Building a low cost garden sun shade

Building a low-cost garden sun shade

Pergolas, sun shades and Alpendres make a very welcome addition to any garden, terrace or pool side patio.Building a low cost garden sun shade
We all love two weeks of sun when on holiday but if you are going to spend any leanghth of time at your property an area shaded from the sun is vital and they don’t have to cost a fortune as pergolas can be constructed of almost anything. In Portugal you can buy pre made concrete pillars in all shapes and sizes. You can also buy pre-cast concrete rafters to make the shade part. Or you can go cheaper and more lightweight methods of construction.

Along many small rivers and streams there is a variety of bamboo which grows around 3 inches across. This giant bamboo can be used to make a very good pergola roof. There are some drawbacks of course. The bamboo will split and twist as it dries out making it a haven for insects and wasps. Wood worm also like to eat it and if allowed to touch the ground or stay wet it will rot quite quickly. That said it is almost free so is definitely worth considering if you don’t mind changing it after a couple of years.
Have you considered plastic or fiberglass these virtually maintenance free products are light easy to cut and fix. Also
Canvas yacht sails fixed at the corners to the wall of a building and a couple of strong posts or pillars provide plenty of cheap shade with the added advantage of being able to be taken down for the winter and stored away allowing additional light into your home

My personal favourite is wood it comes in all colours, shapes and sizes, is strong for its weight and if constructed properly will outlast its owner.

Designs for Building a low cost garden sun shade
There are many books available to help you choose the type of pergola designs which will best suite your property or location. There are also many internet sites offering the same sort of information

contact info@casteloconstruction.com for more information

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