What to Know Before You Decide
A pergola does not block the evening sun because its roof only shades from above. In the late afternoon and evening the sun is low, usually in the west, and shines in sideways under the roof onto the seating area. The fix is a vertical screen on the sun-facing side, lowered as far as needed to cut the glare.
This guide covers why overhead shade stops working in the evening, which side to screen, and how to keep the view while you do it.
Why does the shade disappear just when you want to sit outside?
At midday the sun is high, so the roof, louvres or slats cast their shadow straight down onto the table. As the day goes on the sun drops lower in the sky and its light comes in at a shallow angle. By early evening it passes under the roof edge entirely and lands on the chairs, the table and your eyes.
That is the time most people actually use the space, for dinner, after work and on summer evenings, which is why a pergola can feel shaded all day and still be uncomfortable when it matters.
Why don't louvres, shade sails or an umbrella fix it?
They all work overhead. Closing louvres or adding a sail makes the roof more solid, but the low sun is not coming through the roof. An umbrella can be tilted, but only covers one or two seats. Our guide to the best outdoor shade solutions in Ontario compares the overhead options for when the sun is high.
Which side of the pergola needs a screen?
Usually just one: the side the sun sets on. Most of the time that is the west side, but the angle of your yard decides it. The simplest test is to sit where you normally sit at the time of day the sun bothers you, and note which opening it is coming through.
Screening that one bay often solves the problem completely, and the other sides stay open.
Can you block the sun and still keep the view?
Yes. Solar screen fabrics are woven with small openings, so they cut glare and heat while you can still see out. SunTex 95 (5% openness) is the usual choice, and SunTex 90 (10%) keeps more of the view. Depending on the fabric, screens block up to 99% of UV. Our guide to fabric for west-facing patios goes through the trade-offs in detail.
Does the screen have to come all the way down?
No. A roll-up screen can stop at any height. Lowering it part way blocks the low sun across the seating area while leaving the lower part of the opening clear. As the sun drops further, lower it more.
Can it lower itself when the sun comes round?
With a motorized Somfy screen, yes. Sun sensor automation is available, which lowers the screen when strong sun hits that side and raises it again later, so the pergola is comfortable before you sit down instead of after.
What to send us for a quote
- Photos of the pergola, including the side the evening sun comes through.
- Rough width and height of that opening.
- Roughly what time of day the sun becomes a problem.
- Whether you want a manual crank or a motorized screen.