How To Find the Right Pergola for Your Backyard
You’ve decided you want a pergola. Great choice. But the second you start shopping, you realize there are about a dozen different styles, materials, and price points staring you down. So how do you pick? Let’s review how to find the right pergola for your backyard.
Size and Scale Need to Match Your Space
A pergola that’s too small for your patio looks awkward, whereas one that’s too big crowds your yard and blocks natural light from inside your home.
Measure your usable outdoor space before you start comparing sizes. Leave at least 3 feet of clearance between the pergola’s edge and any fence, wall, or garden bed. If you’re planning to put furniture under it, sketch out a rough layout first and size up from there.
Contemplate Material Choices
The three most common pergola materials are wood, aluminum, and vinyl. Each one comes with a distinct set of trade-offs.
Wood looks natural, but it requires the most maintenance. Expect to reseal or repaint every few years, and watch for rot and insect damage. Aluminum is low maintenance, doesn’t rust, and holds up better over time than wood in most climates. It’s the most popular choice. Vinyl is the most affordable option and requires almost no maintenance, but it’s less durable than aluminum and can yellow or crack.
If you want something that’ll still look good in fifteen years without a lot of upkeep, aluminum is worth the higher upfront cost.
Consider Attached vs. Freestanding
An attached pergola connects directly to your home. It creates a seamless indoor-outdoor transition, and it can sometimes tie into your home’s roofline for better structural support.
A freestanding pergola stands on its own anywhere in your yard. You have more flexibility for placement, and installation is typically simpler. The trade-off is that a freestanding structure doesn’t benefit from your home’s support, so it needs extra secure footings and anchoring.
Either way, check with your municipality about permit requirements before you buy. Some areas require permits for any permanent outdoor structure over a certain size.
Don’t Skip the Roof System
Open-lattice pergolas are the most common style you’ll see, but they’re also the least functional from a weather protection standpoint. If your goal is to use your outdoor space more days of the year, you need a better roof system.
It’s no wonder that motorized louvered systems are so popular for this very reason: They let you adjust the angle of the roof blades based on sun position or weather. When it’s raining, you can close the slats to protect the furniture underneath. When it’s sunny again, you can open the slats to let light filter through.
Now You’re Ready to Shop for the Right Pergola
Finding the right pergola for your backyard is much simpler once you know what size, material, installation method, and roof system you need. Figure these details out, and you should end up with an outdoor structure that you absolutely love.
