Pergolas or shade options on patio?
 

I am looking for information from anyone who has had a pergola installed on their patio. Who do you recommend? Or perhaps other shade options...any ideas? I guess one needs to get ARC approval.

Large offset cantilever umbrella (not a round umbrella).

I was interested in that option also. I will check that out. Any pros & cons?

I have an 11 footer which covers just about my entire patio mainly for my grill. It survived hurricane IRMA without problem closed of course :) . I did get a heavy (250+ lbs) base (you fill it with 6+ bags of play sand).

The only downside I have found is we have a little BAT that makes his home in it when it's closed so when I open it he ends up on TOP and isn't happy in the sun and flies off :D It was a lot cheaper than any of the other options.

Edit: It can be turned and angled so it blocks the sun and the rain when it blows in where a pergola likely couldn't have. The whole thing was around $350 including base, sand & umbrella. Not as pretty as a pergola but quite effective.

This is the one we got: Amazon Umbrella

And the base: 260# base

If anyone gets this make sure you get absolutely dry sand from INSIDE a store (Home Depot stores it inside) and fill it using a funnel or you will go NUTS.. DO NOT use water.

Aha! The bats. We’ve gotten bats in our small round umbrellas when they are down. Also a neighbor across street got several bats in their offset umbrella. Wonder why they like the umbrella.

we had them up north...great shade and high winds never bothered them

down here if I were to put one in I would do what TV does at the pools...give that a look see

A more expensive, permanent option would be a retractable awning, manual or automatic. Limited protection when the sun is coming in at an angle, but I imagine not much different than a pergola in that regard. Side curtains, drop panels and screens are available options.

Pergola
 

Built 2 years ago by D&D Village Construction............love it, have had no issues and would recommend it and the company.

Another option might be to check out architectural panels made by Parasoleil.com (Denver, CO). Their panels come in several different colors and dozens of patterns. The pattern allow sunlight to come through, and create a
shadow pattern on the patio. Very creative. Parasoleil panels of often used as “architectural cladding” on the side of buildings for design and creative appearances.

We had one built two weeks ago and are thrilled with the outcome. We used Bruce Forrester. 248--310-0178. He did a great job we are happy to recommend him. He builds only with cedar. He stained ours white to match our trim. His prices were very reasonable.

I don't get the appeal of a pergola. It doesn't fully protect you from sun, it certainly doesn't protect you from rain. It's an expensive holey roof. Maybe people like stripes tanning?! I love our cantilever umbrella.

I also was considering a pergola so I talked to several neighbors. Two mentioned how the frogs loved them, and frog poop was an ongoing cleanup. For me...no pergola.

Pergolas do not provide shade or protection from rain. We have one on the patio, 12 x 14 , and it is cute. I have put a very small umbrella under it and the combination if better than just the pergola. It is cosmetically appealing (to me) but, if you are looking to maximize sun and rain protection, it is not a solution. But it does offer some charm and overall I’m glad we have it.

We went through this process earlier this year. A lot has to do with the placement of the pergola in relation to the position of the sun and where you want shade as a pergola with slot top spaced three inches apart does not provide total shade, a must in my opinion during late spring and summer. We opted to purchase a large (11foot Span /diameter) umbrella which provides the shade required and can be rotated/angled to block sun as it moves throughout the day. We purchased a very good cantilever umbrella for $1,200 versus spending $7,000 for the pergola we wanted. We’re glad we purchased the umbrella.

Another option is a Santa Fe Pergola that Magellan installs. It looks like a lanai from the inside but a pergola outside. It is a pergola with a ceiling and screen

My husband and opted for sail shades which may be purchased on Amazon. The sails come in variety of sizes and colors. They are easy to install and give us the shade we need.

Pergola
 

If you live in The Villages, I don’t think pergolas are allowed..... better check about installing one.

I've seen many of them here in the Villages back yards near golf courses... :confused:

If you're looking to create shade inside a birdcage, you do not need ARC approval. That being said we have installed a gazebo and a motorized retractable awning.

Go on line to sam’s club. They have a metal roof. Comes in different sizes.
Call us if you would like to see it. We are in Linden Isles. South of 44.
Phone 865-384-6854

Easy to hold onto, the like CYV concrete wall corners also.

They are allowed but in certain villa’s require ARC approval. In my district and in CYV you have to get approval. In CYV nothing can touch you’re neighbors house, if so you could be responsible for damage to there house. Plus it can’t be so close that the wind knocks it into house.

The only downside I have found is we have a little BAT that makes his home in it when it's closed so when I open it he ends up on TOP and isn't happy in the sun and flies off :D It was a lot cheaper than any of the other options.

At least he is small and is rather cute. Well, that is as bat's go.:icon_wink:
Great bug eater as well.

I checked out their website. Very cool. Do you have this at your home?

Lots of Pergolas in The Villages - and not just near the golf courses, nor just in Villas.

Sounds like the "cantilever's" win ~

Retractable awning
 

We have a retractable awning and I cannot think of a better shade solutions. Of course, it is costly.

Where did you get the cantilever umbrella and base? I've been looking for a decent one on Wayfair, but haven't bought one yet. I saw one at the local store, Leisure Living, but they were $2800!

Do you have to be on your toes to put that down, if it begins to be real breezy? We too are considering that or an awning.

We have one from Pergola Kings. Appreciate the shade it offers in the afternoon, but disappointed that we have to clean mildew off 1/yr.

Sunsetter awning

Allowed in most districts ( not sure if allowed in all, but. in majority) but limitations due to easements and of course approval of plans. Do NOT put one up without approval. Umbrellas require no approval.

I had a 4 ft. x 30 ft. Pergola extension put on my Lanai by windows of central Florida. I think mine is the 50% reduction of sun light. I love it.

Consider a Gazebo from Big Lots,they'll have a bunch in the spring and buy an extra canopy right away, the sun is brutal on them. In Virginia we have a 10x12, leave the frame up year round and take the top off in the winter. We're on our 4th replacement canopy, frame remains solid. They include screen sides and curtains which we use to reduce sun.

Spray it with " wet and forget".

Allowed with ARC approval