Hi
I have an open terrace. It is only 5.5 square meters big. My wife cannot take the sun beating on her head there. I want to build her some kind of roof. We are renting here for only one more year, so I don't want to spend a lot of money on it. I thought of putting four flower pots filled with earth on all corners of the porch, sticking wooden poles in them, and then finding a way to attach a vinyl (or other waterproof) cloth above the poles as a roof. If you can just please give me some ideas of the type of pieces I would need to attach the vinyl to the poles, I would be very grateful. Thank you

Since you are renting I don't think anything permanent is a good idea so the flower pot idea is going along the right direction. Companies like Home (http://www.canopycenter.com/?Source=googleaw&kwid=folding%20canopy&tid=Exact&gclid=CI_U-arG57ICFegWMgod3iYAXw) have many options that can be folded up and carted off when you move.

Go to Walmart and buy a tent on 4 poles.
4 poles in pots won't hold straight enough in even a slight wind. You either need to set them pretty far into the earth, or use tent stakes, or those weighted round bases used under patio umbrellas.

Thanks very much. You have totally solved my problem. I am greatly appreciative.

Many stores carry the pop up style shade shelter. Measure 8X 8 and 10 X 10 or larger. Right now they are seasonal closeouts at Walmart and HD.

Thanks for the input. The terrace is only 6 feet by 10 feet, though, so the pop-up style is too large. I am going to go with a patio umbrella, even though I won't be able to open it fully, so it may look ridiculous..

The websites people here gave me were great, but upon careful inspection I see they do not have a canopy small enough for my needs. (And I cannot use tent stakes because the terrace floor is made of concrete.)

How about a Sombrero and SPF 50? Just kidding. Check some of the children's toy stores, they sometimes have smaller items.

(I remeasured the area. It comes to 5 feet by 11 feet.)

Avatar, thanks for your idea. It is very helpful. I will look around.

I still don't understand why I can't just do my first idea - poles stuck in deep earth. I just need something that will attach to all four poles and form a roof frame, that I can put vinyl around.

At this point I give up.

Since the sun is usually to the side of where my wife sits, I just want to know how to put up a shade behind her, using two poles stuck in earth to hold it up.
Thank you

Now you pose a different scenario. First it was a roof, but now a side is OK? In that case, you can stretch a piece of vinyl or cloth between 2 poles.. That should work as long as it isn't too heavy.

Thanks very much. This is indeed what I will do. (I will attach the poles to the metal guard rail on the terrace.)

I appreciate all of your help.

Poles in a pot of dirt, even packed, will work until the wind blows.

I was at WalMart yesterday and they had a grill canopy, measured about 5X7, about 6ft. High. Was a closeout in the garden section for $69

What a great idea you've given me. I never would have thought of that. Thanks very much.

(Sorry for the delay in responding)