Tall and rectangular in shape, a pergola is a decorative garden frame or walkway with cross beams instead of a roof and lattice framework for walls. Because of its more ventilated top and sides, the pergola allows those lazing outdoors to enjoy more of a breeze and sunshine. It can be attached to a house or be freestanding on a patio or deck. Traditionally made of pressure-treated wood, such as pine or cedar, pergolas can last for many decades.

Here are the top benefits of having a pergola or arbor in your yard:

A pergola can define your recreational space

A pergola can create a defined space for relaxation, hobbies, or entertaining family and friends. Host picnics, barbecues, parties and even weddings in the open air with this structure. Play games, read a book or do yoga under your pergola. 

Usually 8-feet to 10-feet tall and 12-feet to 14-feet wide, a pergola is large enough to accommodate a table, chairs, loungers or benches in addition to dozens of people. 

Depending on your tastes and needs, a pergola can be built with a concrete or wood floor or it can overhang the lawn with no flooring.

Adding a pergola or arbor to your yard can inspire you to use and enjoy your outdoor space even more.

A pergola adds decoration to a garden area

Originally made to embellish a garden and create a place for climbing vines, a pergola can make your green space pop with the beauty of a flower garden or vegetable patch. Line the pergola with an assortment of pots, box planters or garden beds overflowing with tulips, roses or sunflowers. Alternately, hang blooming plants from the rafters. You can also plant herbs and vegetables like peppers, carrots and radishes . Plants that climb will naturally use the posts on the pergola for their upward growth. So let tomato, cucumber or even grape vines climb and lend their leaves and beauty to the sides of your pergola.

Besides living features, the pergola’s custom frame with its intricate patterns can add visual interest and attractiveness to your yard or garden space, along with any fabrics and design accents you might add.

Pergolas create a private space from onlookers

By covering the top of your pergola with panels, a canopy or a curtain, you can create your own private retreat, concealed from the eyes of neighbors and passersby. Use a drop cloth canopy made of mesh for a light covering or linen for thicker draping. Panels which hang in squares over the roof of the pergola via wires are also an option for a slide-on or permanent cover. The individual panels can be coordinated in different colors and designs to create optic intrigue. Many people enjoy sheer and gauzy draperies in light-colored fabrics that can attach to the top or sides of the pergola. By using ties to attach the fabric to the posts, you can surround all sides of the pergola with a screen or you can choose to tie open one or two sides. Sheer curtains won’t constrict the open air or sunlight. Pergola coverings are adjustable to meet whatever mood or privacy demands arise.

Your choice of lattice work on the sides of the pergola can also determine how much your privacy you have. Choose a tight weave for extra privacy or a wider-spaced lattice for more of a view and less secrecy.

Pergolas offer shelter from the elements

Being underneath a covered pergola offers you and your guests shade from the heat of the day, an escape from the damaging ultraviolet rays of sunlight and a shield from rain. 

If cooling is what you need on a sweltering Texas summer day, fans are another feature that can be attached to the rafters of a pergola using brackets. Be sure to choose a waterproof fan made for the outdoors and have it installed properly by an electrician. Many pergola fans come with lights, which enable you to stay out longer even once the sun has gone down.

Louvered roofing systems, which consists of wooden slats, can shelter you from moderate wind and rain while you are under your pergola. Mobile louvers can be adjusted to open and close with a sliding stick while fixed louvers are set at an angle and remain there permanently.

Mosquito screens hung around your pergola can also protect your event from mosquitoes and bugs.

With all these features on your pergola, darkness, overbearing sunshine, wet days and pests will no longer a reason to avoid being outside.

Increasing in popularity, pergolas can turn your backyard into a living space that beckons you to get more fresh air and enjoy nature. If you are ready to invest in one, here are some things to consider as you began talking to your contractor:

• Location: Choose a spot that gets a lot of sun and won’t block scenic views from the house.
• Permits: If you want to attach the structure to a building or establish it on a concrete pad, be sure to get a permit from your municipality. In most cities, anchoring a pergola on grass and at least six inches from buildings will not require a permit.
• Custom Features: Finally, decide on any custom features you’d like to add, such as fabrics, panels, and even stonework to accompany your new pergola. Also, think about the color, height and width you want that fits your yard as well as how you plan to use it.

For more information about pergolas for your Texas home or business, call Nortex Fence! We can help you create the pergola of your dreams that will please you aesthetically and recreationally for many years to come. Fill out this contact form to get started and learn more about what we can do for you.