Ideas for shade

[dguzzi]

My garage door faces west so I get hot bright sun most of the day. I put a 20x20 apron in front so that's a bright reflector. I need ideas for shade so I can have the door open, without shade I just can't see due to the brightness. (either from sun or reflection)
I've been dealing with it for a long time, maybe a carport (they all seem quite ugly) maybe a canopy (same problem).

 

[Vintage Veloce]

Put a big tree to the South of the driveway.

A bit more seriously: Especially up north in Michigan much of your sun probably comes from the South as the sun arcs from East to West. Depending when you spend the most the time in the garage, like if it before 5PM, you may be best with a shade source positioned to the south. I tall hedge on the South side of your driveway, might make a big difference. Like a row of Italian Cypress.

 

[JRC3]

I have the exact problem. I picked up these 8'x8' Coolaroo shades at Sam's Club for about 80 bucks ea. Last year I had them pushed together, but now I put a gap in the middle to walk through.

I use a landscape stake to tether the middle ends. I found some short bungees at Menards but I used to just use a piece of rope on the stakes with a loop to slip on/off. This year I dedicated a cordless screwdriver for easy lowering/raising. One shade I leave down all the time and the other I roll down about 12" or so so I can park on that side, then if I'm doing something in the garage I can lower it all the way.

I used to use a 12" piece of heavy chain to act as a weight to tether the middle ends but staking them has worked way better. The screens also provide privacy. They have clipping brackets so you can take them down in the winter.

I used to have a perfect ash tree that a previous owner strtegicall planted that provided perfect screening...Used to.

 

[dguzzi]

Not bad, I was looking at farm animal shade tarps, similar, maybe less. Those roll up like a window shade?

Can't add a tree, no space. That would only solve a few hours....

 

[JRC3]

maybe less. Those roll up like a window shade?

They are patio roller shades, with cranks and not strings. I'd originally bought some at HD for like $40 but returned them before I installed them because I found these.

I think this is them. https://www.coolaroousa.com/product/wand-operated-90-uv-block

 

[K'ledgeBldr]

...or you could rearrange the garage and move the doors to the north side of the building.

 

[nadogail]

IMHO, you could rig a Shade Sail.

 

[johnnyradiant]

...or you could rearrange the garage and move the doors to the north side of the building.

and maybe raise the ceiling at the same time?

 

[LeeG]

I dug a hole on either side of my driveway and filled them with concrete with a hole in the middle for a post (1 1/2” round). I ordered a sunshade, and when I am working outside, I string it up between the garage and the posts.

View media item 86420
I live in AZ and have a south facing garage door. The shade makes a huge difference.

 

[aggie113]

While the large garage door faces North I did want to have fully shaded area for the front apron of the garage. As much to allow washing cars out in front out of the sun as for anything else. Easiest way to do it was a metal canopy that matches the siding. The tough part was spanning the width of the front of the garage without adding a support in the middle, because I knew someone would drive into it eventually.

 

[CraigStu]

If the door is on a gable end like JRC3's, how about extending the roof out about 20 ft. Match the existing roof exactly and support it w/ posts every 8 ft or whatever would be required. Essentially add a carport. It could be one w/ a door on the other side also w/ just a little more work.

 

[JRC3]

If the door is on a gable end like JRC3's, how about extending the roof out about 20 ft. Match the existing roof exactly and support it w/ posts every 8 ft or whatever would be required. Essentially add a carport. It could be one w/ a door on the other side also w/ just a little more work.

Funny because I've actually considered eventually doing something very similar, then I could park under it and leave the garage for other things. But it still doesn't change the angle of the sun for the several hours before sunset when the angle is low enough to shine directly in more parallel to the earth. What happens is, and I think it's the same for the OP, as the sun directs its light directly into the garage it also reflects off the white concrete amplifying it and making the light come from a wider direction. The worst time is late afternoon/early evening. I planted a row of 3 pear trees that will eventually help. Pear trees kinda **** and are no replacement for the ash, but they grow fast.

For now the $80 shades are the ticket. And I think if I had an extended car port I would still leave them in place.

 

[dguzzi]

I'm glad to see you guys have the same issues. I like the sail idea, I have access to some materials to do that. Car washing is one of the reasons I need the shade as well.
I have a similar problem on the east side, I have an idea to repurpose an RV awning to shade the back deck. (morning sun can be brutal as well)

 

[bdbecker]

These mesh tarps from HF seem to get good reviews. Hang it in the door during the afternoons, roll up or remove when not needed.

https://www.harborfreight.com/search?q=mesh tarp

 

[Git]

My garage faces East and one day I had sprayed some cabinet doors and placed them on a table in my garage to dry. It was a cloudy morning and I really didn't think about it - but when the sun came out, it actually caused some bubbles in the finish

So I started using a welding curtain that I got a really good deal on from Amazon Warehouse. ($28 for a Steiner 6' x 10'). It worked out quite well and then I got the idea that 6 x 10 was also the size of an American Flag, so I bought a flag, attached it over the yellow screen and that is what I have been using. It's self supporting and real easy to move around. It usually sits just inside the door, but can easily be moved further outside if I need to

 

[Mikhail]

Perhaps this might help, patio shade cover. Available in different sizes

 

[floridafarmer]

Take a look at these curtains we put up in the aisle opening of our barn - keeps the sun out but some breeze and flow from fans gets thru. They come it different sizes.
https://www.chicksaddlery.com/lives...MIvt7vrILJ6wIVFInICh3qcQ7sEAQYASABEgINhfD_BwE

 

[TractorJeff]

I have a South door and a West door. I open the South door about 2 to 4 feet to block the Sun but allow air flow coming in the West door. Its Mosquito season now so I leave both doors closed. I have all the screened windows open at night to allow cool air fill. In the morning I shut most of the windows.

 

[mcj115]

Thinking a little different here...could you just stain the concrete a darker less reflective color?

 

[Dutch01]

Shade port?

 

[Brandon_oma#692]

What about a garage door screen?

 

[4xdog]

I've planted trees, especially a Southern Magnolia (a broadleaf evergreen) around my place -- more for shade in a glassed-in side room than a garage, though. Temperatures in that room dropped more than 30°F with the shade. The magnolia replaced a paw-paw (another big-leafed tree) lost to a storm.

Friends in Europe have put up three mesh sails around their (very nice) house and they work great. I like that solution.

 

[dguzzi]

What about a garage door screen?

Here they have a short lifespan. Evidently the UV kills them quickly? Also I'd need to have the door space as I can only pull a car/truck in partway.

 

[SALIV8]

My garage faces East and one day I had sprayed some cabinet doors and placed them on a table in my garage to dry. It was a cloudy morning and I really didn't think about it - but when the sun came out, it actually caused some bubbles in the finish

So I started using a welding curtain that I got a really good deal on from Amazon Warehouse. ($28 for a Steiner 6' x 10'). It worked out quite well and then I got the idea that 6 x 10 was also the size of an American Flag, so I bought a flag, attached it over the yellow screen and that is what I have been using. It's self supporting and real easy to move around. It usually sits just inside the door, but can easily be moved further outside if I need to

That is awesome. Very nice.