Top 5 Things San Antonians Want in a Custom Pergola Design

You’re thinking about a new pergola in your San Antonio backyard. You’ve read all the insightful building guides about mitigating soil erosion and local UV damage. That’s all really important stuff to consider — but let’s talk about what really matters to you.

There’s a specific reason you want a pergola as your new outdoor living space. Maybe you love the freestanding design and its ability to create a backyard party space. Perhaps it makes you feel more connected to your natural surroundings. Or maybe you want a patio-style space that’s much closer to the pool.

Whatever the reason for your San Antonio pergola, Allied Outdoor Solutions is here to fulfill your vision. We’ve spent decades crafting durable, beautiful pergolas from New Braunfels to Universal City — we have the local skill and expertise to build outdoor spaces that last. 

Now, let’s make sure your new pergola truly reflects the way you want to live outside.

Your San Antonio Pergola Wishlist: The Top 5 Revealed

We’ve transformed over 25,000 Texas backyards into dream outdoor living spaces. That wealth of experience taught us one simple fact about outdoor design — design for where you live.

Every Texas city has its own style and personality. San Antonians are particularly unique when it comes to freestanding shade structures like pergolas. Their design considerations go past mitigating soil erosion and resisting heavy rainfall.

For San Antonio homeowners, a custom pergola is all about lifestyle. Based on thousands of  successful Allied Outdoor Solutions projects, here are the top 5 things local homeowners want from their new pergola.

A Functional Outdoor Living Space

Form must meet function in San Antonio pergola design. Each element must be thoughtful — why does it exist? What purpose does it serve? 

Yes, aesthetic beauty is important. But local homeowners are obsessed with good design. They want a louvered pergola roof that still supports overhead fans and smart lighting. That gabled roof has to provide adequate airflow and ventilation.

An Enhanced Outdoor Lifestyle

San Antonio’s focus on functional design also means a new pergola space must enhance and elevate the way you live outdoors. 

If you’re the family grillmaster, your pergola must support and protect an outdoor kitchen and grill island. Do you host the neighborhood Spurs watch party? Make sure your pergola flooring withstands the pressure of outdoor furniture and heavy foot traffic.

A Connection With Nature

San Antonio boasts more green space than any other major Texas city. As Mission City gets greener and greener, our homeowners desire a deeper connection with nature in their own backyards.

Cedar and natural stone elements are trending up as popular pergola design materials. Homeowners frequently ask us for pergolas that sit near landscaped, terraced and garden bed areas to relax and take in the scenery.

Sustainable Durability

San Antonians commitment to nature extends to eco-friendly, sustainable pergola design. But it’s important that your sustainable materials are also built to last.

Treated cedar offers exceptional durability when properly maintained. Aluminum pergola framing is lightweight and 100% recyclable.

If you don’t want to quarry natural stone — consider Carvestone. Use this modified concrete overlay to emulate natural stone without damaging the local environment. You’ll also stabilize the surrounding soil, protecting your local ecosystem from erosion.

A Truly Personal Touch

Form, function and sustainability are the backbone of San Antonio pergola design. But what about your needs and wants? 

San Antonians don’t want a “copy-paste” pergola build — customized designs are non-negotiable. If you’re making an investment in your new pergola, you deserve a solution that looks and feels like the way your family enjoys the outdoors.

San Antonio Pergola Styles That Succeed

Do you crave the rustic charm of cedar and brick? The modern flair of aluminum louvered roofing? Or the the classic aesthetics of a lattice pergola?

Our San Antonio design-build team chose 3 recent pergola projects to feature in this design gallery. Each presents a unique aesthetic style, homeowner wish list and key project considerations.

Want more San Antonio pergola inspiration? Visit our updated project gallery.

Cedar Dreams

This light, airy latticed pergola offers incredible airflow versatility and an unbeatable view of the Texas countryside.

Wish List

• Cedar — and plenty of it. Light-colored natural cedar was top of mind for this pergola design. From the latticed roof to the support columns to the cozy bench swing, gorgeous natural wood was used to complement the classic fence on the property line.
• Maximize the view. The homeowners wanted shade, comfort and relaxation without sacrificing any of their gorgeous view — and who could blame them?

Key Design Considerations

• Cross ventilation. It’d be a shame to block any of the natural breezes across this sweeping property. We installed a lattice roof, and added a smart overhead fan to ensure continuous airflow.
• Soil stability. Slight grades and slopes across the property were mitigated with a reinforced concrete foundation. Concrete pavers added stability to the shifting clay soil.

Rustic Retreat

Form and function meet in this rustic backyard space. An attached aluminum pergola supports smart lighting and fan features, and creates an outdoor dining area.

Wish List

• Aluminum pergola. Aluminum adds a touch of modern style without sacrificing the overall rustic look of this outdoor living space. The homeowners valued its durable, lightweight qualities. 
• Covered outdoor dining. A cozy, family-style dining area sits under the pergola roof. This creates a functional, well-defined zone on the backyard patio.

Key Design Considerations

• Maximizing usable space. With the property fence not too far off the patio, the homeowners desired as much defined usable space as possible.
• Integrated lighting. The backyard got dark in a hurry in the evenings. We installed smart overhead lighting on the pergola and bold uplighting on the lawn — all controlled by a simple app.

Seamless Outdoor Living Room

Would you choose an attached outdoor living room, a breezy latticed pergola, or cozy seating area? Trick question — this pergola offers all three.

Wish List

• Outdoor living room. The homeowners desired a pergola that felt like an extension of their interior living space. 
• Bright and breezy. A latticed roof structure with a ceiling fan adds cross-ventilation. White paint and light-colored Carvestone flooring brightens up the space.

Key Design Considerations

• Design integration. The existing home features gorgeous rustic brick and white trim. A white lattice roof and columns compliment the current design beautifully.
• Porchside seating. This pergola structure adds a new zone directly adjacent to the existing porch for a unique place to sit and relax.

Joy and Connection: Pergolas as Outdoor Entertainment Spaces

The ultimate measure of a pergola’s success is its ability to be shared with family, friends and loved ones. Their freestanding, inviting nature is meant to inspire fun, communication and connection.

Well-built, thoughtfully-designed pergolas can support countless outdoor entertainment concepts. From barbecues to game nights, margaritas to day naps, here are 3 ways to develop a dedicated outdoor space under your new pergola.

An Outdoor Kitchen Hub

• Stainless steel grill
• Built-in range hood
• Bar island with refrigerator and ice maker
• Dishwasher
• Outdoor dining furniture

An Outdoor Rec Room

• Outdoor-rated television
• Weatherproof sound system
• LED lighting
• Outdoor fireplace or custom fire feature
• Gaming table

A Poolside Oasis

• Cozy lounge seating
• Freestanding bar island
• Custom fire pit
• Overhead fan
• Misting system

Let’s Create Your Custom San Antonio Pergola Together

At Allied Outdoor Solutions, our goal isn’t to just create a stylish, durable pergola. We want to build the perfect pergola for you.

Your personality. Your outdoor lifestyle. Your aesthetic preferences, and your family’s needs.

We’re committed to customized solutions. Your dedicated Construction Coordinator, Construction Supervisor and outdoor living designer guide you through each step of the process. You’ll collaborate along the way, to ensure the final result matches (and exceeds) your vision.

Talk to us. Let’s make your dream San Antonio pergola a part of your long-term future.