All of our custom-made pergola frames and shades are produced in our workshop located in Hampshire. Here are some frequently asked questions regarding our products. If there is anything else you would like to inquire about, feel free to schedule a discovery call or contact us.
What type of outdoor area is suitable for a pergola and Hampshire Shade?
As the pergola frame is free standing you are not fixed to certain locations, allowing you to find the perfect spot in your garden or external area. Ideally you will have a suitable patio, decking area or hard area that is level and in good condition for the base of the pergola frame to be sited.
The frame can also be adjoined to other suitable structures to extend an indoor living space and connect it to the outside garden area.
If you wish to install the pergola in the lawned area of you garden, that’s okay too but will require a suitable concrete footing to be set under each post.
You can then sit back and relax to enjoy a fully open shade and blue sky or stay cool and comfortable under a part or fully closed shade.
What is the difference between the Hampshire shade and other shades available in the UK?
| Hampshire Shade | Wire Hung Shade | Extendable Awning | Aluminium Louvred Shade | Cantilever Parasol or Umbrella |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun & Rain protection | Sun only | Sun only | Sun & Rain protection | Sun only |
| Any size single shade up to 6m & unlimited with kissing canopies | Any size up to 3m | Any size up to 3-4m | Fixed sizes up to 7m | Up to 4m |
| Unaffected by high winds | Designed to be retracted high wind | Designed to be retracted high wind | Unaffected by high winds | Designed to be collapsed high wind |
| Unaffected by rain, shade fabric softens noise and diverts water to any side | Weight of rain water can cause excessive load on cable and fabric eyelets | Not designed to carry additional load of rain water | Unaffected by rain, closed metal louvres can be noisy in heavy rain | Water resistant fabric for light showers only |
| Retractable to any position or in full for an open sky | Normally designed to be either open or closed | Fully extendable to any position or closed for full sky | Fixed louvres have partial opening to sky and sun’s path | Normally designed to be either open or closed |
| Free Standing pergola frame in any size | Attached to a current pergola frame | Frame attached to a building structure | Free Standing pergola frame in fixed sizes | Free standing from the side of covered area |
| Fully customisable colour of pergola frame and shade fabric | Customisable shade fabric | Fully customisable colour of extending frame and shade fabric | Range of standard colours of matching frame and louvres | Available in wide selection of colours |
| Can cover non-standard shaped frames | Difficult to achieve | Not possible | Square or Rectangular only | Square or Rectangular only |
| Simple single track, no binding movement and not affected by debris | Multiple wires required on strong fixing points | Extendable arms cannot be operated under wind or rain load | Closure of mechanical louvres by lever or gears, debris can affect closure | Parasol suspended from cantilevered arm, liable to swing in the wind |
How big an area can a Hampshire shade cover?
The frame and shade are bespoke to your requirements and can be any size up to 6m x 6m as a single shade and combined as multiple shades for larger areas with kissing canopies which come together in the middle when closed.
Aluminium products each have their own maximum size, for example a pergola is possible up to 7mx5m.
How does the Hampshire shade shed water and keep everything dry?
The fabric in our shade design is suitable to more testing environments than just the wind and rain of the British weather alone. When combined with the unique cantilever design of the shade beams it creates a small fall/slope (similar to a flat roof on a house) to prevent build-up of rainwater. The rainwater can be diverted to any chosen side of the pergola frame, keeping you and your furniture dry.
Can you match shade material to our outdoor furniture?
It may be possible to match the shade material colour and design to your outdoor furniture. Whilst we have a chosen supplier of shade fabric there are alternatives available that offer similar weather proofing in different designs rather than a single colour.
How long will it last?
Our pergola and shades are backed up by our 5 year warranty to give complete peace of mind, proper care and maintenance and cleaning of the fabric will help maintain the colour and extend the life your Hampshire Shade. Aluminium product have a warrant of 2-5years based on each model and design.
Is it waterproof?
We use a marine grade fabric canvas that is available with a polyurethane coating to provide superior waterproofing giving a water column in excess of 1000mm. This a standard measure of how much water a fabric can withstand before water will wick through the fabric. Look after your fabric and under normal conditions you can rest assured this will provide more than adequate protection to keep you and your furniture dry. The fabric is also colour fast and has a UV rating for the period of its warranty when in normal conditions.
How easy is the shade to operate?
The manual and motorised shades have been designed to be easy to operate and move on nylon covered bearing within a protected track. The manual handle is an easy push or pull to open and close the shade before the position is locked. The motor driven shade is powered by Somfy and operated by remote or can be setup for automation.
Does the wind affect the shade?
Although we have not set out to test our shades in a wind tunnel, we have operated them under real world conditions over an extended period covering all UK seasons. They have also been structurally reviewed for wind and snow loading across the South of England. The beams of the shade will move under severe wind loading when the shade fabric can be seen to buffet strongly. In these and similar conditions (under amber and red wind warnings) we would recommend retracting the shade fully to safeguard and extend the lifespan of your shade.
What is the time needed for manufacture and installation?
We plan all customer projects to avoid any scheduling issues or double booking and our aim is to deliver on our promised date. A standard shade and pergola frame will take 4-6 weeks to manufacture and installed in 1-2 days. Our Hampshire Shade has a lead time of 3-4 weeks to installation and takes 1 day.
All aluminium products are bespoke and take 4-8 weeks to manufacture dependent on design and complexity.
What maintenance is required?
Our shades are designed to be maintenance free, all components are designed for outdoor use and all moving parts are self-lubricating.
Regular inspection of the shade fabric and the removal of any natural or fallen debris will help maintain a constant fabric colour.
Periodically, the fabric can be cleaned by spraying with a specialist cleaner following the care instructions or warm water with a mild soap, taking care not to let it dry, then rinse thoroughly. Do not use detergents and / or solvents.
Over time, a pergola left in its natural finish will silver over time for a beautiful look, and if we have applied a finish to the pergola frame it will require a fresh coat of oil or wood stain to maintain its look and feel – these products may need to be applied more often if it is in a more exposed position, the same as any timber product designed for outdoors.
Can I leave my Hampshire Shade in place all year?
The shade should is designed to be left in place all year round and is designed to withstand a small build up of snow. We have pergola covers made to match your pergola to keep it spring ready if you don’t plan to use your shade during the winter. You can be confident that under normal weather conditions it will still perform and operate to keep you and your furniture dry. You may need to clear away debris more often, especially during autumn, and must remove any heavy snow build up during the winter.
Do you offer aluminium pergolas and shades?
We offer a full range of pergolas, awnings, external louvred panels and external window blinds in a full range of RAL colours. You can find out a little more in our blog Shading is not just for Summer
Do I need planning approval for a pergola?
Do I need planning approval for a pergola?
In most cases, under permitted development rights you don’t need planning permission to add a pergola to your garden unless your house is a listed building or a conservation area.
As a general rule, from the 1st October 2008, pergola frames do not require planning permission as long as the following points are followed:
- No outdoor structure is allowed on the front of your house or on the side between a boundary wall.
- Within 2m of a boundary the maximum height cannot exceed 2.5m.
- Further than 2m from the boundary the maximum height can be up to 3m.
- No more than half of the existing land around the original house is already covered by garden buildings.
