Might one of you distinguished handyperson types please advise

[channys_mum]

The enclosure that I have for my cats was mostly built by prior tenant.

He used that white laserlite carp. Who in their right mind does that anyway. It is like an oven out there.

The question:

Would it be better to run shadecloth over the top or attach it underneath. 

[go-tazz]

The other way would be to have it as a canopy above the laser light,(eg: a foot or so above it).

That will stop some of the heat and it will still have air flow between it.

If you build it correctly with cross over spars it should be able to resist the wind,

Don't select a low level sun protection shadecloth as it would be ineffective,(it does need to let some light

through but not to much).

[polksaladallie]

You can get different grades of shadecloth, at different prices of course.  I once lived in a unit which had an area and cover exactly like your pic, and it had heavy duty shadecloth stapled to the beams.  It was not hot at all.

[joz*garage]

shadecloth is not going to make any difference what so ever, would still be like an oven in there

plasic roof sheeting is a cheap choice to use,  ive wouldve gone for tin, but it will still be hot

i think if you are not renting, i'd go for a ceiling that's insulated (six inch thick, i forget the name), even then it will be hottish in the summer months, but it won't be as bad

[katydidthat]

Channy, is there any ventilation in the area? Like fly screens?

[channys_mum]

Post 6 katy 

I am renting. The owners want to tear the whole thing down. They can't because it was there when I took the place. It was actually the decider. 

I am thinking of taking the shadecloth off the door at the end of the enclosure and replacing it with mesh. Then there will be an east/west airflow.

I can't afford to get too flash with what I am doing, as I am no longer working.

[channys_mum]

I have a mega tarp. What if I try that over the top. Just might do it. 

With the fowl pen, you can see it in the pic, green square thing, I used poles and mesh then put some off cut colour bond on top and a big tarp over it, I would rather sit in there than the cat enclosure on a hot day.

[channys_mum]

aaaaaaaaaaaaah light bulb moment.

I have been wondering why last year wasn't so bad. There is an estate going in at the back, and all the lovely big shade trees have been reefed out

[amber-eyed-girl]

A tarp will provide shade as an interim measure while you think it over some more.

when the days were reaching mid 40s here a couple of summers ago, I sent hubby down to Mitre 10 to get cheap tarps to string up along the back veranda, where the windows had no awnings. He said it wouldn't do anything. It did.

he told the guy who was showing him the tarps what he wanted it for. That guy bought six for his own house 🙂

[niceandbright]

Yay !   I never thought of this before !    Ebay is now not only an international online auction house but a forum for people's everyday life situations,  a bit like - oh,what..social media?  There aren't enough of those.   faceobok twitter  etc.

Let's all use Ebay's discussion forum for not ebay topics,   good idea !  Clog up their space a bit more.

It's a change from disgruntled and confused buyers or sellers having a moan about ebay,  thanks !  Best wishes, all.

Hope those puddytats are comfy this approaching hot summer.   Friends of ours had a similar set-up of what this looks like, they put potted ferns out there and kept misting them,   made a cooler atmosphere for their two cats.

[amber-eyed-girl]

This is in the Community Spirit section 🙂

browse and enjoy...I have.