Pergola covering

[Mowser]

I have a wooden pergola (3.5m x 3.75m) on my terrace. Currently it's covered with brezo but I'm thinking about making it a bit more permanent. Somebody suggested pine panels, but if I did that I'd also have to waterproof it somehow. I intend putting up a ceiling fan on the pergola - that's why I'd need it to be waterproof. Any suggestions?

[El Cid]

One suggestion I had from an architect was to cover it with brezos or something similarly rustic and then put polycarbonate panels on top, suitably weather proofed at the joins.

From below it looks natural but is (reasonably) waterproof.

Sid

[julian]

maybe there are outdoor ,waterproof, ceiling fans available???

[princess peach]

We have the same problem...all the neighbours have used Brezo on their pergolas and it looks horrible after a bit of sun has been on it.
Hubby thinks the hard plastic sheeting with ridges on it will do the trick.(dont know the name,but usually found on shed roofs)It will definatley be waterproof,and can be painted brown so as to blend in with the pergola.

[K chameleon]

You could use corrugated sheeting, with rolls of bamboo underneath.
(just like wot Cid said )

[Mowser]

The local pigeons have been nicking my brezo to make nests. I have a threadbare pergola.
Corrugated sheeting seems the way to go. Thanks.

[Sandramay]

Mowser, our covered area was originally stained pine boards covered with bitumastic felt. The sun and wind soon damaged that and it started to leak. So we topped that with corrugated sheeting, sealed the joints, and its been fine for five years. We painted the the corrugated with red lead paint to blend in with the cortijo roof tiles. From beneath, the wood looks good and its totally waterproof. The bougainvillea seems to love it as well

[Julie]

The corrogated sheets can be bought in lots of different colours, we use alimium on ours but were offered red, yellow,brown, blue etc, no trouble with rain now either

[Mowser]

Thanks to all . It's corrugated sheets then.

[country boy]

We got some insulated steel roof sheeting. It is about 2" thick, meter wide, any length up to 6 meters, Two sheets of thin galvanised sheet with polyurethene foam in between , finished in white powder coating, There are other colours, and it has a molded planking effect embossed in it They are always cool, stops the slow grill effect you get with wriggly tin!

[Wicksey]

We covered in our terrace with marine plywood about 8 years ago and as far as I'm aware from the new owners it is still OK. A friend has just used to stuff Country Boy has mentioned for his terrace and that looks very smart. Previously he had corrugated plastic with rolls of the thin bamboo underneath to make it look more rustic but it didn't look very good after a few years and the birds somehow used to be able to get between the bamboo and plastic and build nests!

[swerve]

Try this site mate they may have what your looking for regarding the outside fan
http://www.need-info.com/ceilingfans/Ou ... g_Fan.html

[JAKE M]

Thanks to all . It's corrugated sheets then.

Mowser-yer pergola will look like a gypos' hut with the corrugated steel. Also will sound like a steel band during a tromba. Our neighbour has wooden slats on top of his pergola and exterior tiles on top of them. Oh, and a stone eagle is perched on top which stops the pigeons cr*pping on it. They now detour to my shaded terrace and cr*p on the rolls of whole cane which are atop mine.

[Mowser]

Corrugated PLASTIC sheets, but a good rant nevertheless.

[barry]

Oooooooooo! A chavs hut then.

[hillybilly]

used to stuff Country Boy

[country boy]

ouch!

[Martin Page]

I would ensure that the new -'SAIL'- that your going to errect is well attached to the pergola AND that the pergola is well attached to the floor.

In a strong Lavante it lifted up the pergola and shifted it some 100m from its foundations.

Brezo lets the wind through, and so does Sombra (the green netting used for privacy against wire fencing) , split Bamboo, and what looks like hazel twigs.
If the wind cant get through - it lifts ! Just think about It befor commiting yourself .

[Wicksey]

used to stuff Country Boy

ouch!

...... small typo error there