What Is a Pergola and What Is It Used For?

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

• 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.