If you are like many of our clients they love being outside but want a place to relax in the shade. Two of the most common shade structures are known as pergolas and covered patios. Patio Covers typically provide you with 100% shade protection while pergolas have an open top that provides you with partial shade. Both are great additions to enhance any outdoor living space and our project consultants can help guide you to fit your specific needs and how we can make them best fit your space.
Similarities for Pergolas and Covered Patios:
- Provide shade (partial or full)
- Can include electrical packaging with recessed LED lights, scones, flood lights, fans, and additional outlets.
- Posts or columns are typically 6×6 or 8×8 and we use a material ranging from cedar, alumawood, treated pine, steel or hardie board. In addition, each post or column can be fully or partially wrapped with stone or brick.
- Most need concrete piers prior to construction of the structure
- Attached or detached to the residence
- Allow for variations of roof designs, layouts, and pitches
Differences for Pergolas and Covered Patios:
- A patio cover can be waterproofed with roofing and shingles to match the design of your home.
- A pergola is commonly open to the elements, but we can provide you with a polycarbonate top or tin top depending on your objectives and design.
- Patio cover roofs are installed with asphalt, tile, metal or cement shingles to match your residence.
- Patio Cover ceilings have options including painted hardi-panels, stucco, cedar tongue and groove, and bead-board paneling.
- Patio covers allow dedicated circuit / attic runs for electrical wiring to be hidden. Where it is commonly seen in pergolas to see exposed conduit running to electrical components (fans, switches, etc.), because of lack of ceiling enclosure to hide those electrical lines.
- If you’ve opted to stain or seal your pergola, the frequency of re-staining and re-sealing your pergola depends on your climate and the type of stain or sealant you choose. Timeframes range from every year to every 2-3 years.
In working with Allied Outdoor Solutions, there’s a great peace of mind knowing your contractor has constructed thousands of shade structures for home owners all over Arizona and Texas. We look forward to using our experience to build your structure so that you can enjoy the shade just how you want it for years to come. Give us a call to set up a free in-home consultation with one of our project consultants.
