Pergola or gazebo: which outdoor structure is right for your yard?
A pergola frames an outdoor room with light shade. A hardtop gazebo is a roof you can sit under in the rain. Louvered pergolas sit in between.
Pergolas
A classic pergola has posts and an open lattice of beams. It defines a seating or dining area, supports climbing plants or a sliding canopy, and lets breezes through. It gives partial shade, not protection from rain.
Louvered pergolas
A louvered pergola has aluminum slats you can rotate to let sun in or close them to shed rain. It offers much of a gazebo's protection with a modern look. Add side curtains or screens for privacy and insects.
Hardtop gazebos
A hardtop gazebo has a solid roof, usually galvanized steel on an aluminum or wood frame. It protects furniture, outdoor kitchens and hot tubs from sun and rain all year. Many include netting and curtains. Check the snow-load rating if you live where snow falls.
Sizing
- 10 × 10 ft: a small seating group or bistro set.
- 10 × 12 to 12 × 14 ft: a dining table for six.
- 12 × 16 ft and larger: a sectional sofa plus dining, or a hot tub with walking room.
Leave at least 3 ft of walking space around furniture inside the footprint.
Materials
Cedar is naturally resistant to rot and insects and brings a warm look, but benefits from a sealer. Aluminum and powder-coated steel need almost no maintenance.
Installation
Every structure must be securely anchored against wind, to a concrete pad, footings or a deck strong enough to carry it. Assembly usually takes two or three people a full day. Some towns require a permit for larger structures, so check before you buy.