Photo by: Mike Micchiche
This is part one of four in a series on landscape structures. Part one covers the ever-popular pergolas.
Pergolas are a great way to create shade and build ambiance in your backyard. We increasingly receive more and more requests from clients who want to add a pergola to their existing landscape design or add one into a new design. These unique structures date back to the mid-1600’s in Europe and were commonly used in gardens.
If you have always dreamed of having a romantic pergola in your backyard, then I can help you make that dream a reality! I love designing gorgeous pergolas for my clients and work closely with them to design one they love. We will discuss everything from materials to size to shape of the pergola in our consultation to ensure it is not only the pergola you are dreaming of, but one that fits within your budget.
Pergolas Provide Numerous Benefits to Homeowners
This stunning landscape structure provides so many advantages to homeowners. Here are some of the top advantages of building a pergola in your backyard.
· Creates shade
· Increases home’s value
· Builds ambiance
· Extends living space
· Enhances privacy
· Provides place to hang plants, shades, or curtains
These are only some of the many advantages to building a pergola. Another great benefit is the many ways to utilize a pergola.
Ideas to Utilize a Pergola
Pergolas can be used in so many ways. They are not merely a landscape structure, but a way to build an outdoor living space and something unique to your yard. Below are a few ideas to get you started.
· Walkways
· Sitting area
· Grilling spot
· Shaded poolside break area
· Garden location
· Entertainment destination
· Reading nook
They sky is really the limit when it comes to how you use your pergola. How you use your pergola will play an important role in the design of the structure. For example, if you are wanting to enjoy the stars you will want to place it somewhere where the night’s sky view is unobstructed by trees or the house. However, if you are wanting one for shade, then it is better to put it closer to trees or the house for optimal shading.
Speaking of limitless, one of the best parts about pergolas are they are completely customizable.
Complete Customization with Pergolas
Homeowners love the variety a pergola provides them when it comes to design. There are three major areas of focus in designing pergolas. Those are:
1. Size
2. Style
3. Material
Size
We can design a pergola in about any size you would like! If you have a smaller backyard, then a smaller pergola is usually best. However, if you have more space then you might want to consider expanding to a larger, more robust pergola.
Style
While many pergolas have a similar look, there are a variety of style choices when designing and building one. They can have just one row of timbers or panels across the top. Or they can have multiple ones in different directions which create a square design across the top. We will work closely with you to decide a style, so the final design is exactly what you envisioned.
Material
A final, but particularly important, design aspect of pergolas is deciding on the right material. You will want a material that you not only love how it looks but are comfortable maintaining as needed for that specific type of material.
The four most common pergola materials are:
1. Pressure-treated lumber
2. Cedar wood
3. Vinyl
4. Trex
Pressure-Treated Lumber
One of the biggest pros of pressure-treated lumber is it is usually the least expensive material. Additionally, this material has a good lifespan. However, it does require staining every four to five years. Another con of this material is it tends to warp and crack over time.
Cedar Wood
The most popular cedar wood tends to be Western Red Cedar. But there are other options available. A big advantage of cedar wood is it is naturally insect resistant. Plus, it is beautiful as is, without the need to stain it. A final pro is it has a long lifespan as well. The most common con of this material is it is more expensive.
Vinyl
This material requires extremely limited maintenance, which is its biggest advantage. However, it is not a material that is easy to paint over, so that means there are not many color choices.
This composite material is blend of plastic film and wood fibers. It requires virtually no maintenance other than occasionally pressure washing. Another advantage is the fact that it is a weather-resistant material. One con is it tends to cost more than other materials. Additionally, most homeowners think it does not have the desired beauty of other materials, like natural wood.
See Your Landscape Structure Come to Life with 3D Designs!
Our clients love our 3D Landscape Design as it allows them to see first-hand how their landscape structure will look on their property. Are you ready to see your very own pergola come to life with our 3D Designs? Get started today by giving us a call at 336-848-7164. You can also complete our simple contact form and we will be in touch soon. We look forward to helping you create the perfect pergola!
Be sure to follow my Instagram page to see some of my landscaping projects and design inspiration!
