What kind of warranty do your pergolas have?
Can pergolas withstand high winds & hurricanes?
Can I add a roof to my pergola?
Can I add a swing to my pergola?
Is it safe to add outdoor accessories to my pergola?
Can I use a grill or fire pit under my pergola?
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.
Heartland Pergolas warrants its structures, when properly installed with Hurricane Clips, to withstand damage from wind. We will replace or refund the purchase price of damaged materials. Damaged components are subject to the terms below and do not include damage from wind-blown objects.
Heartland Pergolas does not warrant damage from wind without installation of Hurricane Clips
This warranty extends only to the original purchaser. This warranty does not cover the cost of installing any product, the cost of removing or disposing of any product, or the cost of installing any replacement product furnished under the terms of the warranty.
The lifetime coverage of this warranty only covers products used on residential property where the owner resides, during the owner’s lifetime. The warranty period for products installed on property that is not residential property where the owner resides, including but not limited to schools, condominiums, apartment buildings, and rental property – or on property owned by other owners including but not limited to corporations, government agencies, partnerships, trusts, religious organizations, and cooperatives will be thirty (30) years following the installation of the products and is limited to the original owner (non-transferable).
Heartland Pergolas shall not be liable for and this warranty does not apply to any failure, defect, or damage resulting from or connected with the following:
Warning - Heartland Pergolas and its employees are not qualified to approve, recommend, or advise as to the suitability of Heartland Pergolas products for all possible uses or applications.
The local building code authority or fire marshal’s office should be consulted on the safety and suitability of any Heartland Pergolas product for proposed use.
A claim under this warranty must be reported in writing, with proof of purchase, to Heartland Pergolas, 21060 Holden Drive, Davenport, Iowa, 52806, within thirty (30) days of the date that the defect is first discovered or reasonably could be discovered. Heartland Pergolas will then have a reasonable time to inspect or, at Heartland Pergolas’ option, to have the product shipped to Heartland Pergolas for examination of the alleged defect. Heartland Pergolas may require photographs of components or the structure to ascertain misuse or improper installation. Heartland Pergolas shall be the sole judge of whether the product is defective and whether the defect is due to manufacturing or installation. If, after its inspection, Heartland Pergolas determines the claim is in accordance with the terms of this Limited Lifetime Warranty, then Heartland Pergolas will, at its option, replace the defective section or part or provide a refund according to the following schedules:
The residential property where the owner resides (limited to original owner)
All other owners and uses (limited to original owner)
THE FOREGOING EXPRESS WARRANTY EXCLUDES ALL OTHER EXPRESS WARRANTIES. ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR OF MERCHANTABILITY, IS LIMITED IN DURATION TO THE DURATION OF THE EXPRESS WARRANTY CONTAINED IN THIS WARRANTY DOCUMENT UNLESS A SHORTER PERIOD IS PERMITTED BY LAW. IN NO EVENT WILL HEARTLAND PERGOLAS BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF BREACH OF THIS WARRANTY OR THE PURCHASE, INSTALLATION, OWNERSHIP, OR USE OF HEARTLAND PERGOLAS BUILDING PRODUCTS. YOUR EXCLUSIVE REMEDY AND HEARTLAND PERGOLAS’ EXCLUSIVE LIABILITY FOR ANY BREACH OF WARRANTY IS LIMITED TO WHAT APPEARS IN THIS DOCUMENT. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW LIMITATIONS ON HOW LONG AN IMPLIED WARRANTY LASTS OR THE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION OF INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. THIS WARRANTY GIVES YOU SPECIFIC RIGHTS, AND YOU MAY HAVE OTHER LEGAL RIGHTS WHICH VARY FROM STATE TO STATE.
This warranty shall only be applicable & enforceable in the United States of America and Canada.
Well, maybe not all pergolas, but ours sure can! We have engineered our pergola system to be robust and durable against strong winds. You can find many of our pergolas in Florida and other coastal regions that are affected by hurricanes and tropical storms.
For those who live in coastal communities where hurricanes are a factor, we suggest our hurricane clips. When purchased and installed properly, hurricane clips reinforce the attachment points of your rafters to the beams.
In engineering tests, Heartland Pergolas with hurricane clips that are properly anchored into a wood deck are rated for winds up to 115 mph, while pergolas properly anchored in via concrete are rated for winds up to 150mph! So, a properly installed Heartland Pergola can withstand a category 3 or 4 hurricane!
We do have people who have attached clear plexiglass or Lexan panels to their pergola roof to add a little protection from the elements. Others have attached solar panels to the roof structure.
We recommend adding a slight slope to the pergola roof in the direction you prefer rainwater to drain. In addition, be aware that the solid roof will retain snow fall. While our testing has shown our pergola roofs to be very resilient under load, Heartland Pergolas will not warrant damage caused by the accumulation of extremely heavy snow when a third party roofing system is used.
Unfortunately, no. Our pergola kits are designed to provide shade and sun protection but are not built to handle a moving force like a swing or hammock. If you are looking for a structure that can accommodate these features, contact an estimator to find out about creating a custom pergola to meet your needs!
We encourage you to make your pergola work for your outdoor space, adding all of the outdoor living comforts to your pergola! The internal aluminum of our posts, rafters and beams can accomodate a variety of outdoor products. If you have questions about a specific item for your pergola feel free to ask. But here are some common additions people choose to affix to their pergola.
Ceiling Fans – This one is a definite yes! We even sell the mounting kit for our pergolas. An outdoor fan for your pergola is a great way to add some air flow on days where the heat is just stagnant. Look for an outdoor ceiling fan that is specifically wet-rated for outdoor use!
Lighting – Absolutely - It can be as simple as a strand of bistro lights or you can add light sconces to the posts or hang pendant lights from your pergola. Our fan mount kits work well for installing a pendant light or outdoor chandelier from the center of your pergola!
Outdoor Heaters – with careful consideration of placement, outdoor heaters can be mounted to your pergola’s beams for enjoyment on cool nights. Make sure that the direction of your heater is always facing away from any part of your pergola’s structure. Like vinyl siding, a heat source too close to the vinyl can warp the vinyl exterior.
Outdoor Speakers & TVs – Yes, you can dance the night away under your pergola. Outdoor speakers can be mounted to your pergola for musical enjoyment. Or watch the big game outdoors on your outdoor TV set up!
Outdoor Misters – Yes! If you are looking for additional ways to really cool off this summer, consider adding an outdoor mister to your pergola!
Climbing plants – Add traditional charm to your pergola with climbing plants. These can certainly add a lot of shade, color and enjoyment to your space. Do try to avoid woody vines which can affect the structural integrity of your pergola over time.
Swings or hammocks – The engineering for our standard pergola kits is not designed to handle a moving force like a swing or hammock. If you are looking for a structure that can accommodate these features, contact us to find out about creating a custom pergola to meet your needs!
Outdoor kitchens are continuing to increase in popularity, we see many homeowners now opting to add a pergola over their outdoor kitchen spaces. So it safe to grill under your pergola? Use common sense when grilling, much like you would not grill up against vinyl siding, you need to be cognizant of how close your freestanding grill is to the vinyl posts of your pergola. If you can stay a good 18-24” away from the vinyl posts, you should be okay.
Most grills that are part of a outdoor kitchen are set within a permanent countertop with sufficient space between the emitting heat and any of the vinyl components of the pergola.
Gas buring fire tables sit low enough that normal usage should not be a problem. Wood burning firepits should be closely monitored to not let the flames get too high to be within 24" of your pergola's roof. And to watch for strong winds that may blow flames towards your pergolas posts.
Unfortunately, the answer to this question will depend on your local municipalities rules and regulations. Often attached pergolas will need a permit, while free standing pergolas are less likely but always check with your city or county first!
Our pergolas have stamped engineered drawings and CAD files that can be provided to you, your builder or contractor and the city. Our drawings typically have no issue getting full approval when submitted, however we can also obtain an engineered wet stamp signed and sealed document for custom designs or requirements as needed.
We already have a dry stamped signed and sealed pergola drawing for all of our standard sizes - viable for all 50 states!
With custom designs, custom installations or special rules and regulations, we do have the ability to get a wet stamp signed and sealed document as needed. A specific engineering wet stamp may likely incur additional costs to have an engineer review and approve designs. Please talk to us directly about the needs and possibility for a custom Engineering Stamp with our team. We have worked with many builders, contractors and outdoor professionals to make our pergolas fit for your requirements.
Where to next?
If you can’t find what you’re looking for please give us a quick call at 563-345-6745 or use our chat box in the bottom left corner of your screen!
