Service 03 · Shade

Make shade
feel natural.

A useful outdoor room starts with the sun, the weather and the view back to the house.

Plan my cover ↗
Open timberFixed roofLouvres
Open timber pergola casting shade over an outdoor dining terrace
Shade structure / sun & span study
Follow the light

Shade is a moving
design problem.

An open pergola can soften strong light without closing the sky. A roofed structure gives rain cover, but needs planned fall, guttering and a path for stormwater. The right answer depends on when you use the space and where the sun reaches it.

  • Photograph the area in morning and late afternoon.
  • Mark the view and circulation you want to keep open.
  • Identify where roof water can safely discharge.
Choose the cover

Open to the sky,
or ready for rain?

Posts, span, attachment points and roof type work as one system. A freestanding structure can solve a different problem from one fixed to the house.

01 / Open rafters

Light, rhythm and partial shade. Slat direction and spacing control the feel below.

02 / Fixed roofing

Reliable cover, with roof pitch, gutters and flashings included in the design.

03 / Adjustable louvres

Changing light and ventilation, with more mechanical and structural complexity.

Illustrative narrow courtyard with a pergola above the outdoor space
Illustrative courtyard shade concept
Before you request a quote

Show the light.
Show the connections.

01

Orientation

Photos at the times you use the space reveal the shade you need, not just the roof shape you like.

Track the sun
02

Footings & span

Show paving, existing deck or garden ground, and the distance you hope to cover without posts.

Mark obstacles
03

Rain path

For a roofed option, include nearby gutters, downpipes and where stormwater currently goes.

Photograph drains

Engineering, attachment and approval needs vary with size, height and local rules.

Build the next step

Claim the
weather.

Start the quote brief ↗