Adding outdoor living space can enhance the value of your home and increase the enjoyment of spending time with your family — and a pergola is a great way to accomplish that. You may already have a deck or patio that is occasionally used for gatherings and cookouts, but once the sun is high in the sky, that space is no longer fun to be in, and everyone retreats inside.
That trend can be reversed by providing shade and architectural interest with a beautiful pergola. This article will focus on choosing the best material for your pergola.
In the simplest terms, a pergola is a structure that can be attached to the home or detached. It is supported by columns with a roof structure that allows the sun’s rays to pass through indirectly while providing different levels of shade. A pergola is more substantial than an arbor, as it will cover a large deck or other space rather than just a walkway. However, it also differs from carports and gazebos because those structures have closed roofs.
During the Roman era, pergolas were only in the estates of the rich and were often built from stone. Construction techniques have evolved, so they are now made from wood, composite materials and vinyl. Homeowners who want to save money can purchase a ready-to-assemble pergola kit and put it together themselves, or they can have it installed by a local contractor.
Pergolas have evolved since their old days of stone-siding, but some materials are still not as conducive as others. While wood is a high-maintenance option that requires frequent replacement of individual framing members to retain that “new” look, composite pergola kits are primarily made from fiberglass, resin, aluminum and PVC to combat the drawback of wood materials.
However, though similar in construction to vinyl kits, the main drawbacks to composite construction are price and potential availability. Fiberglass will be more expensive and has some limitations when it comes to customizing a design.
Vinyl is a great material for a pergola structure compared to the other options. With its all-aluminum core framing members, it is just as strong, available at a lower cost and offers the same lifetime warranty compared to other materials.
Heartland Pergola kits are available in both attached and detached models. The most common attached models cover decks and patios, creating inviting living areas that extend the home by naturally drawing family and visitors outside.
The louvered purlins are angled specifically to create real shade and offer you the option of 50%, 75% or 90% coverage. Some manufacturers’ kits only offer 20% to 30% shade and require additional screens to block the sunlight from above.
Detached patios, decks and pavilions are often covered by full roof structures when shade is the main desire. Wedding venues are a great example of this. Part of the pavilion will need to be waterproof, but a free-standing pergola extends the venue by offering an area where the sunlight can still be enjoyed without exposing the guests to the blinding rays. If stability is a concern, we provide structural columns guaranteed to stand up against the elements, including high winds.
For homes that choose the sleek look of modern architecture, we offer square columns with enclosed rafters that highlight function and streamlined form over the more ornamental features common in today’s homes. This flexibility allows you to add a fresh design element to your landscape that will be in keeping with the theme of your home.
Installation is DIY-friendly, as we provide detailed instructions and free videos on our site. Maintenance is easy and requires only soap and water to keep your investment looking new for years to come.
Here at Heartland Pergolas, we have been designing and manufacturing beautiful vinyl pergolas for over 30 years. Our family-owned business builds everything locally in Davenport, Iowa, and we ship to anywhere in the continental U.S. with no additional charge.
We make pergolas that are affordable, durable and able to stand up to a lifetime of use. We use fully extruded aluminum inside a vinyl sleeve, which means you never have to worry about warping, splitting, rotting or sagging.
We offer you the ability to order online, and you will have access to a team of customer service professionals to guide you through any difficult situations. In fact, we guarantee to get back to you within 24 hours.
Our website provides complete installation instructions, CAD drawings and videos, making installing and maintaining our pergolas simple and satisfying. Contact us today for a free quote and see why Heartland is the best choice for your pergola!
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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