After getting quotes on a couple super-fancy motorized pergola shade systems, I decided that using rolls of bamboo fencing would be the best solution as a shading device for a few reasons:
1) Cost: Spending $4000+ on one the more complicated solutions right off the bat seemed reckless. The total cost of the bamboo was 10% of that ($200 each for materials & labor).
2) We love the aesthetic of the bamboo itself and the soft filtered light that the bamboo allows through the reeds.
3) Ease of installation (staple gun and scissors were the only tools used)
4) The bamboo will provide some protection from light rain. If we're in the middle of dinner outside and it starts raining, it will give us enough time to get inside before a downpour.
It turns out that there are actually a lot of different types of bamboo rolls available. After doing some online and in-person research, I chose an inexpensive version sold at Home Depot ($25/roll), that was in stock and I could pick up myself. I had my handyman and painter, David, do the installation.
We used two layers of the bamboo, rolling out the material in different directions. This provides more shade than one layer would have.
I'm debating adding corrugated clear plastic to the top of this to make it really weather proof. If you have any thoughts on that, I'd be thrilled to hear your feedback!
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