Build The Pergola of Your Dream | Sunstate Home Improvements

Pergola Patio Covers

What Are The Benefits of A Pergola Patio Cover?

If you are looking to add value to your home a pergola generally yields a 50-80% ROI.
Pergolas are beautiful in nature, thus, leading to popularity in recent times to their beautiful architecture.
Although they don’t reduce much shades compared to other covers, they still reduce heat to plants and furniture existing in the close proximity.
Pergolas are inexpensive and easy to develop. They support vineyard growth if you choose to plant one.
They are extremely low maintenance. Vinyl pergolas are a fan favorite as they don’t chip or peel. They will retain their color and not fade throughout time.
The structure is not susceptible to wood-boring insects or termites.

Is a pergola patio cover right for you? If you have any questions please give us a call or email us today!

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What Exactly Is A Pergola?

A pergola is a free-standing garden structure that is usually used to support climbing vines, and to shade garden sitting areas. The difference between a pergola and a patio cover is that patio covers are usually attached to the back-side of a house, shading the patio area only. Structurally, an open-lattice patio cover and a Pergola are the same. Pergola comes from the Latin word pergula, which means “eaves.” A pergola provides a pleasant, beautiful, shaded area from which to enjoy your garden.

A pergola may have a floor underfoot and you can furnish it as a patio area. It could be situated next to a house or further out in the middle of a garden. An entryway pergola is an archway built over the entrance to a garden. A Pergola provides a transition from the outside world to the world of the garden. A walkway pergola is similar to an entryway, except it’s built over a walkway through the garden, and it may extend along as much of the walkway as you choose.

We Use Alumawood For Our Patios

Quality Construction
Aesthetics
“Real Wood” Texture
Custom Components
Structurally Engineered
Easy Maintenance
Termite/Insect Proof
Resist Warping and Cracking
Lightweight yet Durable
No Painting Needed
Resists Sun, Rain, Weather

Pergola, Lattice or Solid? What's The Difference?

When someone mentions building an arbor, pergola or patio cover we all get a picture of an outdoor structure in our head. The problem is those pictures can look very different, which makes communicating what you want to a builder or contractor more challenging.

Although we can’t be responsible for how those terms are used by all trades, we can share the main differences between an arbor, pergola, and patio cover from a professional’s perspective. Here are three questions to ask to determine if a structure is an arbor, pergola, or patio cover.

1. Freestanding or Attached?

This question is the first and best way to start distinguishing between these outdoor structures. If your project is freestanding, then it is either a pergola or patio cover. A patio cover can also be attached like an arbor (we’ll go into that difference in question two). Arbors will have posts or columns on one side and be connected to a home/building on the other side. This can be a point of confusion because many blogs, images, and descriptions refer to arbors as being freestanding arches or gateways to a garden or backyard. However, when you say the word “arbor” to a professional builder or contractor they are assuming you want your structure attached to your house or another structure.

2. Roof or Rafters?

Pergolas and arbors use posts connected by joists and rafters for shade and stability, but those rafters don’t keep rain or the elements out. Even if fabric or other materials are in between the rafters, if rain can get in from the top then it is considered a pergola (if freestanding) or arbor (if attached). Patio covers consist of framing over-layed with shingles or a roofing material to keep the elements out.

3. How Big is the Structure?

This is sort of a trick question: there are no size guidelines differentiating arbors/lattices, pergolas, and patio covers. All three structures can be small or expansive based on what you want. Some may argue that smaller freestanding structures are considered arbors, but unless the structure is attached to a home or building it is still considered a pergola.