Fancy Awning Plan - Pergola?

[puntloos]

So there are 'awning pergolas' on offer from the usual sources, but they're all so... sterile. Here's a default picture of something I had in mind:

 

But what my parents have in their 50 year old house, looks something like this:

 

The difference is twofold:

 

1/ A IMO cool effect of beams seeming to go through the wall. I'm not sure if this is actually the case but it's fine if it's fake

2/ plants. In particular: places for birds to nest. The pergola in my parents place has draped around it a nice Laburnum ('golden rain') and right next to their window they always have tons of birds flitting around playing with the birdfeeders and nesting stuff. 

 

Does anyone have any designs that shield the main room from sun glare but also has some pergola system that would facilitate some birds, some plants etc?

 

 

 

[puntloos]

Anybody?  

[Bozza]

Are the lean tos Costco sell no use ?
 

https://www.costco.co.uk/search?searchOption=uk-search-all&text=Palram Stockholm Patio Covers&q=Palram Stockholm Patio Covers:relevance:brand:Palram%2BCanopia

[puntloos]

  On 15/01/2023 at 17:41, Bozza said:

Are the lean tos Costco sell no use ?
 

https://www.costco.co.uk/search?searchOption=uk-search-all&text=Palram Stockholm Patio Covers&q=Palram Stockholm Patio Covers:relevance:brand:Palram%2BCanopia

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Trying to wrap my head around how to integrate everything, I'm thinking this one might be optimal:

 

 

The only challenge is that in my case it's not on a patio but the feet would be "in the grass". I'm not certain if that's a good idea or not. All I know is that a pergola would support wildlife right in front of the window which is nice to look at.

 

I'm primarily wondering on if I can have some awning that won't break down if plants (and birds) are crawling over it. But maybe the solution even is having a 'plant pergola' right before, but disconnected from the sunscreen awning...

 

 

 

[saveasteading]

I made my own using laminated timber, cut to size by the manufacturer. Then erected it single handed in one day. About 3m x 4m.

The materials cost much the same as for a very flimsy kit. About £800 I think.

On its own as a skeleton it is a feature without a purpose.

Do you want shade or waterproof?

Just for shade, lovely as it would be to pick grapes, any plant will drop stuff and need maintenance.

But a solid roof ends up having to be a proper roof, waterproofed, otherwise it will drip and get slimy.

 

We wanted shade so fixed rolls of sticks on top. 

 

[saveasteading]

  On 15/01/2023 at 18:02, puntloos said:

the feet would be "in the grass"

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I would definitely keep the feet apart from the grass, by fixing them on plinths. This keeps them away from rot, insects and lawnmowers.

For a blind system as shown, I think you have to commit to a full kit.

[Bozza]

@saveasteadingany chance of a photo of your structure.  I’m looking to build something myself & what I’m looking for sound similar to what you did.

 

@puntloos there are lots of systems out there, to keep the feet off the grass, in addition to concrete plinths. threaded rods into concrete for example.  Screwpiles.  Zoology is not my specialist subject but I would have thought appropriate planting around such a structure etc to encourage animals and birds would be the way, and I suspect there is a lots of websites out there advising best way to attract certain wildlife.

[Kelvin]

I saw quite a neat solution that used a simple ‘sail’ attached at two points on the house and then to a metal pole a few metres into the garden. It required the sail to be manually fitted of course so not as convenient as an awning but was well done and different. 

[puntloos]

  On 15/01/2023 at 18:03, saveasteading said:

I made my own using laminated timber, cut to size by the manufacturer. Then erected it single handed in one day. About 3m x 4m.

The materials cost much the same as for a very flimsy kit. About £800 I think.

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Do you have a picture of what you created? 

  On 15/01/2023 at 18:03, saveasteading said:

On its own as a skeleton it is a feature without a purpose.

Do you want shade or waterproof?

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Definitely not waterproof, shade, yes, but I'm not sure I'd trust a pergola to sufficiently shade my garden room. 

  On 15/01/2023 at 18:03, saveasteading said:

Just for shade, lovely as it would be to pick grapes, any plant will drop stuff and need maintenance.

But a solid roof ends up having to be a proper roof, waterproofed, otherwise it will drip and get slimy.

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Absolutely. Hence my basic idea - to have a 'proper' awning setup, with somewhat attached the 'green' add-on awning. Does that make sense?

 

  On 15/01/2023 at 18:03, saveasteading said:

We wanted shade so fixed rolls of sticks on top. 

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Picturez plz 

[puntloos]

FWIW here's a bit of a 3d sketch of what I have in mind currently:

 

Edited January 15, 2023 by puntloos

[PeterW]

  On 15/01/2023 at 18:36, Kelvin said:

I saw quite a neat solution that used a simple ‘sail’ attached at two points on the house and then to a metal pole a few metres into the garden. It required the sail to be manually fitted of course so not as convenient as an awning but was well done and different. 

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saw one of those rolled up and it had a carrier down a single cable to the post with a winch type arrangement - think it used sail carriers or something and was very nice.

[saveasteading]

  On 15/01/2023 at 18:29, Bozza said:

saveasteadingany chance of a photo

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I meant to but couldn't find them on my phone. Will look again. 

[saveasteading]

Found. The rafters are screwed down with very long screws.

dont seem to have a photo with the covering.

[MDC]

https://www.westminsteroutdoorliving.com/Catalogue/Parasols-Pergolas/Pergolas-Accessories

 

We have these, with open/close roof, sun blinds around the sides and they have a clever drain system to get the rain water from the roof and down the legs. 

 

We like them. Kept us very cool last summer. We position next to our living room/family room windows, so the sun doesn't shine into the house directly with the roof slats closed. 

 

Highly recommended. You can plant round them for birds, or grow plants up the legs... not across the roof though.

[saveasteading]

found it. Diagonal braces added, which makes it very much stronger and improves the appearance. And stick cover for shade. 

like this, tied down by wires onto screws .this sort of stuff