4 Expert Tips To Choose A Pergola

In order to find the right size for you, you must first consider how big your garden is and how many people you want to fit under your pergola.

• Decide where you're going to place it:

  • would you like to leave some room to chat with your neighbor or do you want your pergola to give you more privacy?
  • should you leave some extra room for plants and flowers around it?
  • measure that space so that you know exactly what you can play with;
    
    

• Even better: if you're planning on using it to provide some shade while sitting at a table, lay out all your patio furniture and measure it in a straight line to know how big the pergola needs to be to cover it and to allow all your guests to sit under it comfortably;

• 12x12" or 12x16" are some of the most popular sizes, and can easily seat 6 people;

• Smaller pergolas are better suited for 2-4 people, and should be chosen for gardens that aren't too spacious (remember that a huge pergola in a tiny garden will make it look even more cramped);

• Bigger sizes can easily host an entire party or fit a long table for some al fresco dining, but they should only be considered for particularly large areas;

• As for their height, most pergolas are around 8 feet: you can easily go lower or higher, but make sure that you leave enough room for the tallest members of your households and that your pergola isn't as high as your roof (or, worse, higher!), or else it'll will feel too overwhelming and out of place.

The choice of material will immediately give your pergola a specific look and feel, but you should also consider issues such as durability and weather resistance:

• Wood: a timeless choice, beautiful wooden pergolas convey a traditional, warm and cozy feel, and can almost look like a natural extension of your garden;

  • however, you must be willing to look after them properly, as wooden pergolas need high levels of maintenance, especially when frequently exposed to tougher weather conditions;

  • the heaviest wooden structures must also be embedded into the soil or installed with a solid concrete-style foundation;

• Wrought iron: solid and robust, this material is perfect to blend a nostalgic feel and a touch of elegance; it's particularly popular for pergolas that are attached to the house;

  • wrought iron pergolas are extremely durable, but you must make sure to maintain them properly and coat them with rust-proof paint;
    
    

• Aluminum: this is a lightweight option that, being weatherproof and corrosion-resistant, could be a wiser choice in rainier climates;

• Steel: another lightweight option, steel pergolas have a sleek and modern look;

  • make sure they're powder-coated and well-kept, as scratches could allow humidity to soak through them, leading to corrosion;

• Vinyl: this is a great budget-friendly option; weather-resistant, vinyl pergolas can give your garden a bright and timeless feel thanks to their white designs;

• Bamboo: this is a rarer material, but could be just what you're after if you're looking for a pergola that complements the existing style of your garden;

  • although it's a beautiful natural alternative, bamboo pergolas aren't the most durable and, when not coated properly and regularly, rather prone to mold and mildew; because they're particularly lightweight, they should be avoided in the windiest areas.

This depends on how much room you've got in your garden, what material you like the look of, and what kind of atmosphere you're trying to create:

• If you haven't got a large garden or if you'd simply like to achieve a patio-style effect, you should go for a wall-mounted pergola, which will look like a dramatic extension of your house, giving it an exotic Mediterranean feel;

• Free-standing options are probably what you immediately pictured when thinking of a pergola: they're a majestic choice that can help you define a separate area in larger gardens;

• An anchored installation involves pushing the structure into concrete to promote stability and durability, and it might be required for specific pergolas, especially those made of wood.