The last time we put an inexpensive sun shade up on our patio, we were pleased with the shelter it gave our front door and it looked respectable enough until one day when we were away on a trip the wind kicked up and tore the poor thing to shreds.
So this summer we opted for a slightly more substantial model, Home Depot's Malibu, which remarkably was an exact color match for our paint. When the sun hits it in the afternoon, it takes on a nice reddish glow, but the actual color is warm gray, just like the walls of our building.
This roll-up has more space between the slats than our last one, so in combination with the extra weight, that keeps it from flailing about with every gust of wind.
Of course we will take it down for indoor storage the next time we go away!
The hardest part of installation was getting the long cords untangled. Putting it up was easy, although the existing hooks which fit the last shade perfectly were not spaced right for this one. Hubby, who handed me tools and steadied the ladder, had long ago taught me a trick for making the L-hooks go more easily into the wall, so after pounding a nail part way in to make a hole to get the screw started, I put a drop of dish detergent on the screw end of the hook and once it was seated, turned it with a screwdriver.
We are almost glad the storm knocked our other one down, as this is much nicer.
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