What shapes the investment
- Automatic aluminum versus custom wood construction
- Size and roof type (motorized versus fixed)
- Attachment to the house versus freestanding
- Electrical work for a motorized roof
- Bundling with an outdoor kitchen island
Pergolas
A pergola covers a patio or walkway and shades outdoor living space without closing it off. An open roof keeps the space cooler than a solid cover by letting air pass through, while a motorized aluminum roof or a custom wood structure built to match your home turns an exposed patio into a room you can use most of the year.
Start here
The right approach follows how you want to use the space. Pick what you're actually after below, and the materials and layout mostly follow from it. Every project shown was built here in Southern California, so the choices are suited to this climate.
01 Shade without losing the sky An open roof lets air pass through and keeps the space cooler than a solid cover, while still cutting the harshest sun. See pergola projects
02 An outdoor room for entertaining A pergola anchors dining and lounge furniture, turning an empty patio corner into a defined space people actually use. See entertaining spaces
03 A transition between spaces Pergolas can be integrated with another hardscape, such as a fire feature or pool, or used as a smooth transition from one part of the yard to another. See connected outdoor rooms
04 Comfort in the afternoon heat Sun shading and heat insulation make an exposed patio usable well into the hottest part of the day. See shade solutions
Before Our designer measures the property and the exact footprint the pergola will cover, the same site analysis every project starts with.
Consultation With the site analysis in hand, you meet with a designer to choose automatic aluminum or custom wood and rough out placement.
Design Sketches become a color rendering showing the pergola style, roof type, and how it connects to the rest of the patio.
Under construction A lifelike 3D rendering shows the finished pergola before construction starts, so there are no surprises.
Finished Crews set posts, install the roof structure, and finish the surrounding patio and lighting.
Things worth knowing before a first consultation.
Automatic aluminum offers a motorized roof, weatherproofing, and low maintenance. Custom wood matches the house architecture but needs more upkeep over time.
A small pergola can accent an empty corner, or attach to the roofline of the house. Freestanding structures work anywhere in the yard.
A double-layer automatic roof allows zero water penetration when closed, and its insulated design suppresses noise like rain.
Pergolas pair naturally with fire features, outdoor kitchens, and pools as a transition between spaces.
Pergola designs depend on the available space in the yard, from a small accent structure to a full patio cover.
A pergola alone starts around $8,000 installed. Bundled with an outdoor kitchen island, packages start around $9,950.
No quote written off a photograph can account for what your property is like.
Decking, drainage, utilities, planting, shade and lighting all bear on where a feature goes and how it gets built. Settling them on one set of drawings is what keeps conduit out of the wrong trench and stops paving being cut to fit afterward.
Access, engineering, permits, finishes and scope vary a lot from one property to the next, so the investment and the schedule for your project are set once we have seen the site and the design is settled.
Tell us about the property and what you want the space to do. We will walk through the design, site and permitting factors likely to shape it.
Everyone involved from the demolition to repairs to installation was outstanding, professional, and moved with real urgency.
I've done several projects with Pacific Outdoor Living and they are always so easy to work with. Their project managers are knowledgeable and in constant communication throughout the project.
A fully installed automatic aluminum pergola starts around $8,000. Bundled with a Mont Alpi outdoor kitchen island, packages start around $9,950. Custom wood pergolas vary with size and finish.
Yes. Pergolas can attach to the roofline of the house or stand freestanding anywhere in the yard, depending on the space available.
Yes. An open roof allows air to pass through, which keeps the space cooler than a fully solid cover, while cloth shades or an automatic aluminum roof let you control how much sun comes through.
Warranty terms vary by material and manufacturer. Our designers walk through the specifics for automatic aluminum versus custom wood during your consultation.
Schedule a consultation with one of our designers to discuss your project goals and explore what's possible on your property.
What happens next: we set up a visit, measure the property and talk through what you want the space to do. Then you get a design to look at before you commit to anything.