Hav you looked at the motorized awnings that might be the perfect choice

@patricia - I figured a motorized awning wouldn’t hold up to the wind.

Consider a pergola with seasonal shade cloth...roll it on across the top and attach for summer...remove for winter...to save money and labor spread the posts 8 feet apart and add wire strips about 1’ apart..to support the shade cloth

We also added rollup shadecloth curtains to the front edge ....for extra coverage in the morning when the sun is low

On really hot days

We added an inexpensive metal gazebo with a cloth roof, to our west facing deck. Before our trees got big, we also had a sun shade curtain down the side, which we needed to block the low setting sun. We remove the cloth top and side for the winter to let the sun shine into the house.

Plant some trees now. You'll be surprised how fast they add shade as well creating cooler air by transpiration. https://trees-energy-conservation.extension.org/how-do-trees-cool-the-air/

Depending on where the sun sets and hits your deck from the side, you'll need some trees that have branches down to the ground, as well as ones with a higher canopy. For example Tilia americana, the basswood or linden.

You can see the idea here..this has worked for us for 20 years..

You can see one sunshade hanging down partially....we installed them all across ....in the roll down shades lift of easily and we roll up the sunshade overhead...store them til the next spring

An awning or pergola would help immediately with overhead sun. But long term, you could probably benefit from some large shrubs or small/medium tree(s) to block the late afternoon western sun. Plant in strategic locations.

Tree varieties that drop their leaves in winter are good as they offer shade in summer ..and in winter they don’t block the sun...

However....Depending on how you use your outdoor spaces..shade that you can control is a plus...

Thanks to everyone for the ideas and input. I’m a little hesitant to add a lot of trees that block our beautiful mountain views since that is what attracted me to the lot to begin with. I think the best solution is to strategically add a couple trees that add a little shade but don’t block the views a lot and add a pergola over just the concrete portion. Here is an updated pic of a closer look at the space. The only thing I’m wondering is will it look odd having a covered section that’s already there and then an open section and then another covered section for the pergola? I thought maybe it would be a good mix and allows an uncovered section to get some sun if desired.

This concrete section is 22’ x 12’

We found in calagry we needed to just make sure we closed the awning if we were not going to be home it really is pretty easy and then the wind has no effect . Most are rated for 40 KMH if that helps and they aslo usually post that on the website where you are purchasing from

Are there any brands or companies of awnings you have in mind?

Jeff, the key to not blocking distant views with trees is to use trees capable of being tall enough, that the overhead canopy is high, and that the trunks are cleared of all limbs, branches and foliage below a level that obstructs the view. It's not difficult to achieve this. One must put up with foliage being 'in the way' while the tree is in it's youth and teenage phase, but then the spread of the canopy is relatively small so this is not so offensive either. My rule for limbing up trees is that one can remove lower limbs to 50% of the total tree height, once per year at the beginning of each spring or late winter (or after blooming if it's that kind of tree). This keeps the clearest trunk, allows for easy control of the trunk straightness, and for fast growth. It does not take a tree long to reach 20' and that means 10' of clear trunk. A 30' tree can have a 15' bottom of canopy. There comes a point though, when the view is well cleared and where there is no need to keep raising the canopy. One would not want 100' tall tree with a 50' clear trunk! I'm only describing the tree's formative years.

Agree, except when you are using trees to block the horizontal setting sun that comes from the side. You may lose some views then.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDf2kgH9xYM

Pergola with motorized roof slates, I would run it the entire expanse, perhaps only put the motorized part over the concrete. I would build the extension over the entire area, but only put the sunshade over the concrete area.

A full across pergola will look better ...plus ...you do have the option of putting up the shade cloth only where needed..the separate pergola would work.. but that would leave the biggest window unprotected from sun exposure..which can add heat when you don’t want it or cause fading over time in that room...this would give you the option to decide which areas need the shade and which can be left open for sunbathing...

The Arcadia system sure looks nice but I bet it’s expensive! Do you think they are more fit for a modern home? Our home is more mountain rustic inside and out

The other option would be to a pull down sun shade on that window if you want to leave it open...usually they are sheer enough they will not completely block the view when down...at our house we have about fifty feet of pergola that we use every morning for “coffee and a view”...with different types of seating and a small table and chairs...it is also great for entertaining...

With a full across pergola I’m concerned where the posts would go since there are already timber posts that come up from ground level and I don’t want to add a bunch more posts. Or am I thinking about it wrong how it would be set up? I’m guessing it should have been planned from the start with the deck posts rising to pergola height and not just to railing height

Like this

In our case we have wisteria half way across

You need very few posts for this type of pergola...let me look at pic

Looks like you would only need to replace one post for a beam at the end of the railing and then add 2 additional posts, any way you spin it you will be adding posts or a structure. I think posts and extend the railing would be the most congruent.

I would space the posts the same as below

Ours is 8’ spacing..using 4x4’s

It doesn’t seem insurmountable to just change the two short posts from the deck level...

We added 2x4 just below the frame to hang all the seasonal sunshades on....with these two elements you can use the whole area anytime and pull the shades down anytime the sun is at a level where it enters the home...causing glare or too much heat to enter

We are closely surrounded by lots of big trees so it also serves as protection from all the stuff that falls from the trees on to the deck...in the spring and fall..