Shading for a patio roof
Four under-roof systems side by side
Heat builds up under a glass roof even though the roof itself already casts shade. We make four under-roof systems that solve exactly that: the retractable patio shade, the retractable pergola canopy, the rope tension sun sail, the custom folding sun sail. This page puts them next to each other with their real technical limits, so you know before ordering which one fits your structure.
What we make for patio roofs
Every patio roof shade we build is an under-roof awning: it hangs below or between the rafters, sliding back by hand. What separates the four is how the cloth is carried, which in turn decides panel width, installation effort, the look you get.
Patio roof shading: the comparison table
Fifteen criteria, four systems, every figure taken from our own production. On a phone the table scrolls sideways.
| Criterion | Patio shade | Pergola canopy | Rope tension sail | Folding sun sail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Line | Premium | Comfort | Standard | Basic |
| System | track guided, hook-and-loop profile | glides on cable, panels reinforced with alu tube | running hooks between cables | push-in hooks between cables |
| Cloth carried by | hook-and-loop profile plus loop tape, spaced approx. 40 cm (16 in) | running on cables above, only 0.5 cm (0.2 in) clear of the rafter | running hooks, spaced 20 cm (8 in) taut or 30 cm (12 in) draped | push-in hooks |
| Mounting options | between or below the rafters on powder-coated alu profiles | facade, angle bracket, side tensioner | facade, angle bracket, side tensioner | facade, angle bracket, side tensioner |
| Max. panel width | 1.50 m / 4 ft 11 in | 3.20 m / 10 ft 6 in | 1.50 m / 4 ft 11 in | 1.50 m / 4 ft 11 in |
| Max. projection | 6.00 m / 19 ft 8 in | 7.00 m / 23 ft | 7.00 m / 23 ft | 7.00 m / 23 ft |
| Extra width available | no | yes | no | no |
| Installation effort | low | high | medium | low |
| Fabric choice | polyester | Dralon, Olefin, Polysun, Agora | acrylic | polyester |
| Colour range | over 40 colours | over 40 colours | over 40 colours | 3 colours |
| Operation | by hand, operating rod | by hand, operating rod | by hand, operating rod | by hand, oak operating rod |
| Water repellency | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Cleaning | wipe clean, machine wash at 30 C / 86 F | wipe clean, machine wash at 30 C / 86 F | wipe clean, machine wash at 30 C / 86 F | wipe clean, machine wash at 30 C / 86 F |
| Certification | OEKO-TEX, Made in Germany | OEKO-TEX, Made in Germany | OEKO-TEX, Made in Germany | OEKO-TEX, Made in Germany |
| Suits | terrace, pergola, conservatory, balcony, gazebo | terrace, pergola, conservatory, balcony, gazebo | terrace, pergola, conservatory, balcony, gazebo | terrace, pergola, conservatory, balcony, gazebo |
Shading for patio roof: which system suits you
That single figure narrows the field faster than anything else. Three of the four systems make panels up to 1.50 m (4 ft 11 in) wide. If the clear span between two of your rafters exceeds that, only the pergola canopy remains, with its extra width up to 3.20 m (10 ft 6 in). Where the span is wider still with no intermediate fixing point, a side mount can solve it. Ask us before you order.
Technically we build the pergola canopy up to 3.20 m (10 ft 6 in) per panel. Past roughly 3.00 m (9 ft 10 in) we stop recommending it: the wider a single panel, the more of its own weight hangs between the cables, which shows in the drape as well as in how hard it pulls. Two narrower panels almost always look better than one very wide one.
Pushed back, a pergola canopy needs roughly 30 to 35 cm (12 to 14 in) of depth for the folded cloth. On a 7.00 m (23 ft) projection that leaves a clear 6.65 m (21 ft 10 in) once retracted. No data sheet carries that number, yet it is exactly the one that causes disappointment later.
The patio shade as well as the folding sun sail go up in an afternoon. The pergola canopy is the most demanding of the four, because the cables have to be tensioned correctly with the glides positioned precisely. In return it runs the most smoothly afterwards. Every system ships with its complete mounting kit, so nothing has to be bought separately.
The fabric decides how long the colour lasts
The mechanics of all four systems will outlive you. What ages is the cloth, through UV radiation rather than wear. On the pergola canopy you therefore choose between four fabrics that differ in precisely that respect.
Agora: five-year colour guarantee
Our premium acrylic, solution dyed, with the best colour retention in the range. In the pergola canopy configurator it carries a ten percent surcharge. Where the installation faces south, sitting in full sun all day, this is the choice that pays for itself. Why the dyeing method matters so much is explained under solution dyed.
Polysun: strong value for money
Solution-dyed polyester with a two-year colour guarantee. Considerably cheaper than acrylic while still holding a good lightfastness rating. For most patios this is the sensible middle.
Olefin: robust, with one caveat
Two-year guarantee, good lightfastness, inexpensive. The material is heavier as well as denser than the other three. On large canopy areas we do not recommend it, since mounting the glides onto the alu tube takes more work. On small to medium installations nothing speaks against it.
Dralon: the classic, weakest on lightfastness
Proven acrylic, wide colour range, no separate colour guarantee. Of the four it holds colour least well. For shaded positions or a north aspect that is perfectly adequate. How the rating itself works is covered under lightfastness, the full range under fabrics.
The four measurements that actually decide the fit
Each system derives its own production dimension from what you enter. Knowing which measurement is being asked for is what gets you a piece that fits.
For the pergola canopy, the clear span
What we need is the free distance between the two mounting points, which normally means between the rafters. From that entry we cut the aluminium tube 10 mm (0.4 in) shorter, leaving 5 mm (0.2 in) of play on each side. Plastic caps on the tube ends keep anything from scratching your structure.
For the rope tension sail, measure in three places
Rafters are rarely truly parallel. Take the span at three or four points, then give us the **largest** value. On the length, production deducts 10 cm (4 in) for the cable tensioners. Watch out for the running-hook variant: there your figure counts as the finished size **without** that deduction. Mixing up those two rules is the most common ordering mistake on this system.
For the patio shade, settle the mounting type first
Below the rafters, the cloth matches the installation width with 15 mm (0.6 in) of tolerance built in. Between the rafters it comes out 10 mm (0.4 in) narrower. Changing your mind about the mounting type later changes the dimension with it.
The folding sun sail has its own instructions
The number of guide cables is stepped by width, while the look you pick changes the cloth allowance: taut is cut to size, draped adds ten percent to the length. Step by step it is set out in our measurement instructions.
What these four systems do not do
All four cloths repel water, none of them is waterproof. They sit under a solid roof that keeps the rain off anyway. In strong wind or prolonged rain they belong pushed back. The difference between the two terms is set out under waterproof.
Every one of the four moves by hand with an operating rod. Past roughly 3.00 m (9 ft 10 in) of travel we suggest a pull-cord system on the pergola canopy, purely for comfort. If a motor is what you want, a cassette system under the roof is the better product, at a different price.
An under-roof system shades the area above your head. Against low morning or evening sun it does nothing. For that you need side protection as well, outdoor curtains or a side panel.
Our cloths are certified to OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100, as a rule in product class 4 for furnishing materials. What that does confirm, along with what it does not, is explained under OEKO-TEX.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
- Sun screens for patios, every system and accessory in one place
- What is lightfastness? The measure of colour stability in sunlight
- What is OEKO-TEX? The STANDARD 100 and its four product classes
- All measurement instructions for our shading systems
Last reviewed: 25.08.2026 · Reviewer: Germes-Team
Not sure which system fits your patio roof?
Tell us the rafter spacing, the projection you want, which way the patio faces. We will tell you which of the four fits, along with which one does not.