Our #1 Pick For Best Pergola Type
Popular opinion: a pergola might just be the perfect addition to any backyard, deck or patio. In fact, this attractive outdoor structure has quickly become one of the most in-demand outdoor accessories for homes all across the country. In order to ensure you get a piece that looks amazing without serious maintenance, you need the best type of pergola: vinyl. Thats exactly what were highlighting in todays blog.
At Smucker Fencing, were primarily known for installing fences and railings, but we also build gorgeous, high-quality pergolas. Were providing answers about what makes for the best pergolas as well as showcasing what we can build for you. Keep reading to learn more about what makes vinyl the best type of pergola or reach out to get your price today!
No Frills Modern Style
For those that prefer a contemporary design style, the simple lines of the modern pergola will probably be a safe choice. Those who want to incorporate a backyard fixture to seamlessly tie in with the clean, straight modern lines will likely prefer something that isnt too ornamental.
The use of straight posts, a flat top, and simple brackets keep the lines clean. Some modern styles also have a full roof as opposed to the traditional pergola slats. Whether you go with a natural wood color or paint it white, a no-frills modern style will be an excellent addition to a contemporary backyard.
Best Pergola Kit Splurge
Covering more than 250 sq. ft. while sporting an elegant design and maintenance-free vinyl structure, the New England Arbors Regency Grande Pergola Kit is a striking centerpiece for your outdoor living space.
Keep in mind the cost increases significantly once you factor in all the bells and whistles: About $400 to $600 of additional lumber to serve as the core to the pieces of vinyl shell the Bolt Down Bracket Kit for extra stability vinyl post caps to cover the anchors and the optional shade kit if you prefer more coverage . Its generous size and durable vinyl, however, make it worth the premium price.
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Fiberglass And Plastic Pergola Tops
Fiberglass and plastic pergola roofs are durable materials that are fairly inexpensive to purchase and more permanent in comparison to other types. Both materials are designed to allow complete light exposure but do a great job keeping rain and harmful UV rays from passing through.
Plastic usually comes in lightweight panels of different sizes that can easily be cut down to size if needed. Fiberglass may be a little bit harder to find but it is also a very green alternative. Most fiberglass materials are made by using recycled materials, which helps reduce the amount of waste on our planet.
Which Materials Are Available
The materials you choose for your pergola make a significant impact. With Arizonas semi-arid climate, youll want materials that stand up to the elements. The two most common are wood and aluminum.
- Wood this is the most common option, but it doesnt have to be bland like pressure-treated pine. You can certainly add color! Cedar and Redwood are two types of wood that are abundant in color and stand up well to the Phoenix climate. It will, however, need to be treated to increase its durability.
- Aluminum aluminum is popular as well, because of its longevity. It can also be treated with different colors to create the perfect oasis in your backyard that fits your vision. Straightline uses Alumawood, which is an aluminum roof thats textured so it looks like wood, giving you a plethora of benefits. Its environmentally-friendly, visually appealing, and most importantly, low maintenance.
There are, of course, other material options you can choose to build a pergola, such as concrete, which makes for a solid foundation when used for the columns. This also adds a decorative element, which will have everyone talking about your new addition.
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Features To Consider For Pergolas
Size
One of the first things you need to determine is how large your pergola should be. That usually comes down to the size of your backyard and how you plan to use your pergola. If you just want a cool, shaded space to accent your garden, you can probably get by with a smaller pergola. But you will need a larger pergola if you plan to cover your entire patio or want a big space for entertaining.
Take a look at your outdoor space and measure where you want your pergola to go. Record these measurements, and use them as your guide as you explore your options. Common pergola sizes include 2.1 x 2.1 metres and 3.7 x 3 metres.
Durability
You want to ensure that the pergola you choose isnt going to fall apart after a year or two. Part of that comes down to selecting the right materials for where you live. If you live near the sea, for example, you probably dont want a wood frame because the combination of the sun and the salt air can easily strip off the paint. A sturdy, corrosion-resistant metal frame will probably be a better bet.
Before you purchase a pergola, you should check to see if it comes with a warranty. Because pergolas are meant to last for decades, its not uncommon to find 10- or 20-year warranties with some of the top brands. This will protect your investment, so you dont have to pay for a new pergola if yours breaks down after a few years.
Assembly
Weather Protection With A Glass Roof
If you live in a region that has a lot of rainy days, you may need more than the traditional pergola slats to keep your outdoor space usable. Many people opt for a glass roof over their pergola. These can be designed with the glass in place, or it can be added later.
Adding a roof gives you the freedom to enjoy your outdoor living space even on days when the weather is not cooperating. Places like the Pacific Northwest where there seem to be more rainy days than sunny will likely want a roof to keep things dry making the glass-topped pergola a sure choice.
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Will You Provide Installation For My New Pergola
Proper installation of your new pergola will extend its lifetime. Ensuring a stable, safe structure you and your family will enjoy for years to come. For this reason, youll want to ask your dealer or pergola manufacturer if they provide installation services.
Companies that provide installation services are often more knowledgeable about the particulars of their product line and can be helpful, even if you decide to install the pergola or hire a contractor to do it.
There are many factors to consider when choosing the perfect pergola for your backyard space. Comparing pergola materials, build quality, finding out how to properly size your pergola, asking about the amount of shade you can expect, deciding on a freestanding, or attached pergola, and determining how the installation will be handled are all great places to start to get the best value for your money.
Whatever you decide, adding or buying a pergola always brings something positive to your space and will build new memories.
Want more ideas and inspiration? Check us out on for some ideas. Want some ideas on how to arrange the space under your structure? Check out 8 Design Tips for the Space Under Your Structure.
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What Materials Will Be Used To Build My Pergola
The key to a long-lasting outdoor structure is quality materials. Most pergolas are built using wood or vinyl, but the quality can vary widely from manufacturer to manufacturer. Ideally, youll want a balance between affordability, attractiveness, and longevity.
At Country Lane Gazebos, we build our wood pergolas from high-quality, Pressure-Treated Southern Yellow Pine, Cedar or Hemlock lumber that combines strength and durability in an attractive and affordable package. Plus, we offer plenty of stains and paint colors, along with attractive posts, columns and available lattice roofing to customize your pergolas look and feel.
We also offer a line of low-maintenance vinyl pergolas made from pressure-treated lumber and covered with a high-quality vinyl that offers lasting beauty and additional protection from the elements.
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What Material Should I Use For My Backyard Pergola
A backyard pergola can be a great addition to your backyard, beautifying your landscape and creating a small oasis for relaxing thats protected from the sun and rain.
If youre still brainstorming about the kind of pergola that will be perfect for your yard, one of the decisions youll have to make early on is the material it will be constructed out of.
The most common building materials for pergolas are wood, metal , or an artificial substance such as vinyl or fiberglass.
If youre still undecided on which route to take, consider the following aspects of each:
What Is The Best Roof To Put On A Pergola
Metal pergola roof materials are considered to be the most durable, thus they are also more permanent than many of the other types of roofing materials. The best thing about metal roofing material is that it can be cut down or sized to fit any size or shape structure.
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Wood Types For Pergola And Gazebo
- Pressure Treated Wood budget choice for constructions with lower demands on appearance
- Red Cedar and Redwood pricey alternative and naturally protected wood
- Tropical Hardwood expensive and beautiful alternative but hard to source FSC certified wood
- Modified Wood the best choice for optimal appearance, price and performance
What Is The Best Wood To Use For A Pergola
A pergola great for adding a classy touch to your outdoor space. But what are the top timbers for the job?
A very popular way of creating a beautiful shaded or sheltered area over decking or a patio, pergolas are perfect for framing a walkway in your garden.
Originally created by Italian Renaissance architects to mimic the villas of the Roman Empire, they add a stylish, Mediterranean touch to any outdoor space. As well as offering a practical element, they allow your garden to be enjoyed throughout the year for dining and relaxation.
When incorporated sympathetically, they can even increase home value, allowing you to distinguish certain areas, create themes or green screens.
Although brick and stone pergolas arent unheard of, wood is by far the most popular material for these versatile garden structures. As well as looking the part, timber slots seamlessly into any exterior space, complementing surrounding greenery and conveying an effortless natural look.
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The Unique Coating System
What makes Ultra Series Patio Covers different from other aluminum patio products? They use a multi-step coating system chemically cleans the aluminum sheet followed by a baked-on primer coat. Next, a finish coat of Kynar 500, featuring an ultra-tough carbon/fluoride bond, the basis of Kynar, is roller applied and baked-on. This multi-step process provides a coating system that outperforms any other coating system for aluminum products in our industry. Performance ratings of Excellent relating to chemical and stain resistance, exterior durability, salt spray resistance, fade and color resistance, and gloss retention are typical properties of a Kynar finish and the reason why this type of coating system is specified by architects worldwide when a quality, long lasting, vibrant finish is desired.
Choose A Better Material For Your Pergola
When deciding on aluminum vs. wood pergolas for your next design, remember that aluminum pergolas are designed to last for years with less maintenance and far greater durability. Aluminum can also give you more versatile looks, including a wood-grain finish, as well as more contemporary styles. To learn more about the ways that aluminum pergolas could fit your needs for landscaping design, visit Structureworks to see more examples and ideas.
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Best Materials For A Pergola
When deciding to have a pergola in Sydney, you need to evaluate which material will be best for you, especially since the weather can be harsh and unpredictable.
There are multiple factors to consider when choosing the right construction supplies. And in this article, we will discuss the materials that make up some of the best pergolas in Sydney.
To start off, we have broken down this write-up into sections to highlight the areas you should consider when selecting the right pergola material. We will also explain which material will best satisfy that factor.
Wood, metal, PVC and brick are the most common options and we will focus our efforts on analysing them.
Different Types Of Materials For Your Pergola
Are you planning on getting a landscaping feature for your new homes outdoor space?
If you like spending time outdoors, you need a structure that can protect you from the sun and rain. One of the most popular shade embellishments is the pergola. A pergola is a structure that can be freestanding or attached to a home that is supported by posts with a latticed open roof. It is used to accentuate or cover patios, seating areas, decks, porches, gardens, and more. If you want to have more shade and increase privacy, you can add vines, flowers, curtains, or canopies for additional protection.
Before you get one, you should know that the pergola comes in different types of materials. Its best to consider a material based on your climate, style of your home, maintenance capability, and preferred design.
Aside from wood , here are other materials a pergola can be constructed with.
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What Type Of Roofing Is Best For Your Pergola Carport Or Verandah
Adding a pergola, carport or verandah to your home, can add additional space and increase the overall value of your property. To ensure you create a space that meets the needs of your lifestyle, there are some common questions for you to consider:
- What materials and colours will compliment my existing home
- How much sun/ light do I wish for the area to receive?
- What is the purpose of the new area? Entertaining, Relaxation, Family Time, Storage etc.
- What shape/ style of roofing do I want?
- How much am I willing to spend? What is my budget?
At Top Shelf Carpentry, when we meet with you to quote your works, we will discuss all these questions with you to gain an understanding of the area you wish to create
The most common types of roofing available are:
Colourbond Steel/ Corrugated Iron
The benefits of Colourbond roofing include:
- Blocks out heat
- Smooth clean, reflective grey colour on underside
- Available in a variety of colours and shades to match in with your existing roof colour
- Durable, long-lasting and light weight
- Ideal for a flat roof or roof with a limited pitch as rain will still run off this type of roofing
- Provides a neat, modern appearance
Laserlite Roofing
The benefits of Laserlite roofing include:
- Available in different grades e.g. standard, clear dark tint or non transparent
- Available in different heat and light bloakage levels
- Available in a rang of colours
- Suitable for high wind areas
Lexan Thermoclear Multiwall
Best Pergola Building Material #: Fiberglass
Fiberglass is very similar to vinyl as a pergola building material.
Fiberglass comes in light colors like white or beige. Since the material is naturally corrosion resistant, it wont rust, corrode or pit, regardless of the environment its in.
Fiberglass is also non-porous, so it will not absorb moisture. Maintenance is as simple as a yearly power wash. However, like vinyl, fiberglass exposed to too much wind, snow pileups or freezing and thawing temperatures can experience cracking.
But fiberglass is very strong, so fiberglass beams can span longer distances than vinyl or wood. Where a vinyl pergola can get soft and sag a little bit after snow loads and after experiencing varying temperatures, a fiberglass pergola doesnt have that problem.
This added strength boosts the cost of the pergola a bitfiberglass pergolas can range in price from $3,500 to $8,000 based on size.
Pros:
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Strong enough to withstand heavy snowfall or winds and cover more distance
Cons:
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More formal, so not as fitting for a rustic landscape design
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Pre-measured and pre-cut kits mean less customization is available
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Cannot be connected to a home
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Durable In All Weather Climates
Vinyl pergolas, particularly those that have been reinforced by an inner core of aluminum, are also extremely durable. They hold up well in all weather conditions, including high winds and rain, and arent impacted by extreme cold or a high UV index. This makes them ideal for installing in all climates without worry about long-term durability.
The Very Best Warranty
Elitewood Ultra Series comes with the industrys best warranty. They have a Lifetime Limited Warranty that is even transferable. Ultra Series is warranted not to peel, blister, flake, chip, split, rust or crack. This extensive warranty also covers chalking and fading for the lifetime of the original property owner. Four Seasons wants you to enjoy your Ultra Series Patio Cover for years to come without any worry. The Ultra Series Patio Covers truly are the most maintenance-free patio covers available.
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Should I Use Pressure
When planning for their garden, many people are drawn towards pressure-treated wood. Usually, these woods provide more upfront cost savings than one of the timbers listed above.
Although they can be viable, its worth bearing in mind that the chemicals used to treat these timbers can be harmful to pets and little ones. Pressure-treated woods also tend to have a somewhat unappealing green and blue streaky appearance, and can quickly require frequent maintenance theyre not naturally weather resistant.
When youre contemplating your pergola project, it can be worth remembering the saying buy cheap, buy twice. A high-quality pergola, made of the right naturally-durable timber species, can give you many decades of service negating the need for pressure-treated wood.