Shade cloth (color of)
 

Hey bananaheads. Does anyone have a recommendation on what color shade cloth to put over a pergola. Black, sky blue, sand, and green seem available. Are the lighter colors cooler by reflecting more light back up? Do dark colors age better in the sun?

Re: Shade cloth (color of)
 

I've always been partial to green, because it blends well with the leaves of whatever I'm growing overtop of the pergola.

Re: Shade cloth (color of)
 

Well, I would assume darker colors would absorb more light and therefore, be warmer. However, they would also block out more light transmission. I don't know that you'd feel the heat coming off the cloth, either. I'd say if you want it darkest beneath the pergola, go for the darker colors. I'd be pretty partial to sky blue or green, myself....though I guess it depends on what design scheme you've already got going.

That's my two copper Lincolns, anyway.

Re: Shade cloth (color of)
 

Hmmm. Darkest. Very good point. When they talk 50% or 70% coverage, I don't think they mean opacity, but percentage of an area covered by the yarn. A light color may allow transmission thru the fiber where the black wouldn't.

Re: Shade cloth (color of)
 

Also....something to think about. Some things are rated with percentages for light TRANSMISSION, and others are rated with percentages for light ABSORPTION. For instance, window tinting is rated on transmission, so 5% is VERY dark even though the low percentage is deceiving.

Re: Shade cloth (color of)
 

You can find all kinds of colors and percentages of shade on eBay.

Re: Shade cloth (color of)
 

Thought I'd close this out. I first tried some "smoke blue" supposedly 75% coverage. If cast an obvious shadow but you could still feel the heat right through it. Swapped it out for 75% in black, and it is pretty comfy.

Re: Shade cloth (color of)
 

if you have troubles with wasps nesting.. go back to the sky blue.. I read that is why old homes have blue porch celings.. the wasp will see "blue sky" above and move on in their search for a home.. I have not had trouble with wasps nesting on my porch since I went from White celing to light blue...
my 2c..
Gina *BabyBlue*