1. Do you want all shade or partial shade?

• Pergolas and Patio Covers come several different shade types with many variations in each style. Most are built to not give complete shade and have spacing between the pickets on the roof. This design makes it so that you have shade but still have light coming in so that under you pergola it isn’t too dark.
• Some Pergola kits are made with the appearance that there is a lot of shade when in reality there is hardly any pickets and not much shade at all. Beware, companies will advertise similar size pergolas or patio covers and the shade with each one is very different.
• Complete shade may be what you want. That will also give you a more waterproof option if you are trying to have more of an extension of the living area of your home, or you want an area to sit in that you don’t have to worry about the rain getting you wet! You can sometimes add a skylight in a solid roof to give you more light.

2. Will the pergola be attached or detached to your home?

• It is important to decide whether you want your pergola to be free standing or attached. It makes a difference in what you will need to build your pergola whether it will be attached or stand alone. Will the pergola be attached to the fascia board, how big is the fascia board, is the fascia board installed vertically or on an angle, what is the angle of the fascia board, and how far off the ground is the fascia board are some of the questions to be aware of.
• Sometimes it is necessary to attach the pergola on the roof to get enough height for your pergola. Special consideration should be taken for the type of the roof you have and how far up the roof line the connection will have to happen. Taking a picture where the connection will happen always makes it easier to explain.
• Having a detached pergola is nice if you have an area separate from your home, like an area in your yard where you want to be able to sit in the shade to eat breakfast or watch a movie. Many detached structures shade spas or barbecue areas as well. Sometimes building a detached structure will also avoid the need of pulling a permit. Every municipality is different so check with your local building department before ordering your pergola.

3. What material do you want to use?

• Most pergolas are either made from wood, vinyl, or aluminum. There are now some structures that are made of composite materials.
• Wood pergolas have been made for many many years. They have their own advantages and disadvantages. They may look more rustic than other pergolas. Also, there are more options for different sizes of structural beams and posts, all of which can be cut to fit your custom project. There are many grades of wood and unfortunately, most wood pergolas you see will be made with not such a good quality of wood and will look good at completion and in a short time are twisted and warped. Wood Pergolas require priming and painting to protect the wood. At first glance the cost of building a wood pergola may seem like less of an investment, however when you add the cost of painting and continued maintenance, wood can be one of the most expensive alternatives. If you live in an area where termites and dry rot are a problem, you need to be very careful about installing a wood pergola because they are magnets to introducing termites to your home!
• With a Vinyl Pergola, you will not have the rustic look as you get with wood. It’s a much more clean look. Vinyl will not warp and split like wood, and termites or dry rot won’t bother it either. Most wood designs can be duplicated in vinyl including trim and post skirts. Vinyl by itself will not span as long as wood, however, you can and should put a metal insert in any rafter longer then 8’ giving you spans up to 15’! Vinyl pergolas are not as heavy to install or work with as wood pergolas are. You will not need to worry about painting a Vinyl Pergola and are discouraged from every painting any vinyl.
• Like Vinyl pergolas Aluminum Patios are lighter then wood. Aluminum does not usually have a smooth service like vinyl it has a rolled on a pattern much like mobile home walls. This surface can be very hard to keep dirt and cobwebs off it. Aluminum has a painted surface and so you need to be careful to not scratch the material because it scratches and dents quite easily. Aluminum Pergolas require wood inside to be structurally sound. With moisture, wood can rot or get termites. Aluminum comes in several colors.

4. Will you install it or will you get professional help?

• Under the best of circumstances and with complete tools installing a pergola is usually a two person project. Some pergola kits are very cleanly made and explained well enough that anyone with basic construction knowledge would have very little trouble installing their own pergola kit.
• If you get someone to install your pergola for you, get an approximate time that they will need to build the pergola. Some contractors come and start to get their deposit and good luck getting them to come back. Look at pictures of other projects that they have built. Check a couple of referrals to verify their work. Check social media to see how they are ranked. Don’t pay too much of your project up front. Leave a large enough balance at the end of the project that the contractor is motivated to come and finish the project.

5. What color do you want?

• With wood pergolas, there are almost unlimited possibilities of colors. Be sure to have a primer coat and two coats of color. Without proper prep, your paint job won’t last and you will end up painting again.
• With vinyl, it is best to stay with white or different variations of tan. Anything with dark colors will attract a lot of heat from the sun and cause problems with the strength and performance of the product. White is usually a little more of a formal look and the tan kind of blends in and doesn’t draw a lot of attention.

6. How will your posts be attached?

• Wood pergola posts are usually attached with metal brackets. If brackets are not used, a treated post is usually used to install the posts into the ground.
• Vinyl pergola posts can be attached with the post installed in the ground with a concrete footing like a fence post. The footing is usually twice the size of the post and 24” deep. The vinyl post can also be sleeved over the top of a structural metal post that gets bolted into the wood or concrete deck. The last method is to drill rebar into the concrete slab, bring the rebar up into the vinyl post and put concrete into the vinyl post- usually 42” to 48” high.
• Aluminum posts almost always are installed around a wood post.

7. What accessories do I want with my pergola?

• There are lots of options or accessories to go with your pergola. The ends of the pergola can be shaped and rounded. The post bases can have trim installed on them like a base molding. Knuckles or trim on the posts are a great addition to your pergola. These only come with wood or vinyl.
• With vinyl pergola kits all your electrical for lights or a fan can be hidden within the product. This looks much nicer than having a romex pipe exposed on wood pergolas.
• Misting systems can also be installed on pergolas which are really nice in very hot climates.

8. What size do I want my pergola? (including height)

• A lot of what size to make your pergola is dependent upon your budget. Start with your ideal size and see how that fits your budget. The size of the pergola is usually the size of the shaded area and not the size of the spacing of the posts. You are going to have overhangs beyond the posts. A 16’ x 12’ would mean that the connection is 16’ wide and the projection from the house is 12’.

9. What is the lead time for delivery?

• It depends upon the season or time of the year how long it takes to have a pergola kit made for you. Some kits are kept in stock. Your lead time will probably be dependent upon how much customization you request. Most pergolas can be shipped within 2-3 weeks, sometimes sooner.

10. Will you be installing lights or electrical on your pergola?

• The easiest time to add lights to your pergola is while it is being installed. With vinyl pergolas, all the electrical can be hidden within the product and is a lot cleaner look then to have all the exposed wires on a wood pergola. You will need a power source close to one of the posts or the ledger board to get electrical inside the product. The finished install looks amazing with lights or a fan.

Ask these questions before you place an order or sign a contract. Answering these questions will help you be better educated to make a good decision about what you want in your pergola.