PERGOLA PERKS
As with many homeowners, I spent more time at home this past 18 months than I have in a long time. This allowed me to do some upgrading to my backyard space. I installed a new deck, added an outdoor kitchen and entertaining area, and most recently, I installed a pergola.
What is a pergola? A pergola is an outdoor structure with columns and a roof with grids or beams that create an outdoor entertaining space. The grids or beams can be left open or covered with fabric, or you can install a retractable awning system, like me. Some pergolas even have a fully shingled roof system. Pergolas can be free-standing or attached to a house. I chose to have mine custom manufactured for my space. Building a pergola is a big job, and that's why I brought in the right professionals to install mine.
DO YOU NEED A PERMIT?
Always check with your local building authority or association to see if you need a permit or any approval before you start your pergola install.
If your pergola has additional functionality and features that require wiring, an electrical a permit will be required. I installed a smart pergola, so I hired a licensed electrical contractor to complete the job.
There are a few electrical issues to consider, like are there any overhead power lines such as the service wire to your house? Who owns the overhead power
lines, the consumer or the utility?
If the lines are utility-owned, you will need to contact them to determine the safe clearances. However, if the lines are consumer-owned, the Ontario Electrical Safety Code does not permit a structure to be placed directly underneath an overhead power line. Depending on the voltage of the power lines, horizontal and vertical clearances are required, with a minimum clearance of three metres from any power line.
If the pergola requires additional footings and digging is required, don't forget to get all locates. Contact Ontario One Call to find all utility-owned underground services. Utilities will only locate services they own up to the ownership demarcation point. Any underground service such as wiring to a pool shed or standalone garage is consumerowned and will require a private location.
CHECK UTILITIES BEFORE YOU DIG!
Always check before you dig! My pergola didn't require this, but if you plan to install one
directly attached to the ground, please do your homework and call before you dig. Each coloured cable represents a specific category, so it's essential to familiarize yourself with them. Red means electrical, yellow means gas/oil/steam, orange means communications and blue means water.
Other lesser-known lines are purple for irrigation, pink for temporary markings, and white for proposed excavation. Damaging any of these while digging could severely affect service or, even worse, lead to an explosion.
MY SMART PERGOLA
My smart pergola can open, close, pivot, and slide depending on my needs and is made from fully extruded aluminum and can hold up to any environmental conditions — even heavy snow loads and winds.
Pivoting louvres allow me to control the amount of sunlight I want and can easily be adjusted to follow the sun's direction throughout the day. The model I chose also allows the louvres to retract to reveal the open sky
fully. So on a beautiful clear day, I can have them open, or if I'm out in the evening, I can see the stars. I can control the system through an app on my phone or the remote control.
Among the smart capabilities included in my model are wind and rain sensors. When winds reach 96 km/h, the wind sensor will automatically open the louvres to allow the wind to move freely throughout the system. Rain sensors will automatically close the pergola when rain is detected, so you never have to worry about wet cushions.
I was able to choose an architectural design style that complemented my deck and my home, and because you can customize the size, the pergola can fit into any backyard, big or small.
You can also add accessories, like lighting, ceiling fans, heaters, screens, and speakers.
Plus, I can use my pergola all year long, which means I will be using my deck a lot more this autumn and winter.