Add charm, comfort to your backyard with a pergola
Spending more time in the backyard these days? A pergola, a framework that is decorative and provides shade, can add charm and also make the space more functional.
“A pergola adds beauty and enhances your outdoor living space,” said Michelle Castillo, owner of PQS
Pool and Patio Renovations, which has offices in Hialeah and Pembroke Pines.
“It gives you more outdoor living space and more space to have fun,” said Eduardo Lopez of Custom Miami Pergolas.
“It increases the value of your property,” said Tim McTighe of Gibsonia, PAbased-Fifthroom.com a company that ships pergolas all over the country. “It will break up the sun, but won’t block it.”
Some homeowners install “eyebrow” pergolas that are strictly decorative over windows and garage doors. “Then they grow vines over them,” McTighe said.
MATERIALS
Pergolas can be made of wood, aluminum, vinyl or a composite. The right choice depends on the look you prefer, the amount of maintenance you’re willing to do, and budget.
“Wood is a traditional look,” McTighe said. Pressure-treated pine is probably the least expensive material, but it requires painting or sealing every couple of years. Red cedar is another wood option. “It’s a gorgeous look, and you can either seal it or let it weather to a gray patina,” McTighe said.
Aluminum is virtually maintenance-free. “It won’t rust or deteriorate,” Lopez said.
“Aluminum has a modern look,” Castillo said. “You don’t have to paint it or deal with rot.” For those who want to combine the maintenance free characteristics of aluminum and still have a traditional look, aluminum can be embossed to look like wood, but it will be thinner than if it is not embossed, she added.
Vinyl and composite are also virtually maintenancefree and come in a variety of colors. “White, clay and black are most popular,” McTighe said.
SIZE
To decide on the size of the pergola, first look at the available space. Take into account the setback requirements of your municipality. A pergola will almost certainly require a permit. Do you plan to entertain in the pergola, or will it be for just you and a spouse? Will you want several pieces of furniture, a barbecue or firepit, or just a couple of chairs? “Think about how many people will be using it and how they’ll be using it,” Lopez said.
OPTIONS
Some pergolas have straight, immovable lattices on top. The number and spacing will determine how much shade the structure provides. “To reduce the amount of shade, put them wider apart,” Castillo said. “For more shade, put them closer together.”
Others have louvers that can be angled. “You can set them at any angle depending on if you want more shade or more sun,” Lopez said. They can be controlled by hand or with a remote.
Pergolas can also be constructed with a solid roof that keeps out rain, Castillo said.
Another option: A canopy that can be retracted when it’s not wanted, McTigue said.
Lighting can provide ambience at night.
“There’s nothing greater than being out there in the evening,” McTighe said.
CONSTRUCTION
A pergola can be attached to the house or be freestanding, and it can be constructed on a concrete pad, a patio or on grass. The process might go like this: If there is no existing concrete pad for a foundation, the first step is installing concrete footers for posts, or uprights.
Brackets are bolted to the concrete. Support posts are attached to the brackets. The number of posts required will depend on the size of the structure. Cross beams are added next, and finally the lattices. Once permitting is in hand, the process can take just a few days.
DO YOUR HOMEWORK
Before buying a pergola, ask some questions. How long has the company been in business?
Do the structures meet South Florida’s building code?
Ask for references and check social media for reviews. Be sure installers are licensed and insured. Get a firm delivery date.
Then, get ready to enjoy your backyard more than ever.