Pergolas – Everything You Need to Know Before Buying One
Over the past few years, people all over the world became obsessed with pergolas, and we think we understand why. As outdoor living started gaining more and more popularity, people have been putting much effort into keeping their backyards and gardens neat and in order, but they have also started looking for ways to spend more time outside and be comfortable. Pergolas are here to make this happen – these nice outdoor structures are perfect for outdoor living spaces, but before you rush out to buy one, here’s what you need to keep in mind:
What you need it for
First things first: why do you want to buy a pergola in the first place? Are you looking for a way to add more shade because you want to spend more time by the pool, or are you hoping to keep the place where you like to have dinner outside nice and dry? If you actually want to sunbathe more, than pergolas that block out the sun aren’t the best choice and you should look for the ones that don’t have any shade (these pergolas can be found too). You can find freestanding and attached pergolas and, depending on what you need it for, you can choose one of the two options and work from there.
How big should it be
Depending on the space you have available, you should choose the size of your pergola. It doesn’t matter if you’re dreaming about a huge one if you have a small yard and just can’t fit it in. Decide how much space you’re willing to give for your pergola and pick the one that suits your needs. If you don’t have a spacious yard, you can follow an Australian example and set up lightweight deck pergolas as Sydney residents do. On the other hand, if you have the means and the conditions, you can build a pergola big enough to cover a dining room table with all of your friends sitting there.
Choose the material
If you’re aiming for that rustic, vintage look, you might want to choose lain wood pergolas. Don’t worry about the price though, there are pergolas made from pressure treated wood that is very affordable yet elegant. Still, if you’re hoping to get a structure that doesn’t require too much maintenance, then vinyl ones are perfect for you. While vinyl can become brittle over time, fiberglass holds on – pergolas made from this material will last for years and won’t rust at all.
Think about the style
We already mentioned that you can find two types of pergolas: the ones that come with four posts and can stand on their own, and also those that can be attached to your house. On the other hand, you can also choose some of different styles and designs and find the one that will blend in perfectly you’re your home. Seeing as most pergolas are rectangular or square you might feel like you can’t find the ones you like, but there are also those that come with arched structures as well as circular ones. Make sure you pick the one that won’t be too extravagant for our small garden or too small for your spacious yard.
Pergola trivia
Here’s a fun fact for the end: it’s believed that the pergola could be the oldest outdoor living structure that we still happen to use today. To support this theory, you needn’t look further than the picture of a pergola as depicted in the Nile Mosaic of Palestrina, Italy. The mosaic was built around the 2nd or even the 1st century, B.C. and it depicts everyday scenes in ancient Egypt. People in Egypt used pergolas to grow grapes more easily and the structures were rounded to allow people easy access to the fruit. Not only that, but there has also been evidence which suggests that pergola-type structures were used in ancient Asia as well. All this goes to prove that pergolas happen to be one of the oldest styles of garden architecture.
Not only are pergolas beautiful additions to your yard, but they’re very useful too, which makes them perfect additions when you’re looking to make your outdoor area more comfortable. Still, in order to avoid unpleasant surprises and to come up with the perfect pergola for your home, you need to do a bit of research first. Only then will you be sure that the one you bought will suit your needs and fit into the surrounding well.
