For outdoor lovers, a pergola provides ultimate comfort by creating a cool shaded area during a hot sunny day. If you want to cover your deck or patio, pergolas come in unique and chic designs to complement your beautiful outdoor living space.
If you cannot decide what kind of pergola suits your outdoor space perfectly, feel free to use our in-depth questionnaire to find the right design aesthetic. . There is a vast selection of pergolas that can be attached to a wall, roof, or use free-standing outdoors.
In this article, you will find out the answers concerning what a pergola is and why it is so essential to obtain one for your outdoor patio or deck. There are so many benefits that you probably haven't heard of yet. Sit back and enjoy the reading!
What Is a Pergola?
The word "pergola" is derived from the Latin word "pergula," meaning "projective eave." The word was later borrowed from Italian and used in English to describe an ornamental garden.
A pergola is not a simple shade cover; its purpose goes beyond that. It is essentially an outdoor overhead structure that is supported by vertical posts or columns. It can be either connected to your wall or roof or stand separately. It is installed for sun protection - it blocks most sunlight while letting some of the beams through. You can enjoy your time spent outdoors on a sunbed or garden sofa, sipping a refreshing drink, or being absorbed in a book under the protection from the direct sunlight. For full sun and heavy rain protection use a retractable fabric pergola.
A pergola has a smart design, allowing air to circulate freely between the slats, so you can feel the cool breeze as the structure is open on all four sides. It has a sloped lattice roof that lets some sunlight pass through, and it is usually made of wood and can be made of aluminum, steel or PVC.
Do Pergolas Provide Shade on a Hot Summer Day?
A pergola is a type of shade structure that typically provides some protection from the sun. It has a frame that you can cover with a material such as cloth, canvas, or wood, and the sides can stay open or covered, too.
The efficiency of a pergola depends on how your house is situated and where you wish to install a shade cover. The lattice roof will provide shade when the sunlight is directed straight at it. However, the sun can shine at an angle at other times of the day, and a pergola will not cover you much.
At Retractable Awnings, you will be able to find pergolas with shade cloth that will provide enough shade from any angle. The solution is fairly simple; you can opt for a structure with side retractable screen fabrics to prevent the sunbeams and critters from disturbing you or use sliding glass doors that provide critter, wind, rain and some sun protection.
Benefits of a Pergola
Besides providing shade, pergolas can benefit your yard or roof patio with other advantages like protection from rain, UV light, insects, and heat. And, of course, it gives you and your family privacy during outdoor activities if retractable screens are used on one or more sides.
UV Protection
UV (ultraviolet) rays from the sun are very damaging to the skin, and prolonged exposure can even lead to a bad sunburn or skin cancer. Depending on the retractable pergola you install and the type of fabric used, , you can fully shade yourself, your family and your guests from the light or allow only some of it to pass through.
Even though you cannot see the UV rays , you should always wear sunscreen and extend the pergola shade for better protection. Good fabric material can block up to 99% of damaging UV rays.
Heat Protection
Pergolas effectively block the heat, too, especially if you opt for a darker shade that can absorb the heat before it reaches you. The airflow will later circulate the heat around and dissipate it. During the hottest hours, you will have no problem spending leisure time on your outdoor patio.
Rain Protection
Retractable Awnings lists all waterproof pergolas in various unique designs that will suit the style of your home. On the website, you can find pergolas with a closed roof and open sides, which can also be sealed using optional retractable screens or sliding glass doors. If you install a pergola connected to a building or house wall, you can opt for a retractable roof type so you can extend it when needed. These options are perfect for light or heavy rain protection, and they are also long-lasting even in bad weather.
Insect Protection
If your home is located next to the lake or river, a pergola will drastically change your life. You can install a pergola with retractable curtains on all sides to block insects from flying in and disturbing you. For complete protection from pests, you should cover the roof so nothing can enter through it too. There are many creative ideas to apply to your pergola's design and overall look of the patio.
You can enjoy a football game or a patio dinner on a warm summer evening without being distracted by mosquitoes, moths, and other terrifying bugs.
Low Maintenance
You or our professional team can install your pergola in a single day - it is quick and easy. In the long run, pergolas require very little maintenance, and all you need to do is clean them periodically. Retractable Awnings provide pergolas with non-rusting marine grade stainless steel parts and non-corroding 6063 aluminum frames.
Pergola Shade Ideas
When you decide where to install a pergola, you should start planning how you will decorate it and make it unique to complement your outdoor patio. You can stick to traditional ideas and use standard materials, or you can go beyond that and create a truly special place for your friends and family. Everybody will always look forward to spending some quality time in your newly created outdoor living area.
Among traditional ideas, there are:
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Lattice - You can purchase a pergola with a beautiful lattice roof that you can later use to hang flowers or lamps. You will be able to creatively use the place and customize it according to your taste.
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Fabric - You can have fabric or curtains on the sides and roof to shade the sitting area from heat, sun and rain depending on the fabric used. The only downside of it is that it can get torn apart or damaged due to weather conditions so best to opt for retractable fabric so it can be closed by the home or business owner or by a wind sensor thus preventing damage to the fabric and/or pergola
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Reeds - Another great idea that is commonly spotted is to cover the pergola roof with reeds, as this provides some shade protection and gives it a pleasant atmosphere.
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Grape vines - If you are looking for an atypical roof cover, think about growing grape vines that will grow within the structure.
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Flowering vines - In order to create a stunning design of your pergola, choose the vines that will quickly climb and grow on your structure. Some of the popular vies are:
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Honeysuckle
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Jessamine
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Climbing rose
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Clematis, wisteria
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Trumpet vine
Regardless of what you choose, you will need to take care of your plants. Even a gardening beginner will manage to grow beautiful flowers around an outdoor patio. Make sure to check the color of vines so they will coordinate with your patio furniture and look harmonically together.
Conclusion
Pergolas provide you with protection from heat and possibly rain and give you a private place to hide from neighbors (assuming retractable privacy screens are used) when outdoors. And most importantly, pergolas provide the most amount of shade when the sun shines straight on the roof. Their designs can be diverse, from regular retractable fabric pergolas or louvered roof pergolas attached to the wall to fully detached four-column overhead covers. The pergolas come in different designs and materials, and you will surely find your favorite one at RetractableAwnings.com.
Pergolas are ideal to cover and protect outdoor furniture, a small pool, or a jacuzzi. Once you purchase the shade cover, you will never want to spend a minute inside your house.
Contact our retractable residential and commercial awning, pergola, screen and canopy experts using our contact form, our live help chat or call us in the USA or Canada toll-free at (866) 438-2964 or outside the USA or Canada at (305) 628-2424.
