Vinyl pergola kits are pre-fabricated structures made of a vinyl exterior. They are designed to be easy to assemble and can be used to provide both shade as well as a stylish and functional addition to any outdoor space; garden, patio, or deck.
Vinyl pergola kits come in a range of sizes and styles, from small, simple designs to larger, more elaborate structures. And custom vinyl pergola kits allow you endless options when designing your outdoor structure.
Vinyl pergola kits are also easy to clean and require minimal maintenance. This makes them an ideal choice for homeowners who want a shade structure without the hassle of constant upkeep. Made from high-quality vinyl material that is durable and resistant to weathering, fading, and other forms of damage.
One of the main benefits of vinyl pergolas is their versatility. They can be used to create a variety of designated outdoor spaces! A covered seating area for entertaining guests, outdoor dining room, pool-side cabana, or cover for your outdoor kitchen or bar.
Vinyl pergolas are often favored over other pergola materials because they offer a cost-effective and virtually maintenance free option for homeowners. While wooden pergolas offer a more natural look and feel, they require much more maintenance, have a shorter life span and can be more expensive. Aluminum and fiberglass pergolas can offer similar benefits to vinyl pergolas, but are typically more expensive and can have a less natural look.
Vinyl pergola kits offer many advantages over other pergola materials:
Freestanding vs Attached
Our pergola kits can either be freestanding or attached to our structure. On an attached pergola, one side is affixed to your home/structure while the other side is supported by posts. With free standing pergolas, the weight is supported on all sides by the posts. Freestanding pergolas can be placed just about anywhere - patio, deck, garden, pool side, etc.
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Attached pergolas need a sturdy structure to adhere to. Often these are found on a deck or patio right off the home attached to the home's brick or the structural wood headers under siding.
Modern Style vs Traditional Style
Modern Pergola Kits function and are built similarly to our traditional pergola kits. The biggest difference is that the rafter ends and purlin ends are all set cleanly within the outer beams. You get sleek geometric lines as opposed to the open ends on a traditional pergola.
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While the difference is mainly aesthetic however our modern pergola kits are not able to clear span quite as far as our traditional pergola kits can. So if you are ordering a large pergola, you may end up with more posts than what you would have on a traditional style pergola.
Deciding where to put your pergola is step one! Ideally you want to have a level space to work with. Our posts are trimmable to accommodate different heights as needed, but from an enjoyment standpoint, a level area allows for usable space to create a dining area, seating nook, fire pit, outdoor kitchen & bar, etc!
Decide on a freestanding or attached structure. If the area you want to use for your pergola is close to your home or garage, you can typically choose an attached pergola. Attached pergolas have fewer posts giving you more room, are less expensive due to fewer materials, and actually are slightly stronger because they are anchored to your home!
You need to ensure you have the right clearance above doors and windows but below roof lines. Though there are options out there for attaching to your roof if needed. You also need to make sure you are able to adhere the pergola to something structural on your home. If you are unsure what structural attachments are available on your home, you should consult with a contractor or engineer.
Free standing pergolas can go anywhere! In fact just because you want to do a patio pergola or deck pergola next to your home, doesn't mean it has to be attached. If you are contending with low roof lines, structural bump outs, windows and doors, you can install a freestanding pergola instead of an attached one.
If you are choosing your pergola for shade, it's a good idea to decide what angle the sun is coming in at during the hottest/brightest parts of the day.
Our pergolas are most effective for shade when the sun is overhead, however with our angled purlins, they can help create shade throughout the day as well. In the northern hemisphere, it's often optimal to have the purlins running East to West with the top of the purlins angled away from the South. If your purlins run North to South then you need to decide if its better to block sun prior to noon, or after noon for your location.
You have several options to choose from when building your pergola kit!
Post sizes - Our traditional pergolas come in 5in square posts, 7in square posts or 10in round posts. It's important to note that no matter which option you choose, the structural reinforcement of the aluminum pergola posts are the same in any option! The post option you choose is purely a personal preference on style!
Shade amount - Our pergolas have fixed louvers we call purlins. These purlins are angled to help maximize shade but come with different width placement to customize your shade even more. You can choose from rafters only (no shade), 50% shade, 75% shade or 90%. The higher percentage of shade desired, the closer together the purlins are installed to block the sun.
Pergola End Caps - We have 3 styles of end caps to choose from. The Scroll cap is our most traditional style end cap. This end cap elongates your beams and rafters with a gentle tapered scroll.
Flat caps are just as advertised. A solid flat cap that goes on the end of your beams and rafters and is a way to make your pergola look more modern without doing an actual Modern Pergola style kit.
Then somewhere in the middle, our Bevel cap elongates the beams and rafters but with clean lines and edges.
Ready to build your pergola now? You can either call to speak to one of our team members to get the ball rolling OR head over to our online pergola builder to design and order today!
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!
