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Wooden pergolas can last five and 12 years as long as you maintain your pergola. Make sure to clean, stain, and seal wood pergolas every two to three years to protect the wood from insect damage, rot, and decay. 

Vinyl or aluminum pergolas can last a lifetime. The only problems you may encounter with these pergola materials are weather-related—heavy rain storms or snowfalls. Check the stability of your pergola every season. You may need to add new supports or replace broken beams on an as-needed basis.

Although dependent on the type and size of lumber, most 2-by-4-by-8-foot pieces of lumber cost anywhere from $3 to $6. Softwood lumber like pine falls on the lower end of the spectrum, while hardwood lumber like oak or walnut falls on the higher end. Different retailers and lumber yards can also vary in price, so it helps to shop around to compare prices.

On average, a prefabricated pergola kit takes one to four hours to build. Prefabricated pergolas are the fastest to install and could save you money, while custom pergolas can take several days to install, ranging from eight to 16 hours. The number of workers on the project can also impact how long it takes to install a pergola. 

If you need to build a concrete slab, level your property, or remove obstacles from your yard before building a pergola, then your project could take several weeks to complete.

A pergola needs to be anchored, and typically, concrete is the best anchor option. Pergolas should be anchored to a concrete slab or concrete footings, and this is commonly required by municipal building codes. When applying for a permit to install a pergola, be sure to check the anchoring requirements as well.