How to Install Fabric on the Roof of a Pergola

A pergola is an outdoor structure with open sides supporting crossbeams arranged in a lattice shape. Used for an outdoor seating area, as a shade structure or to cover a walkway, pergolas typically have vines trained to grow over them. Installing fabric to cover the open spaces between the lattices makes the interior more usable in inclement weather, but the method shouldn't be used on pergolas designed to support vines. The vines ultimately damage the covering so it can't be removed without destroying the fabric. Install a removable fabric cover that can be cleaned and replaced as needed.

Sturdy canvas or weather-proof fabric
Shears
Iron
Sewing machine
1/2-inch grommets
Grommet tool
Drill
Heavy-duty 1/2-inch eye hooks
Drill
10-inch bungee cords with hooks on both ends

Instructions

- 1
  Measure the top of the pergola and add 3 inches to the measurement on each side for hems. Cut the fabric to fit.
- 2
  Hem all four sides of the fabric. Fold the fabric under 1/2 inch and iron the fold. Working in the same direction, fold the fabric again to make a 2 1/2-inch hem. Pin the hem in place and then sew it closed.
- 3
  Use a grommet tool to add grommets to all four corners. A grommet is a circular piece of metal that reinforces a hole in fabric. The grommet tool presses the metal into place. If your grommet tool doesn't automatically remove the fabric in the center, make an "X" in the fabric with a sharp knife and then cut out the fabric.
- 4
  Install eye hooks on the corners of the pergola, about 2 inches below the top. Drill pilot holes and then screw the hooks in place with the open part of the hook facing the ground.
- 5
  Lay the fabric over the top of the pergola and slide the hook on one end of a bungee cord through the hole in the corner of the fabric. Hook the other end of the bungee cord through the matching hook eye.

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