With a Modern Pergola, Your Backyard Can Become a Private Oasis (2024)

FAQs

Do pergolas provide privacy? ›

You can use a pergola for shade and protection from heat, rain, hail, and even snow, and it can give you a private place to hide from neighbors (assuming retractable privacy screens are used) when outdoors.

Yes, pergolas were designed to add shade to your backyard space. They are excellent for providing relief from the harsh, direct rays of the sun while allowing sunlight access to fill the space.

A pergola without a roof helps define a space and create a focal point in your garden, without creating a fully enclosed area.

Their primary purpose is to define outdoor spaces, create visual interest and, and depending on the pergola, add shade to an area. Pergolas are typically known to be made from wood, vinyl, metal, fiberglass or a combination of materials.

In the eyes of the council planning team a pergola is seen as a temporary structure. Therefore, it does not require planning permission, provided it is less than 2.5m in height and doesn't occupy more than 50% of the outdoor space available.

CON: Pergolas provide little protection from weather.

Outdoor furniture under a pergola is susceptible to sun damage, and the pergola structure itself can fade over time and take a beating during storms and harsh winters. Bad weather will most likely limit the amount of time you're able to use a pergola.

While there are many caveats, in short, the answer is yes. A pergola has the potential to add value to your home, with many estimates putting the return on investment at somewhere around 50% to 80%. That makes pergolas one of the more valuable additions homeowners can put on their homes.

A well maintained vinyl pergola can last 15-20 years, however for areas prone to heavy sun exposure or snowfall, this range may lessen to between 10 and 15 years.

Structurally Secure– Having support from the exterior wall of your home creates a structure that is exceptionally sturdy and secure. Less Required Space– Without the need for additional posts, attached pergolas allow for a higher amount of open space.

Are pergolas practical? ›

Boasting a whole lot of style and a ton of practicality — pergolas are the perfect way to bring accessories to your deck. One of the most popular ways to use a pergola involves hanging potted plants from the lattice roof.

If you don't anchor it, then it could topple over or a storm could sweep it away - and who knows where it would land and do further damage? If you have guests under the pergola, you don't want it falling on them either.

Conclusion. Adding a pergola to your property helps create defined areas for relaxing, entertaining, and gatherings. You can choose pergola kits to install along a walkway, in a garden, or over a porch, and the structure should fit your budget and lifestyle.

Prominently, it helps to beat the sun's rays and provides you with great relaxation while at home or the office. You can easily escape from your usual or boring indoors and spend pleasant time with family and friends under the pergola.

They Provide Shade

Umbrellas provide some shade but don't always look the best. On the other hand, pergolas shield your deck from the sun while looking intricately gorgeous. Pergolas are perfect for homeowners who want shade without completely blocking out the sun—light will still shine through the lattice roof.

The pergola might frame the view as you enter it, and you'll want to situate the pergola so you don't block your view; you want to take full advantage of the nature around you.

The answer is yes, you can build a pergola near a fence.

Additionally, the pergola beams running north and south from a residential property can cast unwanted shade onto the neighbor's property.

The main reason is that pergolas use fewer materials than gazebos due to their simpler architecture. However, one of the biggest ways to save money is by building the structure yourself. Pergolas are considered to be more DIY friendly than gazebos, as they're generally easier to build.

Many people ask "Does a pergola provide shade?" The short answer is that it provides a little shade. Pergolas provide SOME shade when the sun isn't directly overhead. Usually pergolas are designed as a decorative piece, rather than a functional one.