Shade Ideas With PVC

PVC pipe comes in many sizes; larger diameters make stronger shade structures.

PVC is a lightweight, rugged material you can use for a variety of home projects. PVC tubing is readily available in the plumbing section of most home improvement stores, where you can find various types of connectors. Putting together a PVC shade structure is a bit like playing with a life-size version of a children's construction set, and it allows you the flexibility to get creative with outdoor areas. Does this Spark an idea?

Sailboat Shade

Give your entire garden a nautical theme by constructing PVC shades similar to the sails on a sailboat. This method works best if you do not require shade when the sun is directly above you, but want moving sections of shade that cast shadows dependent on the sun's angle. Construct your "sails" with a tall vertical pole supported by an angled pole aiming downward about 30 degrees from the vertical. Connect these together along the bottom with a horizontal pole about 1 foot above the ground, creating a "30-60-90" triangle with a straight and an angled leg. Cover the triangle with weatherproof fabric and then cut a few V-shaped slits in the fabric to allow wind to pass through. Place a shade near any garden bench and set a few at different angles on the patio to shield from multiple sun angles. Hold the shades in place by sinking the legs into the ground or into planters filled with concrete.

Covered Arch

Create a small shade for any bench or seating area by constructing a small archway out of PVC. Use a vertical pole on each corner and bend a thin PVC pole over the top at the front and back of your arch. Or use 60-degree angled connectors and create a half-hexagon arch of thick tubing. Place horizontal cross-pieces along the support poles and the arch top, creating a ladder-like appearance. To finish your shade, top the arch with weatherproof fabric that covers the top area but leaves the sides open to the view, or give yourself partial shade by covering the arch with thick vines -- either real or artificial-- that will offer shade that moves a bit with the breeze.

Poolside Cabana

Whether or not you have a pool, you can add a cabana to your yard using PVC as a basic structure. Cabanas should be covered with weatherproof fabric on the top and all four sides, with the front panels tied open when you want air circulation. Your PVC structure must be able to support the fabric weight, so instead of a single pole on each corner, create a corner truss. Do this by stacking short lengths of PVC with sideways T-style and four-way connectors so you end up with three vertical supports: one forming the corner and one about a foot away at 0 and 90 degrees. Add horizontal crosspieces to the T or four-way connectors approximately every 15 to 24 inches so the final corner piece looks like two ladders connected at a 90-degree angle. Construct one of these for each corner, and then construct four more flat ladder-style pieces to connect these across the top, forming the cabana's structure. For a vaulted roof, use single PVC poles that come together at the center using a four-way angled connector. Tie the fabric securely to the PVC cabana structure and secure it to the ground so it doesn't blow away.

References

• Toad: Clif's Shade Structure: Directions and Use
• Sunset: DIY Cabana