We needed something to help shade our patio / deck space as it gets direct sun for 6+ hours each day. So as you can imagine, it's quite warm there even with a good breeze. This shade has already helped lower the heat impact on the porch as well as the windows / doors looking out onto it as well. The material is thicker than I expected, and it seems to hold up well even with regular, strong sunlight. The metal D-rings on the ends are sturdy, the seams strong. I expect it to last many seasons.