What Is a Pergola and What Is It Used For?
If you’re looking for shade, a pergola has you covered (literally)
Highlights
Building a pergola costs between $2,100 and $6,400, depending on size and materials.
Pergolas are either free-standing or attached to a home to extend the living space.
Pergolas are highly customizable in terms of size, shape, and materials.
Constructing a pergola can boost your home’s value by up to 55% of the cost of the outdoor structure.
If you’re looking to add a shady sanctuary to your yard, a pergola is an alluring option. Similarly to a patio, a pergola offers a picturesque place to host gatherings or relax. These outdoor structures are different from patios, though. Read on for everything you need to know about pergolas and find out if you should add one to your outdoor space.
What Is a Pergola?
A pergola is a long, narrow structure with four free-standing pillars or columns that support a slatted roof. Pergolas can be attached to a home or detached, aka free-standing. Most types of pergolas are topped with a series of cross beams for a thatched appearance and airflow.
In general, pergolas provide shade and cover to a patio or terrace. Because they’re often built onto a home, they extend your living area into your yard or garden. Most people use them to host outdoor meals, though their design is also well-suited to growing vines and hanging plants. Hiring a local backyard landscaper to plant and care for greenery can add to a pergola’s appeal.
Along with providing a place to cool off and hide from the sun, a pergola can increase a home’s resale value. Pergolas can add 55% of their cost to the total value of your house.
Pergolas vs. Other Outdoor Structures
It can be difficult to distinguish among outdoor structures. Here’s a quick breakdown of the differences between the most common styles.
Pergola vs. Arbor
Arbors are smaller than pergolas and not as architecturally complex. They’re completely free-standing and are often fashioned with a curved arch. Similarly to pergolas, arbors are constructed from hatched crossbeams and are suitable for growing vines.
Pergola vs. Gazebo
Unlike pergolas, gazebos have closed roofs and are circular instead of rectangular. They’re also free-standing and usually elevated rather than flush against the ground. If you’re comparing cost in the pergola versus gazebo debate, pergolas are more affordable.
Pergola vs. Trellis
Though a trellis is a lot like a pergola in design, a trellis is a lot longer, more narrow, and free-standing. You’ll see trellises used as garden walkways more often than spots for hanging out.
Types of Pergolas
Pergolas are customizable to your needs and the layout of your yard. While they’re each built differently, they all provide shade and protection from the elements. Get in touch with a local pergola builder to find out which one is right for you.
Free-Standing
As the name suggests, free-standing pergolas are a structure to themselves. They aren’t attached to a home or other structure. You’ll find free-standing pergolas by pools, in a home garden, or in another liveable outdoor space further from the home.
Attached
If stability is your main concern, an attached pergola is a great choice, as they’re built off of one or more sides of a home, making them more steady. Attached pergolas are often used for indoor/outdoor living since they give you the ability to walk outside and right into the shade. You might see a dining set staged under an attached pergola.
Arched
This type of pergola has an arched top instead of a flat roof like other pergolas, creating the appearance of more space under the structure. You’ll commonly find arched pergolas used as covered walkways in commercial spaces. They may be more ornate and feature climbing plants or lighting. Arched pergolas can also be used at home, incorporated into an attached or free-standing design.
Louver
Sometimes called modular, louvered pergolas provide versatility. Each rafter is adjustable, meaning you can close or open them to let air flow in or keep rain out. Louvered pergolas can be manual or electronic. A louvered pergola could be an added design element to an attached or free-standing pergola.
Smart
Smart pergolas, part of the louvered pergola family, live up to their name. These advanced pergolas often have rain and sun sensors that tell the pergola when to shut or open the roof slats based on weather conditions. They also connect to your smartphone or voice-activated virtual assistants, like Alexa, so that you can open or close your pergola with the touch of a button or just a simple phrase.
Awning
An awning pergola is an attached pergola where the top mounts onto the side of the building. The top panel is shallow and doesn’t require additional support beyond the attached wall.
Awning-style pergolas aren’t common in residential projects. You’re more likely to spot them at a restaurant or outside a commercial storefront. If you do see them residentially, it may be on the side of a garage or over windows and doors.
Pros and Cons of Pergolas
Thinking about adding a pergola to your yard? Consider the pros and cons before breaking ground.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Affordable | Ongoing maintenance |
| DIY-friendly | Vulnerable to pests |
| Protection from elements | Limited longevity |
| Customizable | |
| Adds livable space |
Pros
Affordable: Compared to a home addition or gazebo, pergolas are affordable ways to add more liveable space to your home.
DIY-friendly: You can purchase prefabricated pergolas to build a pergola yourself over a weekend or create your own design.
Protection: If your backyard gets full sun, a pergola can provide much-needed shade so that you can enjoy the space during the hottest days.
Customizable: From free-standing and attached to arched or louvered, you have many choices to customize pergolas to fit the needs of your yard.
Adds liveable space: A pergola creates another entertaining space in your home, making the property feel bigger.
Cons
Ongoing maintenance: You’ll need to sand and restain your pergola every few years. If you don’t set aside time for ongoing maintenance, the structure could fall and damage your property.
Pests: A wooden pergola could be attractive to termites or other pests.
Longevity: Lots of pergolas are made from cedar. No matter how often you stain or seal it, this wood can fade over time and change color.
Frequently Asked Questions
The cost of a pergola varies depending on the style you choose. The average price is between $2,100 and $6,400 for materials and installation. On the low end, a standard pergola will cost between $20 and $55 per square foot, while a retractable pergola will cost between $900 and $3,000 to build. If you plan to build the pergola over a pre-existing deck or patio, that will increase the cost.
Though this is a project that can be DIY-ed—there are kits available for $600 to $7,500—hiring a pergola pro will ensure the final product is structurally sound. A savvy homeowner may already have all the necessary tools and know-how to build a DIY pergola, but the difference in cost isn’t that much, and having help will make the process easier in general.