Pergola Buying Guide
A pergola is an airy structure over your deck or patio that creates a definition of space. Although they are traditionally created from wood, they can also be made from vinyl, metal, stone, or a combination of all these elements. Placing a pergola over your patio furniture will instantly give your space the esthetic feel of an outdoor room.
Pergola vs. Gazebo vs. Pavilion
People often ask me the difference between a pergola vs. a gazebo vs. a pavilion. Here's how I define them:
Pergola
A pergola is an airy, rectangular structure having a flat top with exposed beams that are open to the elements. A pergola can be freestanding or attached to a house wall; it can be covered by lattice or a shade sail if more shade is desired.
Gazebo
A gazebo is a freestanding, multi-sided structure (commonly square or octagon) with a solid, pitched roof that provides shade and shelter from rain. Seasonal gazebos usually have canvas roofs that can be removed for the winter.
Pavilion
A pavilion is a structure with a permanent roof, typically built more substantially than a gazebo. In a private yard, a pavilion can sometimes be designed to be an extension of the house often matching the decor of the house with the same trim color, style, building materials and roofing as the house. A pavilion often has hard-wired electricity for lighting, ceiling fans, TV, refrigerator, etc.
Pergola Buying Guide
This post focuses on pergola structures because they are, in my opinion, the easiest way for do-it-yourselfers to create the feel of an outdoor room. There are several ways to build a pergola depending on your budget and skill level.
Scratch-built Pergola
Building a pergola from scratch is the best way to get exactly what you want. You can design it to exactly match your space and style. You get to select the wood, usually pressure treated or cedar, and you get to decide if you want to leave it natural, stain it or paint it. You can make it completely unique, or you can match certain design elements from your home. It's all up to you.
Scratch-built curved pergola over my patio
If you enjoy working with wood and have some basic power tools, you can build a pergola yourself. I built the above custom pergola in my backyard for less than $1,000 several years ago and it's still going strong. Mine is made from pressure treated lumber so it will last forever and stained white to match the trim on my house. I curved the front of the pergola to match my patio.
If you're not comfortable building your own pergola, you can hire a professional to build exactly what you want.
Don't worry about a lack of design skills. There are several pergola plans available on the Internet, including my design available in my store. It's a lot easier to alter an existing design to fit your needs rather than creating a new design from scratch.
Complete Pergola Kit
Complete pergola kits are available for people who have more money than skills or time. Although it won't be a completely custom design, most kit manufacturers allow you to select from multiple design options to create the perfect pergola for your space.
Complete pergola kit
The complete pergola kit pictured above features rough-sawn lumber, mahogany stain, and vinyl-wrapped columns. A complete pergola kit can cost 4-5 times a scratch-built pergola in the same size, depending on the options.
A pergola kit like this can be assembled in a single day with a few helpers. Many companies have a network of local installers if you don't want to built it yourself.
Hardware-only Kit
If a scratch-built pergola is too much work and a complete pergola kit is too expensive, there is another option. A company in Canada has recently started selling a DIY kit that includes all the necessary hardware to build a pergola using standard 4×4 posts.
Hardware-only pergola kit
The hardware-only pergola kit pictured above is shipped to you over the Internet but you purchase the wood locally so you get to choose if you want pressure-treated or something nicer, like cedar or redwood. Pressure-treated lumber is available at home centers and lumber yards, but you'll probably need to use a lumber yard for better species.
All the lumber will be pre-cut in standard sizes (8, 10 or 12 foot lengths) so you shouldn't need to cut anything. This kit can be assembled on a deck by two people in as little as 45 minutes using only a cordless drill/screwdriver.
The kit comes with all the metal parts and the sail shade top. It can also be customized to add side walls for privacy, like this one:
Hardware-only pergola kit
Which Option is Best for You?
A pergola is a great way to improve your outdoor living by turning your deck or patio into an outdoor room. There are plenty of pergola options available to homeowners depending on your budget and skill level.
If you're handy and have the time, you can save money by building a pergola from scratch.
If you don't have the time or skills to build a pergola from scratch, there are several kit options. Complete kits can be very expensive; hardware-only kits are much more reasonable if you don't mind sourcing your own lumber.
I recommend you explore all these options, watch the linked videos, and make the best decision for your situation.
Please feel free to post a comment below with any questions you may have!
