How does a pergola offer shade?
by
Dixie Stoll
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A pergola will only provide partial shade. Depending on the placement it can also provide shade for you home. For more shade you can add a couple of climbing plant to create a canopy!! We had one with wisteria and it provided great shade and beautiful color.
The ones I see often have a canvas cover that can be rolled back when sun is desired. But if you never want to have sun in the the area, you're probably better off with a gazebo.
It depends on how the roof of it is made. You can choose to top it with durable plastic lattice that is wood grain colored and it will provide dappled light the same as under some trees. We love our pergola and spend lots of time all summer long enjoying it. There are so many ways to tweak how you build it to create just the right amount of shade for YOU. 😊
Our city codes allow a pergola, but not a gazebo. It would take at least two years for ivy, grapevines, wisteria, or other vines to give some shade. But sitting in the sun under a pergola allows you to change your position so your face is shaded. As the angle at which we see the sun changes, so will the amount of shade and sunlight. We are not allowed any plastic or sheet metal coverings, so vines it is.
Staple garden shade cloth over top. Comes in different colors and shade %s from hardware store.
Suzanne
Napa CA