Bamboo Pergola shade

[guru]

After going through what's probably our 4th set of fabric pergola weave that the wind has yet again totally destroyed I'm looking for alternatives that will last a bit longer.

I saw some Bamboo shading on a large Pergola at Joya restaurant last year in Kucuk Erenkoy and it looked really nice but just wondering if it'll last.

Also I was looking through an old 'what's on where' from last year and saw a firm called 'Ahmet Garden services' advertising this @ 70TL per square metre. Has anyone heard of or used this firm and what's your opinion on the Bamboo idea.

[waddo]

I have used a lot of the woven bamboo for all sorts of things so experience tells me quite a bit about it. First, you need to buy it when it is still a little green/new, as the year draws on the bamboo gets old and brittle and difficult to work with. Second, untreated it will probably last you for three or five years provided it has been well tied down to start with - the more wind you get the more it moves and the more it breaks up. Third, it holds the dust! That means that when you get the first rains you also get the dust that has settled on it during the year, you also get the residue (it is like pith) that is not cleaned out of the split bamboo's falling around all over for the first year. Normally it is laid over a wire frame work and then tied down, again with wire, to the frame work and the supporting structure - hard work if you are going to do it yourself. However, there is a lot of things you can do with this stuff and my first and most important tip is to stain it on both sides before you put it up! The stain acts as a preservative and it also makes it look better - I use "Premium" brand 724 on mine as it is cheap! I have made frames out of inch by inch timber and pinned the bamboo between it - like a picture frame - then used a jigsaw to cut away the excess and stained the lot. Those "frames" I have used for all sorts of things including panels for fencing and to fill in the sides of my pergola. The longest I have had any of them is currently 8 years and still counting so it was worth the effort. Big TIP - wear gloves at all times the stuff is like a razor!!! Where to get it from - all over the place and all sorts of prices - hunt around.

[guru]

Hi Waddo. Thanks for the reply, very useful info. The Bamboo I've seen is literally lengths of thickish Bamboo all laid side by side and fixed down somehow, not the woven bamboo/rattan type panels that I think your referring to if I've understood you correctly.

[waddo]

AHA, that bamboo (pole) type is normally provided on a roll. Lengths of bamboo (whole bits not split at all) have been drilled through and wire passed through the holes to hold as many of them together - in a kind of blind - that you need. If that is the same thing I have used some of that as well - I ordered a section 6 mtrs by 2 mtrs to use as a cover for our washing line. Big mistake! Although it has lasted well and there has been some spread over the past 6 years it did and still does provide good shade for the washing from the blast of the sun and helps to keep off rain showers. But boy did I underestimate just how heavy it was and how difficult it was to get into position. Most of the places that sell the woven bamboo will make this other type for you or you can find a ravine and cut it yourself - I have tried that by the way and it is heavy/dirty/dangerous and time consuming, coupled with my personal fear of large spiders it is not a thing I will attempt again - lol. I have seen factory produced pole type bamboo for sale in the South but of a much thinner type.

[luckyner]

I've used the role onpole type bamboo as a covering to the steel frame for the car when parked, it's very hardy and effective and looks good, in my opinion.I would not however recommend it as a pergola covering, as it isn't completely sun proof, but if that's what you want hey ho.

[guru]

Hi Waddo, it's not something I'm going to do myself but the firm I mentioned do it. I'm certainly not going wandering through ravines lol.

Luckyner, doesn't have to be completely sun proof it's more for use as a privacy shade from the penthouse apartment above ours which looks down onto our terrace.

Thanks again.

[phild]

hi guru,
had my pergola done by the same guy you were asking about,i was the same as you sick and tired of changing the fabric.
Only had it done last july but happy with the look of it,it comes as singular pieces of bamboo and fixed individually.
Make sure you have the ends of the bamboo filled with sealant as to stop i think it is bees getting in there.

regards phil

[guru]

Hi phild, thanks very much for that very helpful I think I'll give him a call.

Thanks again

[goldfish123]

Hi, The guy that does this is the brother of the owner of seabreeze restaurant, he did some for us when we were on turtle bay about 5 years ago and its still good, since we moved to a villa down the road he has done 2 pergolas for us .

[guru]

Thanks goldfish123 much appreciated.