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Can I Add a Shade Screen to My Pergola?

October 13, 2022

Your pergola adds a lovely, covered space to your yard. But it doesn’t exactly cover you from… everything. Before long, you’re asking yourself, “Can I add a shade screen to my pergola?”

The answer is yes! You have valuable shade screen solutions available to you for when your pergola lets just a little too much sunlight and heat in. With a reliable screen in place, your pergola will be both a refuge and a comfortable spot to take in all the beautiful sights and sounds of your outdoor space.

I Can Add a Shade Screen to My Pergola!

You can, in fact, have the best of both worlds. There are shade screens that give your pergola added coverage without compromising its overhead view. At SummerSpace®, this comes in the form of our FlexShade® Tension Zip Pergola and Skylight Shade System. This product works well not just in pergolas but in other amenities with overhead openings such as skylights, open porches, or gazebos.

Here, we’ve listed just a few of the main reasons a Tension Zip shade system would make a worthy addition to your pergola. 

Reduces Heat and Sun Glare

First and foremost, the Tension Zip system acts as a solar shade. Its heavy-duty, mesh-like material serves a dual purpose:

  • Reducing glare from the sun without totally obstructing the view
  • Lowering the temperature in the enclosed space

In fact, the Tension Zip screens block up to 99 percent of the heat transmitted from the sun. 

As a result, owners are able to enjoy their pergola more and for longer stretches of time. When there isn’t as much sweating or squinting involved, who wouldn’t want to spend more time under their pergola in the stunning outdoors?

Tolerant to High Winds

If you’re going to stretch any type of material over the top of your pergola, it better be ready to take on some heavy winds without lifting off like a paper kite. It’s a good thing that our Tension Zip screens are engineered to be highly wind tolerant.  

In addition to the durable fabric, the system is equipped with side channel fabric retention. This mechanism keeps a firm hold on the fabric and prevents it from billowing. So even when surprise gales whip through the neighborhood, your pergola’s screen will stay in its place. 

Multiple Sizes and Colors

We know you take your outdoor decor seriously. All your backyard features should look and function superbly. That’s why all of our screen products come in a wide variety of sizes and colors. Our goal is to deliver a customized solution built specifically for your pergola. 

The specs of the Tension Zip screens range from 40 inches to 16 feet wide, with a length ranging between 12 inches and 20 feet. Both the fabric and the frame are available in numerous colors. And the fabric’s opacity is adjustable as well, so you can control just how much sunlight penetrates through the screen. 

Remote Controlled

With a product that is effective, durable, and attractive, the only thing left to determine is its convenience factor. Thankfully, Tension Zip screens fulfill this quality through their remote-control capabilities. All it takes is a push of a button for the motorized retraction system to extend the screen when in use and reel it back when finished. Also, you have the option to add a rain sensor to automatically retract the shade in the event of rain.

Furthermore, the entire system is covered by warranties. Specifically, the frame and the fabric are covered by 10-year warranties, while the motor is covered by a 5-year warranty.

When Will You Upgrade Your Pergola with a Shade Screen?

With this information at your fingertips, it’s time to rethink the question “Can I add a shade screen to my pergola?” Instead, ask “When will I add a shade screen to my pergola?” Get in touch with your local independent SummerSpace dealer today! Your knowledgeable dealer can help guide you toward a more functional covered area for your outdoor environment.

Outdoor patio furniture rests under a white pergola. With exposure to the sunlight from above, owners often ask "Can I Add a Shade Screen to My Pergola?"

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