What is a pergola and what are they used for?
Pergola is a structure that can be used as an outdoor living space. It’s typically built on the ground, but it doesn’t always have to be. Pergolas are often used to provide shade and shelter for guests around your home or business. They’re also great places to hang out with friends and family!
What benefits do pergolas have?
Pergola Benefits
- Extends Your Living Space. If your yard is just a treeless patch of grass, it isn’t very inviting and can get really hot when the sun beats down on ...
- Installing a Pergola Adds Value to Your Home. Hardscaping is an excellent investment because buyers find a stylish backyard irresistible. ...
- Makes Up for a Lack of a Patio, Porch or Deck. ...
Do pergolas provide a lot of shade?
Do Pergolas Provide Shade? Yes, even though pergolas have an open rafter-styled roof, they provide plenty of shade depending on the angle of the rafter. The pergola can give up to 90% of shade while allowing full airflow between the slats. Some pergolas also have an option to add drop shades and privacy panels onto the sides.
What is the purpose of a pergola?
To put it simply, a pergola is an outdoor structure that is built out of vertical beams and roof beams without any walls. A pergola can be customized to just about any space. The purpose of a pergola three-fold. Pergolas allow you to create a shaded space for your outdoor area while adding some aesthetic appeal to the exterior of your home.
What kind of structure is a pergola?
While an arbor is a smaller structure, pergolas tend to be much larger outdoor shade structures. They include a lattice-style roof that is supported by posts and are used to cover and define larger areas, including entire patios or outdoor seating areas.
Is a pergola a garden structure?
A pergola is a structure that creates a sheltered area within your garden. The garden structure is made up from posts that support the roof grid of beams and rafters. They can be free standing or attached to your house, depending on the style of your garden. Pergolas can make your garden more visually appealing.
Do you need planning permission for a pergola?
You will need planning permission for your pergola if it is in a conservation area or on the side of your house between the house and the boundary wall. If your house is in a conservation area and your pergola is more than 20m from the house and greater than 10 square meters, you will need planning permission.
What is an outdoor covered structure called?
A freestanding structure with an open roof that is supported by columns or posts. A pergola may be used to cover a walkway or to provide filtered shade for an outdoor living space. The word pergola has come to be used interchangeably with patio cover. Patio cover.
What is wood structure in garden called?
A pergola is a wooden garden feature traditionally used to provide a shaded walkway, passageway or seating area in a garden. They usually have trained flowering vine plants growing up and along the structure to create beautiful overhead sun protection.
What is a pergola with a roof called?
Pergolas with a roof are often referred to as pavilions. Although they are quite similar in design, a pavilion is a freestanding pergola with a fixed roof that generally completely covers the pergola.
Can I put a roof on my pergola?
Yes, you can put a roof on a pergola.
What is the maximum height for a pergola?
If you want one for larger gatherings, the maximum height of the pergola is eight feet and two inches. If it is being put farther away from the property line, the height can increase to nine feet and 10 inches. If you decide to go for a pitched roof, the maximum height can be 13 feet.
How high can a structure be in a garden?
it will be more than one storey high. it will be more than 4m high with a pitched roof or 3m high with a flat roof. If it will be within 2m of the boundary of the house, it must be 2.5m high.
What is an outdoor structure?
Outdoor structures are multi-functional and multi-seasonal additions to an exterior living space. These features provide protection from the elements, define space, and offers refuge from the stresses of daily life.
What is a pergola attached to a house called?
An outdoor structure of any size that uses joists and rafters for shade with at least one side attached to a home or another building.
What is a pergola without a roof called?
Open-Top. As we previously mentioned, most pergolas are designed with an open-roof design that allows for sufficient sunlight and air circulation. Open-top pergolas are most often placed in the garden to create an appealing focal point and can add even more beauty to the space with the help of trailing vines.
What is an outdoor structure?
Outdoor structures are multi-functional and multi-seasonal additions to an exterior living space. These features provide protection from the elements, define space, and offers refuge from the stresses of daily life.
What is another word for pergola?
arborOther words for pergola are trellis or arbor. When gardeners plant climbing roses or ivy or other plants that like to wind upward around supports as they grow, they often use a pergola.
What do you call a shelter in the garden?
Gazebos are freestanding or attached to a garden wall, roofed, and open on all sides. They provide shade, shelter from rain and a place to rest, while acting as an ornamental feature.
What is the difference between a pergola and a Pergoda?
The pergola and pergoda are very similar concepts. Both are structures designed to provide shading in outdoor areas. The main difference is that pergodas feature a solid roof made up of slats, whereas pergolas feature a sliding or louvred roof for greater versatility.
What Does A Pergola Cost?
A pergola costs somewhere between $500 and $5000 to buy. The cost of building one costs less as far as materials are concerned and more as far as l...
How Do You Pronounce Pergola?
Pergola is pronounced pr-gow-luh with American pronunciation and puh-guh-luh with British pronunciation. Try not to be self-conscious of your own p...
What Is The History Of The Pergola?
It's possible that no one knows when the first pergola was built. More than likely, it was built by the Egyptian high court for a hanging garden. T...
Are Pergolas Always Attached To A House?
No. You can attach a pergola to your house or you can allow it to be a freestanding pergola. It doesn't change the term of the structure because it...
Do You Need A Permit To Build A Pergola?
It depends on your region. To be safe, you should seek out local building permits as the word "pergola" isn't listed in many codes. Asking is your...
How many square feet does a pergola cover?
In other states, pergolas can cover 200 square feet of ground space. The same guidelines applies to walls. From finished floor to roofline, this height can range anywhere from 10 to 15 feet. Depending on the local ordinance, an accessory structure may not be air-conditioned or contain more than two plumbing fixtures.
Do you need a permit for a pergola?
In this respect, an outdoor kitchen with a pergola roof may need a building permit depending on the home’s specific location.
Is a pergola a permanent structure?
Just like freestanding gazebos, playhouses, storage sheds, and detached carports, pergolas are generally considered an accessory structure– not permanent. An accessory structure, for residential purposes, is non-habitable. In other words, it is not used for permanent dwellings or sleeping quarters.
What Is a Pergola?
A pergola is a long, narrow structure that uses four freestanding pillars or columns to support a roof. It can be attached directly to a home or completely freestanding. The most common versions are topped with a series of cross beams for a thatched appearance, but there are also retractable, smart, and louvered options for different preferences.
What Is a Pergola Used For and What Are Its Benefits?
In general, pergolas provide shade and cover to a patio or terrace. Because they’re often built directly into a home, they extend your living area into your garden. Most people use them to host outdoor meals, though their design is uniquely suited to growing vines and displaying hanging plants.
What is an arbor?
Arbors are typically much smaller than pergolas and not as architecturally complex. Most of the time, they’re completely freestanding and are usually fashioned with a curved arch. Arbors are constructed from hatched crossbeams and are also suitable for growing vines.
What is a smart pergola?
Smart pergolas can be opened or closed automatically depending on the weather or manually via a remote or smartphone. Plus, a retractable pergola is equipped with a canopy that can be manually or digitally moved on or off.
How much does a pergola cost?
The cost of a pergola will vary greatly depending on the style you’ve chosen. In general, the average price is between $2,128 and $5,859 for materials and installation. If you’re planning on building the pergola over a pre-existing deck or patio, that may also increase the cost. Here’s the breakdown by type.
How much does a pergola add to the value of a house?
Along with providing a place to cool off and hide from the sun, a pergola can significantly increase a home’s resale value. Building one in your yard can add 55% of their cost to the value of your house.
Is it possible to build a pergola?
Building a pergola is a relatively doable way to spice up your outdoor space. Keep reading to find out how much it will cost, what tools and materials you’ll need, and if it’s a project you can DIY.
What Is A Pergola?
According to Merriam-Webster, the pergola definition is, “a structure usually consisting of parallel colonnades supporting an open roof of girders and cross rafters.” But let us put that in layman’s terms.
What is the difference between an arbor and a pergola?
Arbors and pergolas are very similar. The biggest difference is size. Arbors are also open and can be walked under like pergolas . But arbors are much smaller and usually used in the garden or as an arch.
What Is A Pergola Carport?
A pergola carport is a carport made out of a pergola. It is a pergola that is used to park your car underneath. Having a carport is a wonderful thing when you don’t have space for a garage, especially if you want it to be mobile.
What is a trellis made of?
A trellis isn’t too similar to a pergola but it is a wall that has latticework. Some arbors are called trellises because they are made of lattice and have plants growing on them, which is the purpose of a trellis.
What is the best way to make the most of your outdoor space?
There are many different types of structures you can use outside in order to make the most of your outdoor space. One of these unique structures is called a pergola and it is one of the best options out there.
Why do people like pergolas?
Some people just like the way that pergolas look. They offer a nice summertime aesthetic so it’s easy to see why some people choose them for this reason. They are wide, open, and can have plants grown around them.
What is a pavilion?
So it can be difficult to tell a pavilion apart from other structures like it. But in short, a pavilion is a more generic term for this type of structure and most often refers to a large open gazebo that isn’t attached to another structure.
What is a pergola?
A pergola is a garden feature forming a shaded walkway, passageway, or sitting area of vertical posts or pillars that usually support cross-beams and a sturdy open lattice, often upon which woody vines are trained . As a type of gazebo, it may also be an extension of a building or serve as protection for an open terrace ...
What is an outdoor pergola?
Outdoor garden feature forming a shaded walkway. For other uses, see Arbor and Pergola (disambiguation). Rose Pergola at Kew Gardens, London. A pergola covered by wisteria at a private home in Alabama. Arbour, pergola type. A pergola is an outdoor garden feature forming a shaded walkway, passageway, or sitting area of vertical posts or pillars ...
What materials are used for pergolas?
Modern pergola design materials including wood, vinyl, fiberglass, aluminum, and chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) rather than brick or stone pillars, are more affordable and are increasing in popularity. Wooden pergolas are made either from a weather-resistant wood, such as western red cedar ( Thuja plicata) or, formerly, of coast redwood ( Sequoia sempervirens ). They are painted, stained, or use wood treated with preservatives for outdoor use. For a low maintenance alternative to wood, the contemporary materials of vinyl, fiberglass, aluminum, and CPVC can be used. These materials do not require yearly paint or stain like a wooden pergola would, and their manufacture can make them even stronger and longer-lasting than a wooden pergola.
What is the best material for a pergola?
Modern pergola design materials including wood, vinyl, fiberglass, aluminum and chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) rather than brick or stone pillars, are more affordable and are increasing in popularity. Wooden pergolas are either made from a weather-resistant wood, such as western redcedar ( Thuja plicata) or, formerly, of coast redwood ( Sequoia sempervirens ), are painted or stained, or use wood treated with preservatives for outdoor use. For a low maintenance alternative to wood, vinyl, fiberglass, aluminum, and CPVC can be used. These materials do not require yearly paint or stain like a wooden pergola and their manufacture can make them even stronger and longer-lasting than a wooden pergola.
What wood is used for pergolas?
Wooden pergolas are either made from a weather-resistant wood, such as western redcedar ( Thuja plicata) or, formerly, of coast redwood ( Sequoia sempervirens ), are painted or stained, or use wood treated with preservatives for outdoor use.
What is a freestanding pergola?
Freestanding pergolas, those not attached to a home or other structure, provide a sitting area that allows for breeze and light sun but offer protection from the harsh glare of direct sunlight. Pergolas also give climbing plants a structure on which to grow.
Where did the word "pergula" come from?
Origin. Alley with grapevine-covered pergola in the centre of Koilani village, Cyprus. Typical Australian steel-framed pergola. Contemporary pergola in a square in Benicassim, Spain. The origin of the word is the Late Latin pergula, referring to a projecting eave. The English term was borrowed from Italian.
What is a pergola?
A pergola is a structure built with columns or posts that support a series of rafters or latticework that serves as a cover for a patio or a promenade (a walkway) that typically connects the garden to the home. The pergola does not have a finished roof and often is used to support vines and plants that provide shade and shelter. In the photo you can see an example of how the rafters are placed and rest on the pergola frame.
What is pergola architecture?
Since ancient times, architects have been designing pergolas, outdoor structures, that create sheltered spaces in gardens, courtyards and natural landscapes. This lesson explores the elements and different uses of this architectural form.
What is a pergola?
A pergola is a simple outdoor structure similar to an arbor. While an arbor typically is a freestanding structure set in a yard or garden, a pergola is usually attached to a house or is freestanding and placed close the house.
How many posts are needed for a pergola?
On an attached pergola, there must be at least two posts, one at each end of the beam. On a freestanding pergola, there must be at least four posts. 4 x 4 posts are common on smaller pergolas, while larger structures might use 6 x 6s or 8 x 8s.
Where do rafters sit on a pergola?
With a freestanding pergola, the rafters typically sit on top of the beams on both sides. As with beams, it's common to cut the ends of rafters with decorative shapes. Advertisement.
What is a purlin?
Purlins: These are optional smaller pieces of wood that can be placed on top of the rafters for additional shade. They run the perpendicular to the rafters and are typically made with 2 x 2 or 1 x 2 lumber.
How are footings formed?
Footings: These are concrete piers (usually in the shape of a cylinder) that are formed by pouring concrete into a hole or form in the ground. They support the posts. Municipal building codes specify how deep the footings must be, which is typically below the frost line.
What is a pergola?
Pergolas are a traditional form of shade covering that are free standing. These structures are held up by columns or posts and typically utilize a slatted roof structure. Pergolas were first utilized in the Mediterranean where the slatted style rood provided filtered shades to gardens. Pergolas very rarely have a solid roof, and most often are rectangular or square in shape. They offer a perfect place to introduce climbing plants such as roses and ivy that add both beauty and additional shade. In addition, some homeowners choose to use UV resistant retractable canopies that provide the option of allowing the area to be open to sunlight or shaded.
What is the difference between a pergola and a patio cover?
One of the key differences to a pergola is that a patio cover is attached to another permanent structure such as a house or garage. Patio covers function as an extension of a house, providing a definite space of the outdoor living area. They are typically solid roofed structures and are held up by posts. The materials used in patio covers is ...
What is a pavilion?
Pavilions are stand-alone covered structures. A pavilion can give you the best of both the pergola and a patio cover. They give you shade and shelter in an area away from your house. Many pavilions become the epicenter of an outdoor living area, housing the outdoor kitchen, living room or party room under them.
Why do you need a patio cover?
One of the main advantages to building a patio cover is that it provides shade to nearby windows, which can reduce indoor cooling costs.
What are the three types of shady structures?
When talking shady structures there are generally three options you will encounter; pergolas, covered patios and pavilions. Though sometimes the terms are used interchangeably, there are differences between the three. And to understand which one is right for your space, it’s helpful to understand these differences.
Is a patio cover good for outdoor living?
If you prefer to extend your living area, and require more shade a patio cover might be right for you. They provided excellent structural integrity for outdoor entertainment areas. An outdoor patio becomes an extension of your home, it turns your outdoor living area into an open air room.
What is a pergola arbor?
The Spruce / Randi Rhoades. The words pergola and arbor are often used interchangeably to describe two similar outdoor structures. Both are built with posts that support an open roof of beams or lattice. And both usually support vines or climbing plants.
Where were pergolas used?
Pergolas were used in ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome. In the late 1800s, pergolas were popular in England to support and show off beautiful flowering vines including roses, honeysuckle, wisteria, and clematis.
What is an arbor?
In residential applications, an arbor is considered a freestanding structure that serves as an entrance to a part of a yard or garden. It can also act as a small shelter for a bench or seating area, often with plants climbing or vining up and overhead. Arbors include two or four posts with a simple slatted roof (often arched, but not always). The sides of an arbor can be open over covered with lattice or trellis work for a more enclosed effect and to help vines better attach.
What is a trellis made of?
A trellis is a geometric-shaped structure, usually made of thin pieces of wood, that provides a surface for climbing plants to grow vertically. Trellises are also used to support fruit-bearing trees so that they don't tip over from the weight of the fruit.
What is an arbor made of?
An arbor can be bought, made from a kit, a do-it-yourself project, or can be custom-built by a carpenter or contractor. It can be made of wood, metal or vinyl.
Why did the Italian Renaissance build pergolas?
Architects of the Italian Renaissance built pergolas as an attempt to reproduce the villas of Imperial Rome. In its earlier forms in 19th-century gardening books, pergolas were described as "covered (usually with vines) walks.".
Can a pergola be left open?
The pergola's roof can be left open, covered with weatherproof fabric or another lightweight material, or support fast-growing vines. If the vines or cloth cover one side of the pergola and patio area, it can serve as a privacy screen and also block an unsightly view of your neighbor's yard. A pergola is usually built from a kit, is ...
