Sunday, March 24, 2024
HomePatioWhat Does A Pergola Look Like

What Does A Pergola Look Like

Where To Position Your Pergola

Describing People (What does he/she look like?)

Where in your yard you place the pergola should be determined by what you want to accomplish with it. For shade, the best place to position your pergola will be anywhere that doesnt receive constant sunlight. This may be under a tree or up against the house so your home can provide shade for some of the day. Of course, too much shade can be a bad thing if you want vines to grow on the pergola, or if you envision hanging plants from the slats.

A pergola next to your house can also provide shade to nearby windows in certain circumstances, which is something to consider.

Consider what you want to do with the pergola, and then take note of the potential places in your yard. Observe how much sun these areas receive at different times during the day. Pretty soon youll have a good idea of the best position for your new pergola.

Pergolas : Everything You Need To Know Before Buying A Pergola

The pergola has seen a big surge in popularity the past few years as outdoor living continues to be a huge trend in home improvement. Of course, the pergola has been around for a LONG time , but its also one thats most often confused with other, similar structures.


People often mix up pergolas with arbors, trellises, and pavilions and arent always sure just what a pergola is for, or what it even looks like.

Well, first off, a pergola is a very popular outdoor structure that can be a perfect complement to finish off your outdoor living space. It creates a focal point for your backyard and becomes the hub around which you center your outdoor entertaining. It can also act as a transitional space, adding shade and privacy while maintaining a sense of openness and view of the sky.

So, what does a pergola look like? Its this thing right here!

Add More Privacy With Curtains To Decorate Your Pergola

Recreate the look and feel of a fancy resort with these pergola curtains. If you have a garden that is overlooked by neighboring properties, youll be able to enjoy escaping from the world around you by adding heavy curtains to your pergola.

If you are lucky enough to have a swimming pool in your home, this pergola from Centsational Style will look incredible poolside. Add some comfy chairs, and youll enjoy chilling out here all summer long this year.


Read Also: How To Paint Iron Furniture

Why Do Pergola Rafter / Batten Dimensions Matter

These two crossbeams have the same length and width but have different heights. As you can see, when the sun is anything but directly overhead they will cast different size shadows.

A Pergolas crossbeams can offer a significant amount of shade whilst, unlike a solid roof, still allowing the free flow of hot air to rise up.

The crossbeams may be structural or not depending on the design. In some cases, there is only a ring frame, rafters linking the posts together at the top, and the crossbeams are only for shade/decoration.

When you adjust the height dimensions of the crossbeams/rafters you can dramatically increase the amount of shade whilst still maintaining the same amount of free-flowing air.


You could also add extra crossbeams/rafters to get the same amount of shade but you reduce the space where the hot air can rise.

In most cases, there will still be plenty of airflow, but you are also reducing the amount of indirect light, as you get closer to a solid roof.

Instead of adding more crossbeams/rafters you could add battens to make a grid/lattice. This is particularly beneficial when the pergola is to be used when the sun is directly overhead and the height dimension of the beams has less effect.

Pergola Ideas: 21 Lovely Looks For Your Garden

What does your dream StruXure look like? Curved or ...

To help you pick the best style for your garden, we’ve gathered up some of our very favorite pergola ideas. Get ready for a big dose of inspiration you’ll be keen to bring one into your own backyard in no time.

Looking for alternatives? There are plenty more ways to create shade in your garden in our dedicated guide.


Also Check: Replacing Sliding Door With French Doors

A Guide To Pergolas: Types Uses Costs And Installation

Like most people outside the landscaping profession, you probably dont have a clear picture in your head when you hear the word pergola. Lots of different outdoor structures are mistakenly called pergolas, and pergolas themselves are often mislabeled as gazebos.

Not to mention the fact that theres no set blueprint for what a pergola looks like. They can come in many different shapes and sizes.

Have no fear, homeowners and DIY landscapers. Were here to clear up all your confusion and tell you everything you need to know about the humble pergola. Well start with the basics: Pergolas can enhance your landscape, increase your homes value, and give you a place to relax and enjoy the great outdoors.

Lets explore how you can reach your personal landscaping goals with a pergola.


Components Of A Pergola

While you can find pergolas in several different styles and materials, they all have a few things in common. Before we get into all the bells and whistles, here are the essential parts of any pergola.

  • Columns: These are the pillars that support the pergolas roof and often serve as a framework for outdoor living spaces. The number of pillars depends on the size of the pergola and whether its free-standing or attached to a building.
  • Beams and rafters: Beams and rafters are the slats that make up the pergolas open roof. The beams go on top of the columns, then the rafters go on top of the beams.
  • Stringers/purlins : Stringers, aka purlins, go on top of the rafters, running perpendicular to them. They add more shade, but not all pergolas have them.
  • Ledger board : In attached pergolas, the ledger board replaces the beam on the side attached to the wall. The ledger board is the part that connects the pergola to the building.

Don’t Miss: How To Level A Brick Patio

Pergola Ideas: 21 Stunning Garden Structures For Added Style And Shade

These pergola ideas are perfect for sheltering your patio and embracing outdoor living this season

ByEllen Finchpublished 29 July 21

Pergola ideas are a failsafe way to bring the wow factor to a plot. So, if you’re looking for an outdoor update this summer, one of these structures could be just the solution for you. A striking focal point that’s functional as well as stylish, they’re ideal for zoning the space whilst providing much-needed shade in sunny spots.


Pergolas are super versatile too, offering a means to channel your personality and match the theme of your garden design ideas. From painting and planting to styling with lights, there are lots of ways to make a pergola your own. And they’re not just for patios either pergolas can also be used to create enchanting canopies over pathways, or how about a mini version to add interest to a fence?

Southwest Lanai Style Pergola

What does the road ahead for cryptocurrencies look like in India?

The larger slats of this pergola are covered by thinner slats, providing more shade in the southwestern heat. The center of the pergola has a solid roof to protect diners at the dinner table, but the rest of the roof is open to avoid trapping heat. A ceiling fan above the table creates a breeze when one is needed.

You May Like: Vintage Cast Iron Lawn Furniture

Do You Need Planning Permission For A Pergola

If you’re UK-based, you won’t need planning permission for a pergola so long as it meets the following criteria.

  • Height is no greater than 2.5m unless it’s a pitched-roof structure which ca be up to 4m high .
  • It’s within 2m of your garden’s boundary.
  • It mustn’t cover more than 50% of the land around your house and existing outbuildings.
  • It must not go at the front of the house or in the side return.
  • You do not live in a listed building or in a conservation area.
  • The pergola is not to go on a raised platform like a veranda or balcony

If you want to add a pergola to a deck like many of our ideas showcase, the deck shouldn’t be more than 30cm above the ground and again, it shouldn’t take up more than 50% of the land including other extensions, outbuildings and decking areas.


A must for your outdoor space, not just in the summertime!

Wooden Pergola & Gazebo Select The Right Wood For Your Outdoor Pergola And Gazebo

Pergolas and Gazebos are a wonderful accent structure to add to a garden, patio or uncovered deck. They are extremely versatile and the perfect way to set apart a seating or entertainment area from the rest of the yard. Additionally, pergolas tend to be fairly simple to construct, as the average design is rectangular, roofless and consists mostly of beams and pillars.

Wood is primarily used for Pergola and Gazebo construction since it tends to be readily available, easy to work with and durable when exposed to outdoor conditions. But before you rush to the lumber yard to grab your materials, you should consider which type of wood is best for your project and your needs.

You can build a pergola or a gazebo with essentially any wood youd like, but these four primary types are the best options for a professional-quality structure.

Also Check: Pea Gravel And Epoxy Patio

Getting Started On How To Build A Pergola

Heres a summer project designed to keep you cooler on even the hottest of days. The classical columns support an overhead wooden lattice that works like a big shade tree, letting only a portion of the suns radiance shine through.

What looks like the toughest part of this pergola plans project is actually the easiestthe graceful, solid-looking columns. Theyre not wood at all but a hollow-core composite material with amazing structural strength and durability. Weve designed the pergola plans so you simply slip these columns over treated 4×4 posts embedded in concrete. When screwed to the wooden posts, these columns provide a stable, solid base for the overhead lattice framework.

These paintable precast columns are available by special order at home centers. They come in a wide variety of diameters and heights and architectural styles.

Pressure-treated dimensional 2x8s and 2x10s make up the majority of the upper framework, and the decorative end pieces are cut with a jigsaw from our pergola plans. The whole project can be built in a couple of weekends, with another weekend for staining and painting.

We built our pergola over an existing stone patio that saved a lot of patio work. If youre planning to install a patio as part of your overall project, youll need to allow extra time.

Pergolas Create Versatile Shade

Pergolas 101: Everything You Need to Know Before Buying a ...

You might be curious, do pergolas really offer shade? Yes, pergolas were designed to add shade to your backyard space. They are excellent for providing relief from the harsh, direct rays of the sun while allowing sunlight access to fill the space. Although, as a stand-alone structure, pergolas do not provide full shade, their versatile structures allow many shade options. If you desire full coverage, you can add a retractable canopy. This option allows you to enjoy various levels of shade depending on the time of day or suns location. Retractable canopies arent the only solution for full sun coverage. There are many more ways to add extra sunblock to your pergola that can reflect your personal style or preference such as plants, bamboo, or fabric sales, to name a few.

Follow these links below to discover different shade coverage options for your pergola. Pergola Shade: Practical Solution for Every Outdoor Space and Cheap Ways to Cover a Pergola

Also Check: How To Remove Mold From Outdoor Fabric Furniture

Pergolas Add Lasting Value To Your Home

You may wonder if pergolas are worth the investment. Are pergolas really worth it? Yes, pergolas shade, beauty, and accommodating, hospitable nature is designed to add market value to your home. The experts say that the landscape of your home has the potential to raise the value of your property by 15%. Right now, outdoor living is becoming increasingly popular, which puts pergolas and other comfortable outdoor additions high on the list for adding value to your home. Pergolas add special character to your landscape design while being useful and enjoyable. They were designed to be either that final missing piece that completes your backyard landscape or the one piece that inspires you to further creativity of your outdoor landscape design.

So pergolas are worth it, but do they last? The good news is that whether you choose wood or vinyl, with proper maintenance, they have a lifetime of use. Vinyl tends to have less maintenance overall, whereas with wood you would need to repaint or stain every two years depending on how much sunlight exposure your vinyl pergola soaks up. The decision between wood and vinyl takes consideration of many personal factors. To find out more information to empower you in your decision making follow this link to Wood vs. Vinyl Pergolas.

Top 20 Pergola Designs Plus Their Costs

First and foremost, what is a pergola? Briefly, a pergola is an outdoor, open-frame structure commonly used as a stylish outdoor room providing privacy and elegant space for relaxation.

via Cederberg Kitchens

A classy pergola can also add an extra spark of beauty, while integrating tastefully with the landscape architecture of your home. A pergola can stand on its own, as well as be a part of a deck or patio setup.

Most commonly made of wood, pergolas can also be built out of metal or a combination of two of the following materials: stone, wood, metal. The frame consists in posts that hold a roof or an arch.

Vines can be grown on this frame. The pergola is meant to offer shade and privacy or to simply embellish an otherwise dull landscape design.

Most pergola designs dont require a building permit, but if you are planning on implementing a complex design that involves many changes to your property, you should contact the relevant authorities or your local city halls building board to find out if you are required to apply for one.

Now, let us present 20 of the most beautiful and interesting pergolas designed by talented minds!

Via Home Improvement Pages

This is an attached wooden pergola that offers both shade and a place to grow vines. The posts are very slim and are not meant to fully support the roof because this role is taken by the house wall.

Via Home Improvement Pages

Via Home Improvement Pages

Via Home Improvement Pages

Via DIY Network

Via HGTV

Via HGTV

Via Homedit

You May Like: Window Dressing Ideas For Patio Doors

Choosing The Right Location And Pergola Plans & Designs

Because this DIY pergola project is made to stand independent of the house, you can either locate it right near your house as we did or let it stand alone in the garden. You can also consider using wood chips or gravel as a floor or even pour a concrete slab underneath. By keeping it unattached , you dont have to deal with moving existing gutters or matching eaves. You also dont have to mess with frost footings . However, if you have clay soil, its best to dig to frost depth for your footings to prevent frost heave.

Our existing patio was built over a sand and compacted gravel base, so we removed only the stones necessary to dig the 12-in. diameter holes to secure the posts. Youll most likely have a different situation. Build a pergola over an existing patio saves you a lot of time, money and work.

If youll be adding a patio later, be sure to pour all the footings at the finished patio height as part of your pergola designs. Keep in mind any slope youll include in the patio. Most patios slope about 1/8 in. per foot to drain.

Choosing The Right Material When Building A Pergola On A Deck

[Look like] What does she look like? – Easy Dialogue – Role Play

When it comes to building a pergola on a deck, choosing the right material is vital. Old-style pergolas were often built with wood. However, these versions have significant drawbacks. Their lack of durability, increased expense for maintenance. Also, the fact that wood is less durable makes them cheaper in the short term but often far more expensive over time.

Thats why more and more homeowners are turning to next-generation aluminum pergolas designed to match every outdoor space and fit in all housing styles: modern, contemporary, or classic.

Read Also: Webbing For Outdoor Chairs

Adding A Pergola To Your Existing Deck

Building your own pergola on your deck? We admire your tenacity! As you enter the planning stages of adding a pergola to your existing deck, stick to these guidelines:

The number one priority with a pergola is structural security. To ensure safety, invest in durable materials that provide a durable base. When building a pergola atop your deck you will need high-quality hardware, including post bases that are designed to be seen, timber bolts to connect wood to wood for your top frame, and post-to-beam support, preferably thats been hot-dipped galvanized.

Before you begin building your pergola, check with your local building department to see if your project requires any permits.

Keep your pergola safe by avoiding materials that will make the structure top-heavy. When in doubt, go with fabric panels or light wood lattice. If youre not convinced your pergola is sturdy, veer on the side of caution and add railings in between the posts.

Theres no need to build your own with a Trex® Pergola kit you benefit from the incredible strength delivered by the all-aluminum design and stainless steel hardware. Choose between a wide variety of custom sizes, shapes, and styles for almost unlimited design options. You can even add a manually retractable fabric canopy system for maximum shade coverage.


RELATED ARTICLES

Most Popular