05-05-2003, 01:08 PM
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Shadecloth alternatives in Australia?
In article ,
(Jason Paris) wrote:
Was hoping you'd share your opinions pros & cons of the different
roofing materials that you may have used yourselves.
Climbers over pergola: pretty, can use deciduous for winter sun/summer shade.
Level of maintenance depends on creeper (wisteria needs a light prune in
summer and strategic pruning when dormant in winter to direct its growth).
Fibreglass: long-lasting, but after a few years you get birds pulling the
fibres off for nesting material, and dirt catches in the crevices. May get
hot if there is insufficient cross-ventilation.
Oh, we're also considering a kinda "thatched" roof too - not
traditional thatching (as one would see on European cottage roofs),
but those thin, tall, brown twiggy branches that are occasionally
bunched together in Australia to create attractive fences (sorry, my
knowledge of plant names is woeful - I hope you know what I mean!!).
That would be tea-tree. It's traditionally used in bush-houses such as you
wish to create. No idea what the lifespan is.
Consider also the effect that a shaded pergola will have on teh light levels
in your house. Which way does the pergola face?
--
Chookie -- Sydney, Australia
(Replace "foulspambegone" with "optushome" to reply)
"...children should continue to be breastfed... for up to two years of age
or beyond." -- Innocenti Declaration, Florence, 1 August 1990
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