How To Build A Pergola That Provides Shade All Day Long
Pergolas and gazebos are a popular and attractive way to add shade to a back yard or over a patio or deck. They do have some short comings though.
Where traditional pergolas fall short
Depending on the time of day and the angle of the sun, they may be long periods of time when there is little or no shade under the pergola.
Many pergolas are built with a number of upright wooden timbers placed on top of the pergola frame. These provide shade to the area below when they are positioned perpendicular to the rays of the sun and when the sun is not too high in the sky.
As the sun moves throughout the day, the shading effect is lost as the rays of the sun become more parallel to the direction of the boards.
The fix: add a solar shade mesh
What is the best way to provide full shade coverage from your pergola, without totally blocking out the light?
Adding a solar mesh cover across the top of your pergola will instantly and economically solve this problem.
The solar mesh blocks up to 90% of the sun’s heat, while still allowing plenty of ambient light to enter. The mesh also retains the open feeling of the pergola by allowing you to see the sky through it.
We have had many of our customers tell us that they have covered their pergolas in this way using the EZ Snap exterior window shade kits. The non-fray EZ Snap mesh is easily sized to the top of the pergola.
If the pergola is wood, use the stainless steel EZ Snap screw in studs into the wood. Use the EZ Snap adhesive studs for vinyl or aluminum pergolas. Next fit and fasten the shading mesh into place just as you would if you were doing a window or skylight. The EZ Snap mesh is a quick and easy way to add more shade and comfort to your pergola project.
Common questions
Why doesn't a wood-slat pergola provide shade all day?
A wood-slat pergola only shades the space below when its timbers sit perpendicular to the sun's rays and the sun is not too high. As the sun moves through the day, its rays run more parallel to the boards and the shading effect is lost, leaving long stretches with little or no shade underneath. The gaps between timbers let direct sun through for much of the day.
What is the best way to get full shade from a pergola all day?
Add a solar shade mesh across the top of the pergola. It blocks up to 90 percent of the sun's heat while still letting plenty of ambient light through, and you can still see the sky, so the open feel of the pergola stays intact. It solves the moving-sun gap that wood slats leave behind.
How much heat does pergola shade mesh block?
The mesh blocks up to 90 percent of the sun's heat while still allowing plenty of ambient light to enter. It shades the space below without totally blocking out the light, and the open weave keeps a view of the sky. That gives full coverage without turning the pergola dark.
How do you attach shade mesh to a pergola?
Fasten it with EZ Snap studs, then fit and fasten the mesh just as you would for a window or skylight. Use the stainless steel screw-in studs for a wood pergola, or the adhesive studs for a vinyl or aluminum one. The non-fray mesh is easily sized to the top of the pergola.
Can the shade mesh be cut to fit any pergola size?
Yes. The non-fray EZ Snap mesh is easily sized to the top of the pergola and will not fray at the cut edges. You size it to your frame's dimensions, then snap it into place the same way you would a window shade. That makes it a quick, economical way to add shade to an existing pergola.
