Any potential downsides to slanted slats on a pergola roof?
I'm renovating my outdoor area and adding a pergola. I want to do a slanted roof for added sun protection (except of course for when the sun is directly aligned with the gaps). Has anyone done this and have any pros/cons?
I’ve never done it but it seems like a cool idea. Would have to consider wind direction because now you have made a giant wing that could have increased upward or downward force with a good strong wind.
Also those boards look thin, more prone to warping.
Angled attachments would be more difficult to get right/strong, could be less rigid if you aren’t careful
Kinda-Interested
Not sure structurally of the drawbacks but want to say I lived in a house with something similar and it was cleverly engineered so that the slats were perfectly in line with the winter solstice sun’s angle for optimal winter sunlight and then provided the most shade during peak summer months. So if you’re going to do this make sure you do it right and it is really rewarding
_BeefyTaco
Depending on your area I’m a big fan of the coveryourpergola.com tinted plastic roof panels. I’ve installed and built a few pergolas using them and I love them and so do my clients.
MaxUumen
Yeah, why is my ass wet?
Popsickl3
I am so torn between this style and corrugated steel. I love sitting outside in the rain but it happens so infrequently that I think it would be better to go slatted. Anyone tried both?
reddit_and_forget_um
I think a con would be that you are losing some of the strength of the members.
A board on the flat is not nearly as strong as standing on edge – in this case you are splitting the difference, so you may have boards sag across a span that would be fine if verticle.
I would support the ends better then shown in the picture – even a rim joist of sorts would help keep things in place, and then additional blocking/shorter spans.
Kevo_NEOhio
I repainted one of these once. Absolutely miserable to sand and prep.
AbbreviationsFit8962
I want you to guess what will happen when it rains
AbbreviationsFit8962
Just to be clear, the rain won’t just fall on you. The surface area will catch and combine raindrops and run it off each slate in a steadier stream of water all over the place
Intrepid_Train3277
Rain
werther595
Even better if you can make them adjustable, like blinds. Open, closed, angled just so….maybe with a hand crank, or just manually turn each one
StumpyTheGiant
Mine is like this. The slats run east/west. And they are tilted towards the south. Being in the USA, the sun is pretty much always shining at you from the south. Therefore, with the slats sloping towards the south that means im getting maximum sun through the pergola. If the slats were sloping the other way I’d be getting a lot more shade. I wish they sloped the other way and I had more shade. Or honestly I’d be happy if they were just laid flat instead of doing the whole sloped thing.
Ultimately result is i get some shade when the sun is overhead in the summer, and almost no shade in the winter. This would might be nice in some places. But im in Dallas and its hot 9 months out of the year. So max shade all the time would be preferred. So really I wish they were just laying flat on top and I could adjust the spacing between them to adjust the amount of shade I have. Con would be that if they were laying flat then water could pool on them a little and they’d rot faster than a sloped one.
Desperate_Set_7708
Uses a lot more material than some other designs
mynameisnotshamus
Giants dragging their fingers over it, making PlbPlbPlbPlb Plb sounds.
StevieG-2021
Using slanted slats could provide better shade and still allow air circulation.
IcyManipulator69
Other than the difficulty it will take to cut those wooden pieces at the correct angles? No…
patrick-1977
Costco sells aluminum pergolas with adjustable louvres. Affordable and really good quality.
Purosangue_Papa
Why not just get one with a roof that can open and close?
trumpvid-19
Except when it rains
Few-Might621
I had one of these made of wood. Every year I would have to take down the slats to put a water proofing coat of paint on it. Some of the boards would be warped and have to go buy new ones. Provided good shade during the mid day but the evening there wasn’t any shade. Mine mainly faced west so wasn’t used in the evening.
Fijian_Assassin
Could look into louvered roof. Will have better control than a stationary slanted position.
21 Comments
I’ve never done it but it seems like a cool idea. Would have to consider wind direction because now you have made a giant wing that could have increased upward or downward force with a good strong wind.
Also those boards look thin, more prone to warping.
Angled attachments would be more difficult to get right/strong, could be less rigid if you aren’t careful
Not sure structurally of the drawbacks but want to say I lived in a house with something similar and it was cleverly engineered so that the slats were perfectly in line with the winter solstice sun’s angle for optimal winter sunlight and then provided the most shade during peak summer months. So if you’re going to do this make sure you do it right and it is really rewarding
Depending on your area I’m a big fan of the coveryourpergola.com tinted plastic roof panels. I’ve installed and built a few pergolas using them and I love them and so do my clients.
Yeah, why is my ass wet?
I am so torn between this style and corrugated steel. I love sitting outside in the rain but it happens so infrequently that I think it would be better to go slatted. Anyone tried both?
I think a con would be that you are losing some of the strength of the members.
A board on the flat is not nearly as strong as standing on edge – in this case you are splitting the difference, so you may have boards sag across a span that would be fine if verticle.
I would support the ends better then shown in the picture – even a rim joist of sorts would help keep things in place, and then additional blocking/shorter spans.
I repainted one of these once. Absolutely miserable to sand and prep.
I want you to guess what will happen when it rains
Just to be clear, the rain won’t just fall on you. The surface area will catch and combine raindrops and run it off each slate in a steadier stream of water all over the place
Rain
Even better if you can make them adjustable, like blinds. Open, closed, angled just so….maybe with a hand crank, or just manually turn each one
Mine is like this. The slats run east/west. And they are tilted towards the south. Being in the USA, the sun is pretty much always shining at you from the south. Therefore, with the slats sloping towards the south that means im getting maximum sun through the pergola. If the slats were sloping the other way I’d be getting a lot more shade. I wish they sloped the other way and I had more shade. Or honestly I’d be happy if they were just laid flat instead of doing the whole sloped thing.
Ultimately result is i get some shade when the sun is overhead in the summer, and almost no shade in the winter. This would might be nice in some places. But im in Dallas and its hot 9 months out of the year. So max shade all the time would be preferred. So really I wish they were just laying flat on top and I could adjust the spacing between them to adjust the amount of shade I have. Con would be that if they were laying flat then water could pool on them a little and they’d rot faster than a sloped one.
Uses a lot more material than some other designs
Giants dragging their fingers over it, making PlbPlbPlbPlb Plb sounds.
Using slanted slats could provide better shade and still allow air circulation.
Other than the difficulty it will take to cut those wooden pieces at the correct angles? No…
Costco sells aluminum pergolas with adjustable louvres. Affordable and really good quality.
Why not just get one with a roof that can open and close?
Except when it rains
I had one of these made of wood. Every year I would have to take down the slats to put a water proofing coat of paint on it. Some of the boards would be warped and have to go buy new ones. Provided good shade during the mid day but the evening there wasn’t any shade. Mine mainly faced west so wasn’t used in the evening.
Could look into louvered roof. Will have better control than a stationary slanted position.