Innovations in Building a Freestanding Pergola

When you think of major renovations, the first thing that comes to mind is probably a new kitchen, replacing bathroom tiles, repainting bedroom walls, or adding a second floor to their home. But people often forget that there’s another kind of renovation that you can do to add value and add to your home’s curb appeal: building a freestanding pergola.

Many outdoor structures can be built to decorate and improve your home. Patios and decks are the most common improvements people make to their outdoor spaces, but pergolas can achieve a similar effect for a fraction of the cost—making it a gorgeous yet cost-effective option for backyard remodeling.

What is a pergola?

A pergola is an outdoor structure composed of four beams. Wikipedia reports that Pergolas were inspired by Italian Renaissance masonry, it may or may not have (but most often does) shade or a roof of some sort. It can be open or closed to protect you from the elements, depending on the layout; generally, pergolas have two to four open sides.

Pergolas can be made out of a variety of different materials, most commonly wood, aluminum, and steel. These are large structures that can fit multiple people or cover a wide space as if to define an outdoor living area or act as an extension of your home. They can also be combined with latticework or trellises to create a shaded walkway or pathway.

While similar, pergolas are different from arbors. Building a freestanding pergola suggests that arbors are small and simple structures that are used to decorate or support vines. They often have curved arches, and can be freestanding or attached to gates/fences as decor. Gazebos are closely related, but also have some major differences. Patio Productions report that gazebos will always have a closed roof and are round in shape. They provide much more shade and protection compared to pergolas. They also usually have both flooring and a roof.

Pergolas, on the other hand, are square or rectangular in nature. It may have its own floor, or use another surface (such as your deck or patio) as its base. It’s breezier and more open than a gazebo, since most, if not all, the sides are unobstructed.

A pergola attached to the house

An attached pergola looks like an extension of the home itself, similar to how a front or back patio functions. At least one of the sides of the pergola is “attached” to or shares the same wall, flooring, and/or beams as the home itself. The pergola provides privacy even outdoors while still allowing ample sunlight and breeze to come through its open sides. You can decorate it with a lounge, a table, and some plants to create a relaxed space to entertain guests.

Building a freestanding pergola is the general term for any outdoor structure, including pergolas, that are not connected to any other structure. You can erect a freestanding gazebo at the front, side, or back of your home.