Why Pergolas Contractors Recommend This Addition

Pergolas are perfect for relaxing or dining outdoors. These outdoor spaces are created with cross rafters instead of walls, and they can be freestanding, which means that the pergolas contractor doesn’t need to attach the structure to any existing structure such as your home or the fence. Here are some reasons why contractors recommend building this interesting home addition:

Visual Interest

A pergola is ideal for showcasing plants and flowers in your backyard. Vines can grow over the rafters while hanging planters add visual interest. All weather fabrics draped from one post to the next also create a romantic look while providing additional protection from the elements.

Maximized Outdoor Space

Pergolas provide the ideal space for outdoor furniture, especially if one side is leaning on an existing structure like the wall of your home. The attached area allows shelter from wind and rain when you’re staying outdoors. A freestanding pergola can also provide protection when strategically placed in the yard.

A Good Project

Building a pergola is fairly easy if you have the right tools and possess the right skills. There are kits available that include pre-cut lumber and all of the necessary hardware, but if you don’t have the right tools, it can become a difficult task to accomplish. A pergolas contractor can eliminate the hassle of having to buy or rent these tools.

Sun and Shade

A major benefit of a pergola over a standard patio roof is the ability to determine how much sun or shade the structure provides. By studying the pergola’s area and the angle of the sun, one can control the amount of shade provided with the placement of the rafters. 

Top Materials to Use When Building Pergolas

There are many structures you can add to your backyard to liven it up, but perhaps the most popular today is a pergola. These structures are large and can be designed using many different materials. Here are several that are sweeping this market, and for good reason.

Wood

Wood is one of the most popular materials, sought after by many, because of its natural beauty. Each wood piece is different from the next so you can create a dynamic effect in your backyard. In the wood category, you can use teak, redwood, mahogany, and cedar. All of these choices are resistant to warping and rotting.

Metal

In terms of durability, it is hard to beat a metal pergola. You can use it to give your backyard a rustic, aged look. It can last for many years, but does have a tendency of rusting. Thankfully, you can buy metal materials that have been galvanized so that they last for a long time in any environment. If the metal is not galvanized, you can always go back and apply a powder-coat to it.

PVC

You may not have a lot of time to maintain your pergola over the years, in which case a PVC pergola is ideal. Thick PVC sections provide durability that wood simply can’t match. This material usually comes in a white color, a coveted feature if you want to bring warmth to your backyard.

The materials you use when building a pergola are important to consider. The choice is easy when you think about factors like costs, availability, and durability.

Top Materials to Use When Building Pergolas

There are many structures you can add to your backyard to liven it up, but perhaps the most popular today is a pergola. These structures are large and can be designed using many different materials. Here are several that are sweeping this market, and for good reason.

Wood

Wood is one of the most popular materials, sought after by many, because of its natural beauty. Each wood piece is different from the next so you can create a dynamic effect in your backyard. In the wood category, you can use teak, redwood, mahogany, and cedar. All of these choices are resistant to warping and rotting.

Metal

In terms of durability, it is hard to beat a metal pergola. You can use it to give your backyard a rustic, aged look. It can last for many years, but does have a tendency of rusting. Thankfully, you can buy metal materials that have been galvanized so that they last for a long time in any environment. If the metal is not galvanized, you can always go back and apply a powder-coat to it.

PVC

You may not have a lot of time to maintain your pergola over the years, in which case a PVC pergola is ideal. Thick PVC sections provide durability that wood simply can’t match. This material usually comes in a white color, a coveted feature if you want to bring warmth to your backyard.

The materials you use when building a pergola are important to consider. The choice is easy when you think about factors like costs, availability, and durability.

Tips When Building a Pergola

Pergolas are archways that give your backyard life and personality. In order to build one of these structures in a stress-free manner, there are plans you need to make first.

Permits

Before building one of these archways, you need to see if a permit is required. If you are part of a homeowner’s association, check with them or possibly with your local city building department. Typically, areas that get extreme weather will require a permit because the pergola needs to be sturdy and safe. You will also require permits depending on what you are doing to the pergola. If installing electric wiring, for instance, then you will definitely need one.

Contractors

If you don’t have any experience building these archways, it’s probably best to let a contractor oversee the project. Find one that is licensed and has prior experience with these types of work. These professionals, offering experience and resources, can do many things. They will inspect the area before the project starts. They’ll make sure there are not any sewer and electrical lines near the area, and any potential red flags are marked off appropriately.

Materials

Like with many projects, you need to think about the materials you want to use with the pergola. There are many great choices today, including redwood, cedar, and pressure treated pine. Wood is a popular choice because of its affordability and the natural beauty it brings to the area.

Building pergolas is more complex than just throwing materials together. It requires planning and sometimes even a professional touch to make them look great and structurally sound.