With a Modern Pergola, Your Backyard Can Become a Private Oasis (2024)

FAQs

How do I make my pergola private? ›

It's cheaper to buy a DIY pergola kit. These kits cost between $1,000 and $2,500 on average, and you won't have to pay for labor. However, you're limited to specific designs and sizes; a more customized pergola designed for your home's unique landscape may look and function better (and have a higher ROI).

If it's simply going to be a decorative structure where you'll occasionally sit under and enjoy some shade, then grass can work just fine as the base. However, if you envision using your pergola for dining or hosting gatherings regularly, having an even surface becomes more critical.

Frankly, you can put anything you'd like under a pergola—rugs, chairs, tables, toys, exercise equipment, and more—the list is endless.

You can use a pergola for shade and protection from heat, rain, hail, and even snow, and it can give you a private place to hide from neighbors (assuming retractable privacy screens are used) when outdoors.

In the eyes of the council planning team a pergola is seen as a temporary structure. Therefore, it does not require planning permission, provided it is less than 2.5m in height and doesn't occupy more than 50% of the outdoor space available.

Outdoor furniture under a pergola is susceptible to sun damage, and the pergola structure itself can fade over time and take a beating during storms and harsh winters. Bad weather will most likely limit the amount of time you're able to use a pergola.

It costs $3,780 to build a 12×12 wooden pergola and about $5,270 for a vinyl one. So for a high-end 12×12 pergola, you are looking at around $3,500 to $5,500.

In most cases, you want to orient your pergola to target the mid-to-late day sun, as this is when you're most likely to need shade. A contemporary aluminium pergola is a great option for houses with bifold doors, reducing light and glare into the home as well as temperature during the hotter summer months.

Should pergola posts be set in concrete? ›

Typically when you dig a hole for a pier, the pergolas will need to be supported by that piece of concrete. You need to make sure you go below the frost line for your area. You don't want the ground to heave and destroy your structure.

Generally, concrete is used for many pergolas but not all pergolas require them. There are other ways to make a solid footing without mixing, digging, and using cement. Refrain from trying to install a pergola with no base because every pergola requires some form of footing because of its weight.

Dress up the structure's supports and slats with climbing vines to offer additional shade and add a natural element to the design. Hang outdoor string lights from the pergola to make al fresco dinners even more enjoyable.

How do you jazz up a pergola? Exciting decorations you can add to a pergola include LED lights, lanterns, hanging plants and outdoor furniture such as hanging chairs.

There are several ideas for enclosing a pergola, such as adding a patio cover, installing screens, building a privacy wall, making a decorative partition design, installing a roof, and adding outdoor curtains or blinds.

The answer is yes, you can build a pergola near a fence.

However, there are several reasons for keeping pergolas away from fence lines. For one, the proximity to the fence can detract from the pergola's aesthetic appeal, making it feel like an afterthought rather than a focal point in your backyard.

October 10, 2022 / Comments Off. Yes, you can build a pergola near a fence, but it's always a good idea to check your local housing laws or homeowners' association.