PERGOLA

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF A PERGOLA?

Pergolas have centuries behind them. With Italian essence ingrained in their distinct structures,
they boast a creation dating back to medieval times. These charming, open-air structures are
secured with four posts or columns and topped with cross beams or lattices. The airy structures
are commonly made of wood, vinyl, or aluminum.
But of course, you’re wondering, what is the purpose of a pergola? Pergolas are most often
installed on pavers or a concrete patio and allow for outdoor furniture and or grilling equipment
to be placed underneath it. Pergolas are a great way to make a part of your backyard space a
central hangout spot.
LET’S EXPLORE THE 5 PURPOSES OF A PERGOLA.
1. PERGOLAS CREATE VERSATILE SHADE
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 sun’s location.
Retractable canopies aren’t 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.
2. PERGOLAS BEAUTIFY YOUR BACKYARD
You have an eye for beauty and one that sees very well, for pergolas display undeniable beauty in
their elegant structure. Their design is meant to add a stylish touch to any backyard, patio, or
pool area. While their structures alone can turn the eye, possibilities for enhancing the beauty,
style, or elegance of your pergola are endless.
First, you have the option of what material should make up your pergola. Pergolas for sale are
available in wood, vinyl, aluminum, and fiberglass. Depending on your style, these different
materials add rustic, modern, classy, or elegant beauty to your pergola structure.
Another way to add an extra touch to your pergola is by hanging plants or growing roses,
wisteria, honeysuckle, or grapes vines through the beams. Give your pergola a romantic feel and
some added dusk lighting by draping lights around the posts or through the cross beams. If you
want to add a Greek touch, hang pergola curtains or pieces of colored, linen fabric around the
outside or through the cross beams.
More than stand-alone beauties, pergolas offer a wonderful framework to add your own special
and beautifying touches.
3. PERGOLAS OFFER A PLEASANT HOSPITABLE OUTDOOR SPOT
Whether you wish to host a barbeque, provide a beautiful, memorable location for a small
wedding, or simply enjoy a cup of hot coffee all by yourself, pergolas were designed for these
exact moments. Pergolas draw people in with their shade and beauty. They offer a central
location for friends and family to come together and the perfect spot to eat, sit, or play games.
They add an attractive, fun, and stylish plus to any party, cookout, or wedding and can also be an
inviting entryway to a garden.
Their design is all about inclusion, yet privacy can also be afforded with added drapes,
latticework, or screens. When you look out your window, you want your wood pergola to be the
one sweet spot that always makes you smile.
4. PERGOLAS ADD LASTING VALUE TO YOUR HOME
You may wonder if pergolas are worth the investment. Are pergolas really worth it? Yes,
pergola’s 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.
5. PERGOLAS OFFER AFFORDABLE BEAUTY
Many questions fill your mind as you consider the possibility of owning a pergola, and
understandably, you may wonder if these Italian beauties are affordable? Pergolas are a more
affordable choice, especially compared to their friendly competitor’s gazebos and pavilions.
While gazebos and pavilions easily cost over $4000, the average cost of a custom pergola is
around $3,500 with labor and materials included. If you build it yourself the price drops to about
$3,000. Available as a cheaper option, there are do-it-yourself pergola kits that usually cost
around $1,500 to $2,000 depending on the square footage.
Alternatively, if you are desiring to invest in a high-end pergola, the price comes closer to
$7,000. For more detailed guidance in understanding the cost of pergolas follow this link to How
Much Does it Cost to Build a Pergola. Take your time to research and become comfortable with
the cost of a pergola that fits right into your budget. Pergolas were designed to be an affordable
investment in cultivating your love for the outdoors and in your desire to have others enjoy your
outdoor space with you.
HOW TO BUILD A PERGOLA
Top tip - Hard surfaces
Post supports let you put up a pergola or another garden structure on your concrete terrace or
patio. Use a hammer-action drill and screw them firmly in place with expanding masonry bolts.

Step 1
Lay the three upright posts for one side of your pergola on the ground. Cut two lengths of timber
to 1.22m and use them to mark the correct distance between the uprights, top and bottom.

Step 2
Lay a rafter in position, jutting 200mm from the edges of the outer posts. Then mark the outline
of the post tops on the rafter. As the timbers may not be identical, it's a good idea to number each
upright and the rafter in pencil so you can match them up again. Repeat this process with the
other side of the pergola.
Step 3
Cut out the housing with a saw, wood chisel and mallet. Make sure that it's a neat, tight fit.

Step 4
Profile the ends of the rafters and crossbeams. Then measure 25mm down from the top and
75mm in from the outer edge. Draw a line between these points with a pencil and extend it
square down the adjacent faces of the timber. Then saw off the marked wedge - or if you prefer,
you could design a decorative profile of your own.

Step 5
Use the rafters as a guide to help you mark out the post holes. Square their ends with a length of
timber and line them up exactly parallel using a 1.32m measure. This'll give you the precise
position for the centre of each post hole. Mark these with canes, then remove the timbers and dig
the holes to a depth of 450mm.
Step 6
Fit the posts into the housings in the rafters. Then drill pilot holes and secure them with two
125mm galvanised nails.

Top tip - Tight fit

Your pergola posts should fit tightly into the housing in the rafters, so you'll need to tap them in
with a wooden mallet. To avoid bruising the wood, hold an off-cut of timber between the mallet
and rafter.

Step 7
Use the 1.22m length of wood to space the uprights accurately and a try square to check they're
square to the rafter. After that, brace the structure with three lengths of timber.

Step 8
Raise one side of your pergola into the post holes and prop it up with temporary supports.
Double-check the posts are vertical and in line with each other and that the rafter is level.
Step 9
Raise the other side of the pergola and use a spirit level to make sure both rafters are at the same
height. You may have to adjust the depth of the holes when doing this. Finally, concrete the posts
in and leave them to set for 48 hours.