Shade canopy

artyguy · Post by **artyguy** » Tue Aug 10, 2004 5:00 pm

Hey there, I'm in the process of figuring out how to do a shade canopy. Not the dome type. I've checked the Burning Man site for instructions and only came on Buckminister's dome. I just got two 8 x 10 tarps that is gray silver on one side and black on the other. It comes with reinforced side holes. I understand that I need to get PVC. So I'm thinking that I can put down 20 inch rebars into the Playa. Then stake over my 4 PVC poles for supporting the tarps. Hang rope from plole to pole. Drill holes in the PVC for my "clothes line to hold the tarp. Then use rope to then tie to PVC to the Playa. Drape and tie the tarps onto the "clothes line".

Does this make sense? Before I go out and buy this stuff and build it in the park... thought I would share this and find out others thoughts. My tent is 9 x9 and about 4.5 high. Any suggestions?

sgrunspa · Post by **sgrunspa** » Tue Aug 10, 2004 10:27 pm

so if i understand this, you want 4 pvc posts, two tarps somehow joined, and then you will secure the posts into the playa?

sounds fine. you will need guy wires/lines to hold the posts up, at least two per post, maybe three. i am not clear on how you plan to attach the tarps to the clothes line, but its not super difficult. in fact, if you have lines connecting the 4 posts, you can tension to whole thing without the tarp on, so that the tarp can be "loose fitting". this has the advantage that in winds the tarp can flop around a little and it won't transfer all the strain to your structure; like a luffing sail.

artyguy · Post by **artyguy** » Wed Aug 11, 2004 8:08 am

What I thought would work would be to tie rope from top one PVC pole to the next. Like a clothes line. Then tie my Tarp over the "clothes line". One for the roof and one for the side facing the morning sun. Not sure how to secure the PVC poles with guide lines. Guess I will drill holes on each pole maybe two or three holes. Then tie guide lines to the poles and stake them. Does that sound cool? Any suggestions? Would it be better if I got additonal PVC and tied them at the top of each side... then hang the tarp on them? Any suggestions out there?

Desi Arnaz · Post by **Desi Arnaz** » Wed Aug 11, 2004 9:20 am

I did something like that in 99 and 2000. It held up fine in 99 but then the winds of 2000 shredded it in about 15 minutes. From there forward I've build my canopy using iron pipe instead of PVC. If you want to go with PVC I'd say go with something bigger than 1". When designing the thing just keep in mind that it may get hit by 70mph winds - you have to make it sturdy enough to handle that. To me the side tarp looks to be the biggest problem, it will catch the wind like a sail. Maybe try shade cloth rather than a tarp, it will let the wind through.

dragonfly Jafe · Post by **dragonfly Jafe** » Wed Aug 11, 2004 9:58 am

You might try using your PVC as hoops instead of making a square building. Stick rebar in ground, bend PVC in hemisphere, secure PVC to rebar somehow (duct tape?). Repeat every 3-4' making a hemispere shaped structure as long as you want. Then run lateral PVC pipes that connect the "ribs". Cover with tarps (silver side out). This will give somewhat with the wind and I find it one of the more stable "cheapo" structures out there. Good luck! And be sure to assemble it first at home to make sure it works for you.

sgrunspa · Post by **sgrunspa** » Wed Aug 11, 2004 6:55 pm

artyguy wrote:What I thought would work would be to tie rope from top one PVC pole to the next. Like a clothes line. Then tie my Tarp over the "clothes line". One for the roof and one for the side facing the morning sun.

hmm. the side panel is going to take a beating in the wind. will you leave it up during the day? you could cut holes in it to pass some wind, but it will still need to be stout.

artyguy wrote: Not sure how to secure the PVC poles with guide lines. Guess I will drill holes on each pole maybe two or three holes. Then tie guide lines to the poles and stake them. Does that sound cool? Any suggestions?

yeah, drill one hole through the pvc at least 1.5 inches from the end. then run 1/4 or 3/8 in nylon cord through the holes and tie a loop. then connect more cord to the loop and stake it to the ground. there are many other ways, but basiically you need to get two lines, sepreated by about 45-60 degrees staked down.I assume you are using PVC of 1.5 inch diameter? anything less will flex.

i think what dragon is talking about are people using 3/4 pvc and literally bending it in an arc to make the structure. that's cool too it just uses more PVC,

sgrunspa · Post by **sgrunspa** » Wed Aug 11, 2004 6:56 pm

artyguy wrote:What I thought would work would be to tie rope from top one PVC pole to the next. Like a clothes line. Then tie my Tarp over the "clothes line". One for the roof and one for the side facing the morning sun.

hmm. the side panel is going to take a beating in the wind. will you leave it up during the day? you could cut holes in it to pass some wind, but it will still need to be stout.

artyguy wrote: Not sure how to secure the PVC poles with guide lines. Guess I will drill holes on each pole maybe two or three holes. Then tie guide lines to the poles and stake them. Does that sound cool? Any suggestions?

yeah, drill one hole through the pvc at least 1.5 inches from the end. then run 1/4 or 3/8 in nylon cord through the holes and tie a loop. then connect more cord to the loop and stake it to the ground. there are many other ways, but basiically you need to get two lines, sepreated by about 45-60 degrees staked down.I assume you are using PVC of 1.5 inch diameter? anything less will flex.

i think what dragon is talking about are people using 3/4 pvc and literally bending it in an arc to make the structure. that's cool too it just uses more PVC,

artyguy · Post by **artyguy** » Wed Aug 11, 2004 7:59 pm

"but basically you need to get two lines, sepreated by about 45-60 degrees staked down."

Sorry, I'm pretty dumb when it comes to this sort of stuff. I'm actually amazing my friends with what I'm doing for this event!

But don't understand 45 - 60 degrees???

Do you mean that I drill my holes about 10 inches apart and then the line goes from there to the ground. And the second line goes to the one above and the line then goes to the ground. Is this what you mean by the degree part?

The hoop idea sounds cool... but not sure how many hopes would need to cover a 9 x 9 square tent.

Sounds like my side tarp might be more problems then it's worth. Oh boy!!

sgrunspa · Post by **sgrunspa** » Wed Aug 11, 2004 10:50 pm

no problem. its really simple, its more complicated in words than a simple picture. first if you are thinking of making a pvc dome, which if you like building stuff you should consider, here's the basic design i am going for

http://www.alternativeengineering.com/D ... mePVC.html

I spent $75 on 35 pieces of 3/4 pvc and 3 pieces of 1/2 emt (all 10ft). my only caution is you have to make 115 cuts of emt and pvc and drill 3x as many holes. it is a lot of work for a hacksaw and hand drill. if you have access to a drill press, or horizontal band saw, or 3 friends it goes a lot quicker. there are other designs, but in pvc they are all substantially similar. oh and parachutes fit perfectly over them.

back to guy lines. ok imagine you wanted to stand one pole straight up in the air. you can't dig a hole so you attach 4 lines the pole, spread them out evenly and stake them down. each line would make a triangle with the pole and the ground. if you are looking down the lines would be at 12, 3,6,and 9 o clock. each of these lines would be 90 degrees seperation. like a 4 slice pizza pie, ah you get the picture.

now take away two of the lines, you are left with a line at 12 and 3 o'clock and you replace the other lines with ones connecting to two other poles. and so on. if you pm me your email address I can send you a picutre I drew, when I thought I could attach images to the post.

artyguy · Post by **artyguy** » Thu Aug 12, 2004 6:27 pm

Hi, thanks so much for your help! Sure... if you can send me a drawing of this structure....(shade canopy) that would be great. I'm still having trouble following the placement for the lines to the pole. Really appreciate your efforts... thanks again!!!! Will be stearing clear of the more complicated approch. If I'm going to do this... it has to be idiot proof...Yikes!

[email protected]

artyguy · Post by **artyguy** » Thu Aug 12, 2004 6:35 pm

Hi, thanks so much for your help! Sure... if you can send me a drawing of this structure....(shade canopy) that would be great. I'm still having trouble following the placement for the lines to the pole. Really appreciate your efforts... thanks again!!!! Will be stearing clear of the more complicated approch. If I'm going to do this... it has to be idiot proof...Yikes!

[email protected]

artyguy · Post by **artyguy** » Thu Aug 12, 2004 6:36 pm

Hi, thanks so much for your help! Sure... if you can send me a drawing of this structure....(shade canopy) that would be great. I'm still having trouble following the placement for the lines to the pole. Really appreciate your efforts... thanks again!!!! Will be stearing clear of the more complicated approch. If I'm going to do this... it has to be idiot proof...Yikes!

[email protected]

Shade canopy

Shade canopy

Shade structure

Re: Shade structure

Re: Shade structure

Thanks... but what do you mean by

Yes! Please send me a sketch of the shade canopy!

Yes! Please send me a sketch of the shade canopy!

Yes! Please send me a sketch of the shade canopy!