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Peter A. Kirsch-Korff
Beautiful Wood Arbors, Pergolas & Patio Covers
Los Angeles Pasadena Hancock Park Malibu Calabasas

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Wood Arbors, Pergolas, Patio Covers & Trellises

Looking for beautiful, affordable wood arbors, dining pergolas, patio covers and garden trellises? I design and build custom and high end wood arbors to reflect the architectural style of your home, whether you have a Spanish bungalow, Craftsman home, Mission style hacienda or Tropical estate. I create well built structures that give you a good return on your investment. I do all the work myself, so you don't have to deal with crews or brush up on a foreign language. And I build for one homeowner at a time so you don't have construction start and stop -- and stretch out for weeks. Below is my portfolio of arbor photos, as well as pricing for wood arbors in Los Angeles and a detailed arbor design guide.

Portfolio of Wood Arbors, Pergolas, Patio Covers & Trellises

My online portfolio features photos of my work so you can get an idea of the styles and types of wood arbors, pergolas, patio covers and trellises I can build. To see pricing, materials and other information about each arbor or pergola, just click on a photo. The more you know about what you like and don't like, the easier it is to create and build an arbor or patio cover you will be delighted with for years to come. For more arbor designs and ideas, check out the resources below.

Spanish & Mission Style Pergolas, Patio Covers & Trellises

Spanish Bungalow Dining Pergola

Mission Fence & Trellis with Arbor

Mangaris & Redwood Arbor, Deck, Benches

Mission Style Dining Pergola

Spanish Bungalow Lattice Patio Cover

Craftsman Style Arbors

Redwood Garden Arbor

Craftsman Wood Dining Arbor

Modern Patio Covers & Arbors

Modern Wood Dining Arbor with Lattice

Contemporary Style Pool Pergola

Modern Lattice Patio Cover

Modern Wood Arbor

Other Styles of Arbors, Pergolas & Trellises

Architectural Trellis

Hawaiian Wood Arbor

Modern Grape Arbor

Architectural Wood Trellis

Wood Pergola & Breezeway

Redwood Arbor over Deck

Arbor over Tennis Court Gate

Prices For Custom Wood Arbors, Pergolas & Patio Covers

The prices below are for well built wood arbors that look good and last for years. Unfortunately, not all wood arbors are built well, and it can be difficult for a layman to tell the

difference between a well built arbor and one that will start leaning in a few years. Good quality material and hardware, combined with superior building skills, make all the difference. The cost depends on the type of arbor, pergola, patio cover or trellis you are looking for:basic, custom or high end.

A basic arbor or pergola is a simple wood structure and runs $2,000 to $4,000. For this type of structure you want to find a basic arbor builder, so please see my related links. A custom arbor or patio cover costs from $5,000 to $10,000 based on complexity, overall size, height, beam size and wood type. A high end arbor or pergola reflects an investment in your home and can cost from$10,000 to $20,000+.

If you are purchasing a pre-made arbor, gazebo or trellis, remember to include the cost of on-site installation in your budget. You can also read about comparing estimates for more information.

Design Guide for Arbors, Pergolas & Patio Covers

This design guide provides information on how to create a great arbor or patio cover design which reflects the architectural look of your home and meets your functionality needs and budget.

Types of Structures
There are several types of structures you can have built, and what they are called depends on how you will use them:

an arbor is an open beamed structure set in a garden and is designed to support plants a pergola is traditionally a covered walkway but also refers to an open beamed structure used for dining and entertaining a patio cover is a temporary or permanent covering placed over an existing raised

platform, patio area or concrete pad

a gazebo is usually a structure used for shelter and viewing the garden a pavilion is a roofed, outdoor room with open sides

Design Elements For Wood Arbors, Pergolas & Patio Covers

The style of your arbor, pergola or patio cover is created with design and construction components. By changing these key design elements and details, you can create a specific style or a totally unique design:

post size (4 x 4, 6 x 6 or round columns) cross beam and rafter size joinery techniques (decorative pegs, notched or interlocking beams) overhead pattern and complexity (1,2,3+ tiers of beams, corbels and rafters) finishing touches (decorative end beam cuts) wood texture, color and finish decorative metalwork night time and accent lighting

Harmonizing Your Arbor With Your Home & Garden

Your arbor, pergola or patio cover should harmonize with the style of your home and garden:

a formal structure for a formal garden a classic design for a classically laid out garden a flowing design for a garden with swept paths and flowing planting borders

If your home has a distinctive architectural or artistic style, you may want to have your arbor, pergola or patio cover match it.

Craftsman & Greene and Greene Arbors ~ Start with smooth planed wood beams and posts. Add in simple yet strongly defined joinery. Add in "japanese" style joinery and decorative pegs for a Greene & Greene look. Embellish with latticed accents, trellises, craftsman style lighting fixtures and copper accents for this style.

Mission & Spanish Arbors ~ Use large, heavy beams, corbels and decorative beam end cuts to create this look. Then add rough metal work and period lighting to complete it. Modern & Asian Arbors ~ Create a sleek design that echoes the elegance and simplicity of these styles. Accent with minimalist or traditional Asian lighting fixtures for nighttime use and garden viewing. Medieval, Tudor & Mediterranean Arbors ~ Start with heavy beams and posts and assemble them using simple period joinery. Use carved accents, decorative metalwork and candle lanterns for finish accents. Stain or paint a dark color.

In addition, the overall dimensions should also fit with the proportions of your garden, home and other outdoor structures. If your arbor is intended to support plants, the size and proportions should be appropriate and provide enough strength for the size, weight and density of the plant. For example, wisteria (a common Southern California arbor vine) requires a much more substantial structure over its lifetime, than does a climbing rose. The final color should compliment the colors used in your landscaping. If you want to blend into the landscaping, the natural color of the wood or browns and greens work well. If you want the structure to stand out or highlight nearby plants, strong colors like white or black can be used.

Design Criteria & Location Considerations

Use ~ The first step is to determine all the ways you plan to use the structure. That will help determine design requirements and the right type of structure to build. Arbors are typically associated with growing and supporting plants. Pavilions are roofed, open rooms. Pergolas are a blend of the two and create semi open roofed spaces for entertaining. Whichever structure is appropriate, design issues will include:

roof support strength (heavier plants require larger beams) ceiling patterns (open beam, patterned, lattice or trellis) decorative rafter cuts number and height of tiers (multiple levels of overhead beams and rafters) built-in activity features (benches, storage, fire pits, and barbecues) utilities (electricity for lights for night time reading or entertaining, outlets for stereo and appliances, gas for overhead heaters, and water for overhead

misters)

Size & Shape ~ The minimum size will be determined by the activities and furniture you want under it (or nearby). The design will also be influenced by the need to keep it in proportion to the size and spaciousness of the surrounding structures and garden. The shape can be customized to fit and compliment natural features in your garden, such as wrapping around or enclosing a tree, reflecting the curve of a stream or conforming to a rock formation. Access ~ Pathways and gates should be designed to provide convenient access to and from the structure, house, garden and other key areas, such as the driveway, pool or tennis court. View ~ Determine the garden and house views you want, and if any views need to screened off for privacy. Framed openings can be created to enhance viewing of special garden features like ponds, herb gardens, or sundials. Sunlight ~ The amount of sunlight and heat exposure can be a factor in orienting the structure and its roof design. Consider where furniture should be placed to catch the sunlight or shade. Also consider if you want to install temporary overhead shading during the summer months or shelter during the winter months if your foliage (such as grape leaves) is not abundant enough. Water ~ Excessive moisture (from sprinklers and deep shade) can lead to premature aging, musty smells and structural damage from rot. The structure should be designed to shed rain and dew readily and dry out thoroughly, especially if it will be covered by vines or plants. Good drainage away from the area is also required. Wind ~ In areas with high winds or gusts, you may want to create an area protected from the wind. Strong or regular winds may require a more substantial design to handle the force or building it in a more protected area.

Wood, Hardware & Design Options For Arbors & Pergolas

Materials ~ Your arbor, pergola or pavilion can be built of Redwood, Mangaris (Red Balau) or other woods. More expensive woods can be used for joint accents, decorative pegs and trim. The substructure framing should be built of pressure treated wood for durability. See below for details. Finishes ~ Heat and light contribute to weathering, so a UV protection finish is very important. If it will eventually be covered with hard to remove plants, applying a

thorough coating is critical. Stains (clear, tinted, or solid) and paint are popular finish choices.

Custom Touches ~ Post feet can be boxed with decorative trim. Decorative beam end cuts can echo those used on the house. Post caps and finials can match those used on fences, gates and other structures. Access panels for utilities can be inset or trimmed with molding. Beams and rafters can be notched and stacked in tiers for additional strength and visual interest. Built-ins ~ Consider how built-in features can enhance your usage. Benches (with built in storage) can be added and fireplaces can add romance and warmth to increase usage during the evenings and winter months. Metalwork ~ Blackened, wrought iron or copper post braces, lanterns and accents can add style, strength and functionality. Lighting ~ The placement and type of lighting can evoke both a style and a mood. Lanterns hung from ceiling beams, side mounted sconces, track or spot lighting or a central chandelier all create an immediate sense of style. Low mood lighting can softly illuminate pathways and steps as well as create a romantic atmosphere.

Selecting The Right Wood For Your Arbor or Pergola

To make sure you are delighted with your custom arbor, pergola, patio cover or trellis -- you want to choose the right building material. In Los Angeles, the popular wood (and composite) choices allow you to make tradeoffs in terms of cost, quality, color, visual appearance, ease of maintenance and the ability to resist the elements (water, sun and pests). You need to select materials for ...

the framing (posts and cross pieces) used to support the weight of the your arbor the wood used for roofing, trim and accents

Wood For Framing & Substructures

The first type of wood to choose is for your framing -- the structure that holds your arbor upright and to which you attach the beams, lattice and roofing.

Pressure Treated Wood ~ For hidden framing, I only use pressure treated lumber

(see photo). This wood is treated with a variety of chemicals to make it resistant to termites and rot. In the last few years, a major change has been made to the preservatives used -- they are safer for the environment but less effective.

Redwood ~ For visible framing, such as arbor posts and cross beams you can upgrade to redwood for a better appearance.

Wood Choices For Arbors, Pergolas, Patio Covers and Trellises

There are two choices for these larger structures. Based on your needs and budget, I can also build out of other woods.

Redwood ~ A distinctive pink/red colored wood which ages to gray. The red heartwood is naturally resistant to damage from termites and moisture. Any white part of a redwood board, known as sapwood, has little resistance to termites and rot. I use Construction Grade Heart Redwood, commonly known as Con Heart (see photo), which has no sapwood and some knots. For a beautiful and durable structure, this is your most cost effective choice. I can also use more expensive grades of redwood, if your budget permits. Mangaris (Red Balau) ~ A dense grained, reddish-brown hardwood (see photo)from Indonesia/Thailand that ages to a silver gray like Teak. It stains up like Mahogany and is more durable than Redwood. For a high end structure of exceptional durability and striking looks, consider Mangaris. See the rich color of the unstained wood (see photo).

Related Links and Resources

I specialize in creating client inspired designs. So if you see what you want (or something close), we can use that as a starting point for your design. If you need ideas and inspiration, check out these resources, clip magazine pictures, look through your vacation photos and keep an eye out for what you like in the neighborhood. Here are a few books I recommend.

Garden Structures (Smith & Hawken) This book has lots of ideas and photos of arbors, trellises and other garden elements such as fences, pergolas and patio covers.LA Public Library book

American Horticultural Society Practical Guides: Arches & Pergolas From the simple to the complex, there are lots of ideas about how to design and build great vertical structures that enhance the mood and style of your outdoor garden.

Trellises, Arbors and Pergolas: Ideas and Plans for Garden Structures by Better Homes and Gardens This book is an excellent resource for ideas with photos and designs for specific styles as well as showing design variations. LA Public Library book

Trellises and Arbors by Scott Atkinson This book offers lots of photos of over 100 gardens with arbors and trellises. Use it to get ideas and be inspired. LA Public Library book

Trellises & Arbors: Landscape & Design Ideas, Plus Projects by Bill Hylton This book features 42 designs for arbors and trellises in a variety of styles. LA Public Library book

Gazebos & Other Outdoor Structures by the Editors of Creative Homeowner This book is full of ideas for outdoor retreats and structures, such as gazebos, pavilions, arbors and pergolas.

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Fences, Gates and Trellises by James Barrett This book features many inspirational photos and ideas for trellises and more.

I also recommend checking out these online resources for more ideas.

American Horticultural Society: Arches & Pergolas by Richard Key How to book with 30+ photos of beautiful arches and pergolas, along with plant suggestions and building advice. LA Public Library book Image Search You can search the image archives at Google Images, Yahoo Images, Bing or your favorite search engine to find inspiration from architectural showcase homes, historical buildings and DIY projects.

Out of Area Builders

Unfortunately, since I build everything on site, I can not build and ship you an arbor or pergola. If you live outside of the Los Angeles area and want to find a beautiful pre-made arbor or local builder, check out these online sites:

TaoHerbFarm.com Supplier of pre-made arbors, pergolas, trellises and other outdoor structures. Their site features over 80 photos of the products they sell. Artistic Decks & Arbors of Dallas TX This company builds custom decks, arbors, patio covers, fences and gates and their

site features over 100+ photos of their work.

Elyira Fence Company of Northern Ohio This firm builds custom arbors, fences, gates and decks in Ohio and their work is featured in the Trellises & Arbors book. Their site features over 40 photos of their work. Trellis Structures of Boston, MA This company manufactures pre-made arbors, trellises, pergolas, garden furniture and more -- and ships throughout the USA. Their site features over 50 photos of the products they make. (Remember to include local installation in your budget.) Fine House, Ltd of Virginia A supplier of high end pre-made arbors and pergolas, as well as building plans. (Remember to add the cost of local assembly to your budget.)

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