Simple, cheap, shade structure

manowar · Post by **manowar** » Sat Feb 21, 2004 11:51 pm

Here's a good description of what I did last year for my shade structure. It provided good shade for 4 people, only cost me about $60, took up less than 4 cubic feet broken down (4.5' x .7' x 1'), and best of all stood up to the wind all week long. Its a tarp with poles set up, but I encorporated a few tricks so maybe it'll give someone a good idea or two.

The top was a 12' x 20' tarp stretched over an 'X' made from two 18' pieces of PVC pipe, to keep it from sagging. To allow it to be packed inside my car I cut the PVC into 4.5' segments and then used connectors to reassemble them. In the center and at each of the corners I used T joint connectors so the poles could be fitted into the third hole.
The five poles were 1" wood dowels, which I felt were stronger than the cheapy aluminum things I've seen. Each pole was made from two 4' dowels from Home Despot or some such place. I used left over PVC pipe to make 1' sleeves to join them. To keep the sleeves from sliding down, I drilled small holes through them and the dowels and then fed standard 18 gage coper wire through, although I seriously considered just duct taping them in place. It was then supported by ropes and rebar.
I think what really made it strong though were the anchors I used on the bottom of each pole. I cut 2' sections of PVC and then made a diagnal cut about two inches from one end. This left the end pointed like a stake. I was then able to pound these stakes into the ground about a foot and then put the poles in them so they couldn't slide around. I duct taped them inplace to prevent the wind from lifting them out. This worked so well that near the end of the week when the wind gusted enough to break one of the support ropes, the sturcture still stayed up until I got back to camp and fixed it.
Cost break down:
(1) 20x12 tarp $12
(10) 4'x1" dowels $4 each
(3) 20' x 1.25" PVC $2 each
(3) 8'x12' tarps $2 each (used these as walls to add more shade)
(10) T joint PVC connectors $3
Misc. equipment included rope, rebar stakes, duct tape, and I-bolts in the ends of 4 poles to attach the ropes to.

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Tue Feb 24, 2004 12:16 pm

Do you have problems with the PVC groundstakes chipping/breaking when you pound on them? I usually use big conduit, with a piece of board over the top to prevent "mushrooming". PVC always breaks on me, but that could be 'cuz I'm mean to it.

Badger · Post by **Badger** » Tue Feb 24, 2004 12:56 pm

This is all new.

I have never heard of anyone attempting to use PVC as a posting stake.

It just seems so...counterintuitive.

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Tue Feb 24, 2004 1:08 pm

Yeah, I use it OVER stuff to make bendy supports- but never UNDER....hmmm.....

manowar · Post by **manowar** » Tue Feb 24, 2004 11:41 pm

I wrapped the top with a few rounds of duct tape to keep it from splitting and then was careful when pounding them in. I only needed them to sink in 12" -14" or so. I use PVC since it's hollow and the poles can then fit down in them.

III · Post by **III** » Wed Feb 25, 2004 9:48 am

note that the hardness of the playa can cary markedly not only from year to year, but location to location. in '99, on the street sign crew, it would takes us about 4-5 good whacks with a stake driver to get a tstake to a decent depth on the east side of the city, and about 25-30 on the west side. it was like styrofoam to concrete.

the plural of anecdtoe is not data. i'm glad the pvc stakes worked for you, but be prepared to have some backup when it does go...

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Thu Feb 26, 2004 12:02 am

I have, in fact, used scrap PVC pipe as layout stakes in soft ground.

I'd never use them on the playa, though.

technopatra · Post by **technopatra** » Thu Feb 26, 2004 8:24 am

Wow, points for thinking pvc outside the box, and the design does sound so simple, um, I could do it. I'm stoked this worked for you last year.

My only concern is that the weather last year was quite mild compared to some previous years. If a piece broke under such relatively low-key wind, it might behoove you (and save you from chasing your home down the playa) to have a plan b.

The weather last year and in 2002 was so wonderful, that it can be easy to forget just how BAD it can get. Truth is, we can get pounded, badly, at any moment. Your structure, in a perfect world, should be able to take up to 75 mph winds and some really hard rain - we didn't have anything near that last year.

TOTALLY don't mean to denigrate the work you did, Manowar - this is just concern for your well-being talking.

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Thu Feb 26, 2004 12:42 pm

I noticed that even though it seemed relatively mild last year, at times the winds were not intense but STEADY to the extent that tarps sort of vibrated loose, cords loosened, etc., almost like the army-marching-over-the-bridge vibration phenomenon. Almost worse than a sudden gust, since it happens subtly without calling attention to itself.....

III · Post by **III** » Thu Feb 26, 2004 2:41 pm

>> it can be easy to forget just how BAD it can get

i wasn't there for the big storm in 95(4?6?), but i've been out there a lot during non event times, and my experience has been that the weather in *all* of the events i've been to has not been as bad as it could have been (and is, at other times of the year).

i'm still waiting for something like the recent post event whiteouts, or the post '98 rainstorm (pictures, bob?) to hit during an event. i think it'd be funny.

precipitate · Post by **precipitate** » Thu Feb 26, 2004 5:34 pm

The constant stress on a structure is why you check it, every day, to see
what's getting loose or tight or hammered. Same thing with your tent.
Just give it a quick once-over to make sure you're not about to be that
doofus chasing her tent all the way to the trash fence (though if the
wind's that strong, you should be able to keep up with it on a bike with
minimal peddling. Wheeee!).

As for the whiteouts, I thought part of the cause of those was exodus.
You have a few thousand people tramping up dust for a week, but
keeping it more or less sheltered from the wind by tents, cars, tables,
structures, etc. and then they all pack up and drive out (further tramping
up dust) all at once. The next decent-force wind picks up all that loose
dust and flings it at you with glorious abandon.

Not that a huge whiteout, or a huge rainstorm, couldn't happen during the
event. I seem to remember getting poured on for a couple of hours
in '98 at the end of the week, and then walking around on mud platforms
until I found something to scrape the goop off.

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Fri Feb 27, 2004 6:14 am

Even though I was barking out puffs of playa for the following month, I kind of enjoyed the end-of-week whiteouts last year- Made a surreal context for the larger art pieces, and made for a cool vibe at Center Camp.

manowar · Post by **manowar** » Fri Feb 27, 2004 11:39 pm

The only thing that broke on it was one of the guy wires. As I was setting it up, I was digging through my stuff looking for the rope I'd brought and a camp mate pulled out this nylon cord and said I could use it instead. I had doubts about it holding (well founded doubts as it turned out) but let him talk me into it. The rest of the structure was stong enough that it held no problem even when that cord broke. At that point I just got out the rope I'd brough and replaced all the lines and had no more problems. Infact the entire structure is sitting in my garage waiting to hit the playa again in a few months.
The point I'm trying to make with this post is that structures don't have to be expensive or elaberate. They do as stated earlier have to be able to hold against 50+ mph wind gusts I've been very impressed with the domes and other structures I saw out on the playa and hope to try a few of those ideas myself. But for a first timer or small group they can be a little intimidating. If that's your situation, don't let the shelter issue psyc you out. Put a little thought into it. Try a few things out at home, and then haul it out to the playa and have fun.

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Mon Mar 01, 2004 6:25 am

Indeed. It's an extra tasty victory when your homemade home-away-from-home is cheap, scavenged or salvaged. For anyone interested in domes but worried about the $$$, know that my first 2V 19-footer cost a total of one hundred bucks, including tarps.

techmonkey · Post by **techmonkey** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 12:24 pm

Hey Manowar,

I have a few questions, and maybe you can help with it. I think I want to build a rectangular shade structure with a fabric cover on top, and then an RV on one side and box truck on the other side for a bit of wind break. It sounds like it might be a little similar to your's.

How did you attach the verticle stakes to the PVC/fabric roof?
Do you think that PVC is strong enough for the vertical suport, or should I go with wood like you did?

Do I need ropes? What purpose would they serve? Guy wires?

Any help would be appreciated. I want to get this thing designed and built soon so that I can start work on other BM things.

Thanks,
-Skotch

dragonfly Jafe · Post by **dragonfly Jafe** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 12:47 pm

I used rebar for my connection to the ground - pound it in 1 foot or so, then slide the PVC over the rebar. Duct-tape to secure so the PVC does not lift off. No rebar or lines to trip over. The only hard part is getting the rebar out when breaking camp, but a little prybar does wonders there. Never had a problem yet. regards, Jafe

Desi Arnaz · Post by **Desi Arnaz** » Tue Jun 15, 2004 4:06 pm

I came across this ag supply company, seems to have some kinda cool stuff that could work as shade structures. www.farmtek.com Thieir "Sunblocker" shade frames look interesting.

manowar · Post by **manowar** » Tue Jun 15, 2004 11:21 pm

techmonkey wrote:Hey Manowar,

I have a few questions, and maybe you can help with it. I think I want to build a rectangular shade structure with a fabric cover on top, and then an RV on one side and box truck on the other side for a bit of wind break. It sounds like it might be a little similar to your's.

How did you attach the verticle stakes to the PVC/fabric roof?
Do you think that PVC is strong enough for the vertical suport, or should I go with wood like you did?

The vertical poles fit into the center hole on PVC 'T' joints, the roof poles ran through the other two holes. The roof material, tarps in my case, were tied to the roof poles at the corners. PVC might work depending on how big a diameter you use and how high you want it. 1 1/2" or so would probably work. Try standing it up and imagine it's supporting you roof in a strong wind. It doesn't have to take the full brunt (see below) but if the PVC won't stand up straight by itself you probably need something a little stiffer, not totally stiff though, better to bend a little than snap in two. (Yes I'm sure there's a dozen dirty jokes/sexual inuendoes in there just screaming to get out, but it's late so I'll leave that as an exercise to the next poster).

techmonkey wrote: Do I need ropes? What purpose would they serve? Guy wires?

You'll definately need ropes or guy wires of some type on the corners. They're what take most of the sheer force created by the wind and keep your poles from blowing over.

techmonkey wrote: Any help would be appreciated. I want to get this thing designed and built soon so that I can start work on other BM things.

Thanks,
-Skotch

Let me know if you've got any other questions. I'm not a big expert on shelters but will help as I can.

madmatt · Post by **madmatt** » Wed Jun 16, 2004 1:53 pm

We bought our canopy last year from Canopy Masters in San Diego. They were really cool, shipped for free in 1.5 days and had AMAZING deals on canopies. For example, the 20'x20' one we got is $199, and you have to buy about $60 worth of steel conduit. Their a snap to assemble, and because they don't have walls, are almost impervious to wind, and stay ultra cool because the tarp blocks all sun.

http://www.canopymasters.com/canopy_kits.htm

techmonkey · Post by **techmonkey** » Thu Jun 24, 2004 3:40 pm

Hey guys, thanks for the responses. I already have a great tarp that my friend used last year (which he is loaning me) - it is 36ft x 36ft, and has two layers, a thin reflective silver layer on top, tied to a stronger darker layer on bottom. It has enough holes to let little dim dots of sunlight in, and it doesn't completey block the wind. The tarp itself performed well last year, but the wind kept knocking the poles over, so I want a really strong frame this year.

I am considering using rigid steel conduit (although my other friend insists the ropes and wooden poles idea could work if it was done better than last year), and I went to H. Depot this morning to check out the prices. This conduit came in 10ft lenghts, which I guess is a good height, but I better bring a ladder to the playa to set it up.

Any suggestions on where to buy the cheapest conduit in the bay area? If no one knows, I probably end up at the Hell Depot.

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Thu Jun 24, 2004 7:28 pm

Your name is "techmonkey".

I don't understand why you have questions.

dman · Post by **dman** » Thu Jun 24, 2004 11:26 pm

$6.87 at Home Despot for 3/4" EMT (thinwall) and rising rapidly from there for anything larger means other materials become more economical; Doug Fir 2x4's, for example. Burnable at the event, should you choose and in some ways easier to work with than EMT.

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Fri Jun 25, 2004 6:41 am

Elsewhere we had discussed salvage as a way to bring down the gruesome costs associated with domebuilding nowadays. Check yer friendly neighborhood Son of Sanford. Also check construction sites, when open- I built the top two domes of my Snowman structure from dumpster goodies! A good dome is an investment in future enjoyment, even if you have to pay disgusting prices for the conduit, but I'll admit there IS a limit.

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Fri Jun 25, 2004 10:27 am

Try cheese.

jbelson · Post by **jbelson** » Fri Jun 25, 2004 10:35 am

This seems like a great deal for a large shade area that would still allow wind to pass thru so it wouldn't take off so easilly on you.

https://www.farmtekcatalog.com/lg_displ ... number=115

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Fri Jun 25, 2004 12:41 pm

I'd strap a shade house like that to a truck and/or allow room for staking guylines.

madmatt · Post by **madmatt** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 4:04 pm

jbelson wrote:This seems like a great deal for a large shade area that would still allow wind to pass thru so it wouldn't take off so easilly on you.

Except for a couple things: the reason it's listed on the Farm Tek catalog, is it lets in enough sun for plants to grow, in fact you can see its semi transparent on the photo. Solid tarps let no sun through at all, and the temp difference in the pure shadow is dramatic. The sides may be permeable, but will still catch the wind like a sail.

A carport-type canopy has the same structure but solid tarp covering. If you hang sheets vertically along the sides, the wind can still blow through, it just lifts the sheet slightly. Ours was very very cool.

Simple, cheap, shade structure

Simple, cheap, shade structure

Shade stuctures

rigid conduit