Pergolas

What Is a Pergola

A pergola introduces overhead structure without fully roofing the space. It filters light, adds rhythm and proportion, and creates a defined area within a larger patio.

It’s visually lighter than a pavilion, but still tied into footings and sometimes - the home or an adjacent pavilion. It shapes the space without closing it in.

Design Considerations

Our two pergola options are fixed wood pergolas and metal louvered pergolas.

Fixed wood pergolas provide a natural, authentic texture and can be accessorized with ceiling fans, lighting, outlets, canopies on tracks, and side shades. We love connecting these to a pavilion to cover the outdoor ktichen because it lightens the air flow around the grill and give contrast to the pavilions roof.

Metal louvered pergolas use motorized slats that open and close by remote. When closed, the louvers interlock and behave like gutters, directing water away from the space below.

Both types can be freestanding or attached to flat wall surfaces of the home.

How It’s Built

Pergolas begin with footing placement. Even though they’re lighter than a pavilion, the posts still sit on concrete piers that are typically 12–16 inches in diameter and 30–34 inches deep to extend below the frost line. Frost movement shows up quickly in a structure like this, so footing depth matters just as much here as it does on larger builds.

Post bases are mounted to the concrete using brackets rather than embedding the wood directly into the footing. That bracket connection allows us to plumb the posts precisely during installation and keeps the base of the wood separated from moisture over time.

For wood pergolas, we typically use cedar. It looks better, feels better in scale, and holds up longer without warping compared to lower-grade materials. Posts, beams, and slats are framed and fastened with structural hardware — not standard deck screws — so the assembly resists uplift and lateral movement. Because pergolas are visually open, alignment matters. Beam straightness, post spacing, and slat layout are set carefully before final fastening.

For metal louvered pergolas, the footing and post anchoring process is similar, but the structure itself is assembled differently. These systems are typically assembled at ground level, lifted into place, and then secured to the installed posts. Precision during layout is critical so the system seats properly once lifted.

Pergolas may look simple, but the details determine whether they feel intentional or improvised. When footings, brackets, and structural connections are handled correctly, the structure stays straight, stable, and visually aligned long after installation.

Pricing Factors

Most traditional cedar pergolas begin around $18,000–$25,000 for a freestanding structure installed on proper footings and integrated into a patio.

Mid-sized pergolas with larger spans, upgraded lumber, custom staining, or integrated lighting typically range from $25,000–$45,000 depending on footprint and finish level.

Louvered pergolas operate differently. These are engineered aluminum systems with motorized, adjustable roof blades that open and close for sun or rain protection. Most louvered pergolas begin around $45,000–$60,000 and commonly range from $65,000–$110,000+ depending on size, automation features, drainage integration, and electrical requirements.

Primary cost drivers include overall footprint, beam span, post anchoring method, material type (cedar vs. aluminum), integrated lighting or screens, automation components, and whether the structure is freestanding or attached to the home.