Walkingyesindeed posted www.tiptheplanet.com air drying and I wondered if the clothesline pully systems would also be useful for outside drapes?
www.westelm.com has a cable example for indoors, also have heard of do it yourself using aircraft cables.

Maybe copper pipe to use as poles? Comes in long lengths.

Thick-walled copper is a great suggestion, just use stainless steel rings, so corrosion isn't an issue. Over time, there may be green stains running down the curtains anyway. Another idea would be anodized aluminum or brass tubing. Stainless steel tubing would be great, but probably the most $$.
Casey

A freind used decorative hooks which were hung on the inside of the overhang......I dont think the area I am thinking of is called a soffit...looks like one only there are no cabenits below, just the opening to the porch. The hooks were not directly exposed to elements since they were under the roof and blocked from rain hitting them. She treated them with rustoleum paint and as far as I know they never corroded. The curtains were a tab top design, more for decoration on each side rather than function to block light.

We made valances rather than curtains as originally planned because I was concerned about dirt, leaves and insects being caught in the folds while curtains were pulled back.

We used black gas pipe and enclosed it inside PVC. Used wood blocks with a "U" cut to support the PVC and hold it in place. Created counter-balance at both ends of the valances with pipe inside PVC too. Will paint the ends sometime disguise them.

{{!gwi}}

I had curtains on my screen porch once and used white PVC pipe, and don't ask me about the diameter because I have no idea, but I just found the size that looked right. DH and a friend put it up some way. That was a long time ago but I needed white and PVC pipe was white. My neighbor used bamboo.

I've used tension rods for these curtains for the past 2 years and they have worked just fine. Cheap and easy.

{{!gwi}}

Oh miles, Love your patio style! fnmroberts, I was going to suggest rebar inside pvc, please discribe 'gas pipe? We have used steel pipe where we had 20 feet, but it isn't exposed to weather. Wonder how strong smaller pvc inside larger pvc becomes?

In our area, PVC is replacing copper secondary to expense and thugs who steal the copper. Rebar is kind of, sort of, well, rusty.

Rusty, I agree, rebar for strength 'Inside' pvc. Same problem in CA, copper is quickly stolen.

OP, can the curtains be fixed or do they need to slide on a rod?

I installed my own using eyelets and S-hooks. My drapes are french-pleated and hang directly into the S-hook. The pleats cover up the hardware and it is easily removed for laundering. I retract mine to the sides like Miles.

fnmroberts, I love the neat look of your valances. I wish I could duplicate that look with a shade of some sort.

texashottie, they need to slide. I am putting them up to block the sun, not really for looks.

Dh had already suggested rebar inside pvc, and I figured by the time I bought all that plus hangers, it would be just as cheap to buy real curtain rods. If it weren't necessary to take them down to launder, I would have him put up a plastic covered clothesline. But I need it easier to take on & off.

The aircraft cable is still an option. Stronger than clothsline, long lasting, easy to work with. I have the vinyl coated (used for dogs & horses crossties) from the hardware store, double chaneled crimp locks. Thread through one end, loop for hook and back through other side and crimp tight. Fast, easy, looks nice, clean and strong. Easy to thread through curtain or hang cloth loops on. Loop cable ends on what ever hooks or bolts you like.

galvanized conduit is relatively inexpensive and comes in 10 foot lengths that are easily cut. It won't rust, is heavy enough not to bend like PVC, and isn't subject to theft like copper. Find it in the electrical supply section of your big box hardware stores. Also use conduit straps to hold them up. Look like little U shaped bands.

bodica - per DH, gas pipe is very similar to galvanized pipe, just a different finish. He used it (enclosed in PVC) for the "rod" because he says it is rigid. Rebar is what he put inside the counterbalance for weight. He believes rebar, spanning 12', would not be strong enough to use for a rod and PVC alone would bow, same with electrical conduit.

marti8a - The valances pull down to double the size you see in the photo. In the very late evening, they don't block the sun however sunset follows shortly thereafter. This is the first season for them and these are made from an in-stock outdoor fabric and they have shrunk some being exposed to the weather since the photo was taken. When I remake them using Sunbrella, I'll probably go a few inches longer. We actually "borrowed" the valance idea from one of those kit shelters we saw at a patio shoppe. Theirs had a piece of fabric which went over the entire roof allowing it to be pulled down on opposite sides giving it a greater length when fully extended to one side only. Another option might be to create a way to roll it up like one of those bamboo shades.

Below is a link to instructions for curtain rods made out of metal conduit.

Here is a link that might be useful: Inexpensive curtain rods

Thanks newhomebuilder. We looked at Home Depot today & that is an option.

fnmroberts, that is a great idea. Our deck just has a pergola on the west side & I would really like something over the top, and a ceiling fan. Dh is such a hard sell. Plus, we need work done in the house, so the curtains on the west side were just a quick fix for me.