How to design a Pergola

In climates sunnier than that of northern Europe, the pergola is traditionally used to shade a path. In the UK it is more usefully employed as a roof transition from inside the house to the garden; alternatively, it can act solely as a support for ramblers or climbing plants. In urban areas, where gardens are overlooked, the pergola gives some measure of privacy to anyone sitting beneath it and, provided that you consider which way to run the horizontals of your structure, it need not inhibit sunlight.

The pergola structure over a terrace area is one of the ways of creating an outside room, a place in which, rather than on which, to be. When a pergola abuts the house, framing a portion of the garden, while at the same time extending the proportion of the room from inside.The detailing of the pergola must match the period of your home, for it will be seen both against your house and from within it.

The proportions of the various parts of a pergola must balance. All too often the verticals that hold the pergola's horizontals are disproportionately large.  The scale of the timber horizontals must depend on the length it has to span between supports, and this too will depend on the length it has to span between supports, and this too will depend on the sort of timber, hard- or softwood, that you propose using. The scale sutiable for most terraces ought not to require a span of much more than 3/3.5 m, for if the timber is too large in section it is oppressive and if too narrow it warps.

Traditional timber horizontals in the UK are massive oak spars, though in the mediterranean areas unsawn softwood was, and is, used. Today you should buy sawn softwood, staining or painting it, or cedar-wood, which turns an attractive grey with age. Hardwood, though far less liable to cracking or warping, is extremely expensive.

The verticals for a pergola of an appropriate period might be columns of stone or of a reconstituted substitute. Alternatively, they can be of timber or metal. Unless the situation demands something different, the detailing of the material should be as simple as possible. The structure has a function to perform, that of supporting plants, so let them be the featured item rather than the clever detail of your structure. When a pergola adjoins masonry, it can either be let into the structure or, more easily, it can sit into an L-shaped metal shoe plugged into the wall.

If timber is too heavy a material for the horizontals of your particular situation, you might consider using a strained wire, either over a roof garden or from wall to wall in a town garden. Trained vines or hops along these wires give shade in summer and let light through in winter.

Although the pergola is a simple and very effective way of linking inside and outside when constructed as an extension to a house wall, it can also be used to establish an enclosed space away from the house. where two walls meet at right angles in the far corner of a larger garden, for example, a pergola can create a secluded seating area of great charm. In this case, the style of the pergola is not so dependent on the style of the house, allowing you more freedom in the choice of materials.

However you choose to design and use you pergola, allow Alfresia to supply the garden furniture, BBQs and heaters that you need to enjoy it.