Pergolas are a popular addition to any home. They offer a wide range of benefits including adding some desirable appeal, personal design flair, and practical touch to the home. Yet few people understand the importance of a pergola or the many benefits they can have on the home. In an attempt to change this, we’ve created this article.

Pergolas are one of the oldest styles of outdoor architecture and are still in use nowadays. It is understood that the ancient Egyptian’s used pergolas to grow figs and house vines, while the ancient Chinese used them for sunshade in housing and in temples. After Rome conquered Egypt in 30 B.C., the pergola becomes a prominent feature in Roman architecture. Since then pergolas have been used for various reasons in buildings right across the world.

But what is a patio pergola, and why has its design been so popular through the ages?

Patio pergola is an outdoor structure consisting of columns that support a roofing grid of beams and rafters. Pergolas may be freestanding, or they can be attached to the house. The roof can be left open or covered to create shelter from the elements.

Today, patio pergola is included in the design of building for various reasons. The most common being; sunshade, aesthetics, or shelter from the elements. The design of the pergola and which material is used will determine how well the pergola delivers these benefits to the occupants of the building. The most common materials used in today’s buildings are timber, aluminum, or steel.

The traditional patio pergola is made from timber. In a simple pergola structure, timber has been the preferred material due to cost advantages. The disadvantages in using timber include significant labor requirements in the construction and ongoing maintenance including painting or staining. When using timber to provide complete shelter from the elements, the pergola is normally an extension of the house roofline and is roofed and lined to provide complete shelter.

Aluminum is becoming very popular as a material for pergolas for several reasons including;

• low maintenance,
• excellent versatility
• labor requirements in construction.

The clean lines from extruded aluminum and the large range of colors available make aluminum pergolas a striking architectural feature with strong aesthetic value. The color is often matched to the window joinery making the pergola blend perfectly with the overall building color scheme. To achieve complete shelter, aluminum opening louvered roofs can be used. The louver blades can rotate with the rotating action either motorized or manually operable. When the louvered blades are closed, rain runs off the louvered blades and into an internal gutter system enabling the building occupants to enjoy outdoor dining even when the sky decides to precipitate. The beauty of opening louvered roofs is when the sun shines, they can be opened to let it in giving you complete versatility with your outdoor living.

Pergolas are the perfect way to bring your garden space into use. They enhance the beauty of your garden and make your yard a lot more useful. The installation of a pergola in your garden makes way for lazing around amidst Mother Nature and hanging out with your loved ones.

Choosing a patio pergola that not only meets your requirements but falls in your budget too can be quite challenging, considering the numerous options that you have.

Overall, while pergolas have been used in architecture for thousands of years, they have come a long way over time. Today’s pergolas are versatile and add significant value to modern architecture. If you are wanting sunshade, protection from the elements over your outdoor living area, or a sharp aesthetic feature then pergolas are worth considering.