Pergolas and shade
A pergola is a ceiling you can see through. We place the posts and beams by where the sun lands at the hour you sit out, and we set the spacing of the slats to cut the glare without making the space dark.
A pergola with a solid roof is a different structure with a different permit; see covered patios.
What is included
A drawing showing sun angles at the hour you chose
Posts anchored to footings
Beams and rafters in cedar, treated timber or steel
Provision for lights, fans or a heater circuit
The price
What changes the cost
We print no average, because yards differ. These are the things that move the number.
Span and height
A wider pergola needs heavier beams and bigger posts.
Material
Cedar, treated timber and powder-coated steel are priced differently.
Attached or freestanding
A pergola on the house needs a ledger and flashing.
Slat spacing
More rafters mean more shade and more material.
Add-ons
Fans, lights, shade cloth and screens add parts and wiring.
The work
The work, in order
- 01
Step 1: Evening visit
We stand in the yard at the hour you would sit and mark the shade.
- 02
Step 2: Drawing and scope
You see posts, beams and the shade they cast.
- 03
Step 3: Footings
Posts go on footings dug to your building department's depth.
- 04
Step 4: Posts, beams and rafters
The frame goes up in a day or two.
- 05
Step 5: Lights and finish
Lights and any fans are connected, the wood is finished, and we photograph it at dusk.
Permits and rules
Freestanding pergolas under a certain size are sometimes exempt, but attached ones and any with a solid roof generally need a permit. Wind and snow loads matter.
Your building department sets the loads for your lot; we check them before we draw.
Questions about this work
Will a pergola give real shade?
It gives partial shade. Closer rafters and shade cloth give more.
Can I add a roof later?
If we plan for it. A roof adds snow load, so we size the frame for it at the start.
Wood or steel?
Wood is warmer to look at and needs finish; steel is slim and needs very little.
Can you hang a fan or heater?
We frame for it and a licensed electrician connects it.
Place the pergola
Tell us about the yard and the hour you would use it. We write back about a visit.