplest supports for climbing plants are made from pointed stakes. They are first driven into the ground, and the upper ends are tied with strong twine.

DIY Pergola video

Ring pergolas

For the manufacture of supports in the form of rings for climbing roses, vines and other plants, metal bars, wooden slats are used. Vertical poles are recruited in a circle, resulting in a strong pergola that looks like circles of different sizes. A reliable twine is used to fasten the elements.

If you take rings of different diameters, you get a design that looks like a tall flower pot. Rings for the endurance of the structure are braided with a rope made of jute or other durable material.

Arches

Pergola arch

The landscaping of the garden looks amazing if it contains structures in the form of arches. For their manufacture most often used:

Arches can be placed anywhere: next to a porch, parking lot, gate, or to zone the garden with them, creating a recreation area. The selected materials are bent in the shape of a letter in a U, the ends are driven tightly into the ground. If the arched structure in the garden for climbing plants is planned to be used for a long time, then the base of the pergola for giving is poured with concrete.

Wall structures

Quite often, pergolas in a country house or garden are installed close to the building wall. They can also be built with your own hands from any materials. One of the sides is buried in the ground, and the other part of the support is attached to the wall.

Wall pergola

In this case, the pergola for climbing plants should not be pressed against the wall. Wooden bars are laid between the support and the building, on which the crate is then attached. If wooden elements are used for the construction, they must first be treated with an antiseptic.

No matter what material is used to make the pergola, the plant support must fit into the overall design of the site. That is why the design is painted in the desired color or covered with a colorless varnish.

Awnings

Awnings are structures used to shade various recreation areas.

Marquise pergola is an excellent choice for balconies. This elegant design can be made without anyone's help with your own hands. It is based on a metal frame. They install the structure on balconies without glazing to protect the premises from the scorching rays of the sun.

The awning requires an aluminum frame and a fabric that is rolled into a tube using a special mechanism. The dimensions of the frame must correspond to the parameters of the balcony.

Awning pergola

Awning pergola is fastened with metal brackets to remove the structure for the winter.

Awning dome

This structure is a canopy. The side parts are made of aluminum and wooden slats. And the upper part is covered with a dense, waterproof canvas. The structure can, if necessary, be dismantled and moved to a new location, or it can be made as a permanent structure.

Portable construction

First, a drawing is prepared, the necessary materials are marked out. Frames or triangles are assembled for the side walls of a necessarily regular shape. The gaps in the frames are taken with a grid of thin wooden planks so that the plants can curl along the awning.

The lower part of the frame is fixed into the ground in any convenient way. Pergola elements must be fixed in a rigid way. The top of the structure is sewn up with a thin band and the fabric is stretched, which is fixed from all sides.

Awning as a permanent structure

The awning can be installed next to the building, thus increasing the useful area for recreation in the summer. First, a strong frame is made, fixing it to the wall with dowels. Frames of the appropriate size are made in advance and inserted into the nest.

Elements of the required shape and size are cut out of the selected fabric, taking into account seam allowances. The bottom edge of the blanks should go down to the side walls so that they can later be fixed. Details from the canvas are sewn with a blind stitch so that water does not get into the pergola through the seams, and they are attached to the roof and side elements.

The domed wall awning can be made entirely of wood, metal or a combination of materials.

Conclusion

When making a pergola of any kind, one should not forget about its main purpose - to be a support for climbing plants. The crate can be made not only from wooden bars, but also from wire, chain-link mesh, plastic gratings or other materials.

We select plants for vertical gardening of the site

The elements required for climbing plants can be made in parallel bars or fan-shaped.

Learn more