Comfortable outdoor living begins with creating a shaded space to enjoy your deck or patio. Extra comfort can be gained with the addition of certain features, one of which is an outdoor ceiling fan!
Pergolas are fantastic structures to add shade to your space and the louvered slats allow for great ventilation, not trapping in heat like a solid roof may. But if you live in many parts of the country that have extreme heat or humidity during the summers, you know that shade isn’t always enough when the air is hot, heavy and stagnant.
Many people choose to add-on an outdoor ceiling fan to their pergola to create the air flow necessary for those hot humid days. Choosing the right fan for your space is important! So what should you look for when buying an outdoor fan?
Talking with Michael Lichtenstein of the Lighting Gallery based in New York, he stresses the importance of knowing what you are purchasing for your outdoor space. Not all outdoor fans are created equal!
Many people are unaware of the different types fans and the difference between what’s known as DAMP RATINGS vs WET RATINGS. If you don’t know, you may find yourself with the wrong type of fan. Educating yourself is important as other companies can misrepresent what is best for your space just in order to get a sale.
All ceiling fans will come with a UL rating. UL or Underwriters Laboratories, sets industry-wide safety standards for products. So what are these ratings and what do they mean?
If a fan is listed as Dry-Rated – that means that is meant for indoor use only. It will not have the features or design needed to protect the fan from outdoor conditions such as moisture, humidity, salty air and extreme temperature changes.
These indoor Dry-Rated fans should never be used for an outdoor space! Dry-Rated fans will lack the protective housing and wiring required to keep you and your family safe from harm should the motor or wires get wet. A Dry Rated fan will also have a significantly shorter life span if used outdoors. It could be a costly and dangerous addition to your outdoor space.
Even in some indoor locations, you will find that a dry-rated fan will not perform well – kitchens or bathrooms where there is high humidity or potential for moisture can see the effects over time as their fans begin to rust or tarnish and fan blades warp.
Damp Rated Ceiling Fans are made for outdoor use – BUT – only in certain locations. A Damp-Rated outdoor fan is best used under the cover of a solid roof. So spaces like a 4-season room, screened porch, a garage or under the solid roof of a pavilion.
Damp-Rated fans should only be used outdoors where they are not at risk of being directly rained on or in the presence of heavy salty sea breezes.
So as the name implies, a Wet Rated fan is going to be your best choice in locations where you expect moisture, rain, snow or the spray from oceans to come into direct contact with your fan. Seaside homes, open decks, cabanas and pergolas are all examples of where you would want to install a Wet Rated Outdoor fan.
These fans are built with the materials, wiring and housing that can protect the motor, parts and electricity flowing to your fan from all of mother nature’s harsh elements.
For your outdoor pergola, it’s not enough to get an ‘outdoor’ fan, you want to specifically look for a UL Wet Rated fan. Not only will this protect you, your pergola, and your home from the threat of burns or fires; but it also decreases how often you will need to replace your fan! Your pergola was an investment made in part for its quality and longevity. You want to look for an outdoor pergola fan that can match the durability and value of your Heartland Pergola!
There are many different types of fans available online and through your local shops that can complement your style. The Lighting Gallery has offered up a few favorites of theirs, perfect for your pergola and all UL Wet Rated! The Lighting Gallery has also kindly offered a discount for our readers/pergola owners of 20% off of any outdoor fan purchase with the code: heartland20! (Heartland Pergolas has no affilation with The Lighting Gallery and receieves nothing back from your purchase.)
All overhead fans (as well as outdoor pendant lighting) can be mounted to your Heartland Pergola via our Fan Mount kit!
And any wall mounted fan (like the oscillating fan above) or sconce lighting can be attached directly to your pergola posts. Since our posts have aluminum inside, you can securely fasten your accessories as well as conceal the wiring through the posts!
Make your outdoor space one you will love! Heartland Pergola’s versatility makes it easy to adapt to your lifestyle and outdoor design!
Videos showing our installation process, from beginning to end.
How the blueprints for our pergolas get made.
We have people available to talk to you within 24 hours during our business hours.
Over the years, it's common to find some questions that come up again and again. Scroll through the question and answer bank on the right, and if your questions aren't answered by the end, you can get in touch using the phone number below!
What questions can we assist you with? Call us at (563) 345-6745 or click the button below.
The dimensions of a Heartland Pergola refer to the width and depth of the pergola's roof. The pergola roof will include the beams and rafters, and on a traditional style pergola, will extend past the posts of your pergola.
For an example, a 14' x 14' pergola means that the overhead roof dimensions are 14' x 14'.
To figure out post spacing you will want to look at the specific CAD drawing for the pergola size you are looking for. Noting that a typical traditional style pergola will be built with the posts inset one foot from the end of your beams. Modern pergolas will NOT have an overhang.
Tip while planning - if your patio space is 14' x 14', most homeowners will opt to go a size larger on a Traditional Style Pergola so that the overhang of the pergola roof extends past the edge of your patio, rather than stopping even with it. A 14' x 14' patio would benefit from installing a 16' x 16' pergola (or greater) for optimum sun coverage.
We have the best of both worlds!
Aluminum base structure for extreme durability and strength paired with a vinyl exterior that makes your pergola maintenance super easy!
Many vinyl pergolas on the market are going to have no reinforcement or internal reinforcement by wood. Over time, that wood will rot, warp and sag. The aluminum inserts of Heartland Pergolas ensure that is never an issue for your pergola. It's a solid structure, easy to maintain and will last you for decades! We are so confidant in that fact that we offer a Lifetime Warranty.
You can purchase any of our pergola kits or eyebrow pergolas online through our website or order by calling in (563-345-6745) and talking to our sales team. If you are ordering a pergola with customizations outside of our pergola design tool, custom sizes or configurations, you will want to purchase by speaking with our team over the phone/email.
Upon ordering, either via our website or through our sales staff you will receive a docusign document emailed to you detailing all your options and pergola specs to sign off on before we send your pergola to fabrication.
Due to the custom nature of our product, we cannot accept returns. All pergola kits are made to order specifically for your space and requirements. We recommend you work directly with our team to discuss all potential site, climate, and installation requirements before you make your purchase to ensure that you get exactly the materials that you need.
We want you to be happy with your purchase, if there is a problem just reach out and we will work with you to make it right.
It doesn’t happen often but if you do find something missing or damaged, we will replace it immediately.
For all orders in the continental US, shipping is already included!
If you live outside of the continental US and would like a quote on shipping, please contact Elizabeth for a shipping quote!
Each kit will come with the corresponding instruction manual for that pergola. It will list step-by-step how to install, what tools are needed and show diagrams for the installation. You will also get your related CAD drawing for your pergola as well.
You are welcome to download the digital version of our instruction manuals ahead of time if you want to take a look at the process first!
We also have installation videos available 24/7 playable from YouTube Play List. Our Video Installation series will break down each step into a short video so you can see exactly how each step is completed.
VINYL AND ALUMINUM STRUCTURES LIMITED WARRANTY
Subject to the conditions and limitations listed herein, Heartland Pergolas warrants its vinyl structures to be free from defective workmanship and materials and, when subject to normal and proper use, against surface peeling, rot, structural damage from termites, splitting, flaking, rusting, and blistering, abnormal weathering or abnormal discoloration.
We have many customers who go the DIY route to install their pergola! If you have some basic building experience and knowledge with some simple tools, you can build a pergola.
We provide you with written installation instructions, video tutorials online, and the best customer service you can get!
You can watch our videos ahead of time to see if you feel comfortable working with the tools and materials needed to build your pergola. Our Installation Videos are divided up into short step-by-step clips that are to the point and show you exactly how each part is completed.
General guidelines for DIYers:
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