Modern Pergola Attached To House

Pergola Attached To The House Versus Freestanding Which One Is Right For Your Home

Installing a pergola is a great way to add beauty and value to your house and creates the perfect outdoor space for your unique lifestyle. The structure can enhance how you entertain guests, create a peaceful escape, add definition and ambiance to a backyard, deck or patio, or all of the above.

Choosing a pergola to complement your home comes with questions. One of the most frequent is whether you should attach a wall-mounted pergola to your house or if a freestanding model will better fit your outdoor lifestyle.

Pergola As An Extension Of A Covered Porch

We love this clever use of a pergola to extend the existing living space on a covered back porch. The traditional wooden structure mimics the materials in the porch roof, casting the pergola as an extension of the home. Traditional plantings in white and green soften the sharp edges of the hardscaping and lawn.

Beautiful Houses With Modern Pergola Extensions

A pergola is a garden feature which is used to created a shaded sitting area or walkway and which can either be a standalone structure is an extension of a building.

A lot of contemporary homes have pergolas and were very curious to see how the designs have been adapted to suit the style and the overall vibe of the house. Wood is famously the most common material for this type of structure and a modern pergola is not that different in this sense, although other materials can work out nicely.

Studio BENT Architecture renovated a residence in Melbourne, Australia and part of the project was to extend the living area and to reconfigure it. Sliding glass doors let in lots of natural light and can also expose the interior space to the outdoors and a beautiful pergola created a shaded area outside.

Another beautiful example is a residence completed by studio Ro I Rockett Design where the pergola is a a very important part of the design and the house as a whole. The project started out as a modest countryside retreat but ended up evolving into a permanent residence.

The Seorimyeonga Boutique Resort is located in Muju-gun, South Korea and is a wonderful retreat, one which finds the perfect balance between open and closed spaces. Studio Archihood WXY played with various hidden and exposed spaces and included a modern pergola which is more like a roof section connecting two volumes, with a skylight at the center.

Read Also: How To Build A Raised Paver Patio

Should A Pergola Be Attached To House

There is no hard-and-fast rule governing whether a pergola can or should be attached to a house. It is generally a determination made based on your style preferences, and just how you expect to use your new outdoor living space. The one time anchoring a pergola to the home can be especially beneficial if we are designing the pergola for windy areas. Especially here in South Florida, local build codes can require extensive storm-resilience. In some cases, anchoring a pergolas frame to your home can help satisfy these regulations.

Attached At The House

If you have a patio area thats right next to your house, think about adding a pergola that attaches to your house to cover it. You can choose to use a similar color palette to your house, so that the attachment feels seamless, like in the picture. Using a wood keeps with the yellow of the roof, making it all look like a cohesive unit.

Don’t Miss: How To Protect Patio Furniture From Sun

Pergola Next To The House

Because every pergola project is engineered to meet the unique specifications of the property, including local building regulations, storm resilience regulations, etc., it is sometimes impossible to directly connect the pergola to a home. If you still want to create the seamless indoor/outdoor feel discussed above, a hybrid approach can be taken. By designing a freestanding pergola that is built to butt right up to the building, we can simulate this same look as a pergola attached to the house. This technique is well-suited to covering pathways between the home and garage or to create a grand porte-cochère, like this one we designed and installed for the luxurious Admirals Cove clubhouse in Jupiter, Florida.

Front Door Pergola For Curb Appeal

A pergola can give an otherwise plain home exterior some instant curb appeal. They are a classic addition to homes of all eras and styles: cottages, ranch homes, traditional two stories, and even modern and contemporary homes.

Luckily, there are affordable freestanding and attached pre-built pergolas to add to your patios and porches, giving you options for shade, adding garden style charm, and even helping you define a space for an outdoor living room. Ill share a few shopping resources to create this look in your own home.

This post isnt meant to be a DIY pergola tutorial instead, Im walking you through a little history about pergolas, what they can and cant do for your home, and the pros and cons of a pergola attached to a house.

Recommended Reading: How To Clean Concrete Patio Without Pressure Washer

Benefits Of Having A Pergola Attached To Your House

While most homeowners have a preference before they start shopping, there are a few advantages of attached pergola kits that you should know. These vinyl pergola models are some of our most popular due to its stability and strength. The architectural shade structure in which the pergola extends from the wall of your home across your patio, deck, or even your pool, adds durability to the structure along with its inherent beauty. These showpiece structures complete any outdoor living space with elegant style. Both free-standing pergolas and attached pergola kits are sure to enhance any outdoor space which is why we sell both!

Finally, since the pergola is attached to your house, it can create a great stylistic connection between the pergola and the outdoor space, which exterior designers and homeowners love.

No matter which style you choose, we are confident that you will be satisfied with your new attached pergola kits beautiful style and affordable price.

Sizing Your Diy Pergola

A DIY pergola or arbor only has to support its own weight and the weight of whatever you hang from it. This allows you to extend beam and rafter spans.

On a larger pergola, however, you dont want the lumber to appear unsubstantial, so it is important to increase the size of the members appropriately.

Move up to 6-by-6 posts and 2-by-8 beams and rafters to keep the pergola looking sturdy. Add intermediate posts and additional beams anytime a beam or rafter span is longer than 12 feet to prevent sagging in the future.

You May Like: How To Build A Small Gazebo

How Much Do Pergolas Cost

Besides material, the type of pergola you buyprefab vs. custom builtwill influence its cost. In general, prefab pergolas tend to cost less than custom builds.

With either option, dont forget the cost of professional assembly and installation needs to be considered in addition to the purchase price of the structure or materials. As mentioned above, this is typically between $3K and $6K.

What Are Modern Pergolas

While traditional pergolas date all the way back to the early 1400s, modern pergolas are a much more recent development. Although some consider any pergola not made of stone, concrete, brick or wood to be “modern”, they are usually only talking about the materials that the pergola is made from. Because all of our pergolas already employ the most modern materials, when we classify something as a modern pergola, we are talking about its architectural style.

Sharp, clean lines are what modern pergolas are all about. There are no overhangs, no scrolls and no decorative features at the top or bottom of a modern minimalist pergola. Whether it is a freestanding pergola kit or a modern pergola attached to a house, sleek and simple is the essence of the new style of pergola.

If your home or building is more angular without fancy adornments, a modern pergola will suit its style better. Modern pergolas blend well with Cape Cod, Contemporary, Farmhouse, Modern, Mid-Century Modern and Prairie architectural style homes.

While they definitely look smart and match perfectly with certain types of homes, modern pergolas are definitely more expensive than traditional pergolas. They haven’t been around as long and there are far less companies making them.

Also Check: Making An Outdoor Fire Pit

Umbrella As A Pergola Alternative

Yes, this is low tech, but umbrellas are super versatile, and can be removed when you need to increase the openness of a space. Crate and Barrel makes a lovelycantilevered umbrellathis will allow you to have shade over your dining area without a pole sticking

Its worth mentioning our favorite pergola alternative: trees! Trees offer a million benefits to properties, and are very effective at providing shade and implying a defined, cozy outdoor spaceexactly the purpose of a pergola. Position trees at one or several corners of a space to imply boundaries and establish a room. The feel will be different than that of a pergola, but it will still be lovely.

Diy Pergolas You Can Create For Your Own Backyard

Before we start talking about a tutorial or blueprints for these beauties, lets talk about what a pergola is. Its a garden feature that looks a bit like the top of a gazebo or sometimes describes as a covered walkway. It can be a really luxurious addition to a larger backyard and help to transform a space into something magical and brand new. Often made from lattice and wood bits, you can actually learn how to craft your own design and really personal your outdoor area.

You can obviously hire someone to make one for you, but its going to cost you about double than what it would to build it yourself. So, if youre handy enough, you can definitely get your pergola up in a couple of days, depending on the level of difficulty youre going for and the size of the project.

Read Also: Best Weather Resistant Patio Furniture

How Do You Attach A Pergola To A House

Builders connect a pergola to a building via joist hangers or ledger board, depending on the type of home . There are structural considerations when choosing to attach a pergola to a building. The connection needs to be secure to avoid damaging your home. We recommend hiring a licensed contractor with experience attaching pergolas to homes for this type of install.

Choose an attached pergola to create:

How To Add A Modern Twist To Your Traditional Landscape Pergola

Patio covers and modern pergola designs dont need to be limited to the bustling city life or a traditional landscape structure. Suburban settings offer ample room to create an extension of your house, and the skys the limit to modernize your space! This outdoor room was built to give this homeowner a relaxing setting to enjoy year-round.

The large chimenea and outdoor oven are outdoor kitchen design features that can be built in a range of sizes and materials. Use your imagination and see what fits with your climate, location and budget.

Test your creativity and make a sketch of your dream yard! Add some landscaping, a place to escape from the day-to-day, and perhaps a modern looking pergola to tie it all together. If you need a jump-start on your planning, start with our comparison of pergola kits and youll be on your way to building that relaxing retreat!

You May Like: How To Lay A Concrete Patio

Add A Little Greenery

If you really want to add some style to your outdoor space , adding climbing vines to the posts and slats of your structure is a great idea. The vines will create a canopy while adding natural beauty.

There are a few vines that will work better than others including Boston Ivy, Virginia Creeper, Bougainvillea, and Chinese Wisteria. One thing to consider when planting vines is that they are often aggressive plants and can choke the rest of your garden if you dont prune it appropriately.

Pergola Design Ideas That Will Reinvent Your Backyard

For those that wish to add a little living space outdoors, a pergola can be the perfect fit. It can shelter you from sun, wind, and rain depending on the style.

In general, pergolas have posts, beams, and rafters. They can be attached to the house or be built as a freestanding structure. Some people get pergolas confused with gazebos, but pergolas have flat roofs while gazebos are pitched.

If you are considering adding a pergola to reinvent your backyard, you cant go wrong with one of these 23 design styles!

You May Like: Should I Roll My Lawn

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.

Do I Need A Permit For A Pergola

Sometimes pergolas require a permit, other times they do not. City code and, when applicable, HOA requirements ultimately determine if a permit is necessary.

Permits are more commonly required when pergolas are large, attach to existing structures, or use concrete footings to secure their posts in the ground. Regions that encounter snow, strong winds, or seismic activity also tend to require permits more frequently. Solid-roofed structures are more or less certain to require a permit.

Prefabricated pergolas typically come with structural drawings that can be used when submitting for a pergola. This can generate considerable savings by cutting out the expense and hassle of hiring an engineer to produce permit drawings.

You May Like: How To Lay A Patio

Ways To Add A Pergola To Your Backyard

The pergolas purpose is to visually delineate an area for lounging, dining, grilling, or some other favorite activity, while lending cohesiontying house and landscape together. It can sit on a deck, patio, or right on the lawn. Those constructing or renovating a home can consult with their architect/designer about adding a pergola.

There are also numerous kits available, even free plans online for ambitious DIYers. So get inspired by the ideas here to find the perfect pergola for your space.

The Pergola Size You Choose Determines The Number Of Posts

All of our full size attached pergola kits have been engineered with two posts for sizes 8×8 up to 20×20. 20×20 is the largest standard pergola kit size offered on our website. You can request a larger size by completing our custom quote request form, or by contacting us by phone or email. Once you go over 20 feet overall in either direction we will need to add extra support posts to bear the weight of the pergola.

Recommended Reading: How To Clean Natural Stone Patio

Why Buy A Modern Pergola Kit From Us

Today, the majority of traditional pergolas tend to be made out of wood. Because of that, wooden pergolas tend to be the least expensive to buy. Unfortunately, less expensive doesn’t always mean “cheaper in the long run”. Far more maintenance is involved with a wood pergola. They are harder to clean, have to be repainted often and they will not last forever. The best of woods are prone to rot, constant exposure to rain causes wood to sag or warp over time and despite misleading claims made by many manufacturers about their wood being “termite resistant”, no wood is termite proof. Termites will eat any wood – they just like the taste of some wood better than others!

All of the modern pergolas for sale here are not only sharp looking, they feature the most modern materials. Our pergolas are made with an aluminum frame that has a vinyl coating, making it stronger and easier to clean than a wooden pergola. A modern metal pergola that features vinyl covered aluminum won’t rust, rot or sag and they never need to be painted. Just a little soap and water is all you need to keep a Sunset Pergola looking as good as new for as long as you own your home. Termites don’t eat metal or vinyl so that’ll never be a concern, either. Best of all, if you add high-wind brackets, we’ll give you a Lifetime Wind Protection Warranty for your pergola kit!

Prefabricated Pergolas And Pergola Kit Cost

After factoring in delivery and installation, prefab aluminum, fiberglass, and wood pergolas will run from $8K to $15K for a standard sized pergola. Increasing size or adding accessories can add as much as $10K on top of this standard price range.

With the higher purchase price, you generally get a higher quality product that will be more durable and look more like a permanent landscape feature. You may also get a warranty, or the option to include accessories.

Keep in mind that kits or prefab structures that claim to be DIY-able may not actually be simple to install. Many prefab pergolas seem more appealing than a custom build at first because of their lower price tag, but require professional help to install which will add to the total cost.

Kit and Prefab Pergola Recommendations:

• The Toja Grid is a great modular option offering incredible versatility at a low price, but be aware youll need to purchase wood separately the list price only covers brackets.

• The aluminum pergolas by Paragon Outdoor and Bon Pergola are also solid low cost options.

• Forever Redwood has a host of pergolas spanning the style spectrum, and supports sustainable forestry practices in their material sourcing.

Recommended Reading: Does A Patio Need To Be Level