I get my shade cloth at a local nursery. They typically carry several weights/densities and sometimes a number of colors as well. It's sold by the foot from rolls that are about 8' wide.
I get the heaviest density and then double it for SoCal. You may not need that much protection in NoCal.
I'm not a builder either and neither is my husband. We hired a carpenter and he built what we wanted. A secure run isn't all that difficult and it can maximize the use of the space you have available. You want:
• Sturdy uprights probably buried in concrete or mounted on a concrete pillar...