We recently built a pergola for a job out in Louisville, CO for clients who unfortunately lost their house in the Marshall Fire. After the entire neighborhood was re-built, many of the houses not only got larger, but their backyard neighbor’s house was built at a higher grade than before. Though this gives them a better view of the mountains, it meant less privacy for our clients. Privacy was one of their main concerns, and adding a pergola into the design was one of our solutions to help. There are many more benefits to having a pergola in your yard however, and we are going to explore some of the benefits.
First off, what is a pergola? It is a large structure that is typically made from wood, sometimes metal, that is located in a garden or yard space. It’s made of vertical posts and cross beams that form an overhead lattice. Some people add additional shade solutions like roofing, removable canopies or shade sails.
Benefits of a pergola
Extends your living space:
A pergola extends an architectural element beyond your home. It can be an inviting and intentional space to spend time. The additional shade provided by the slats above can cool the space from the beating sun which provides the perfect place for reading, relaxing and socializing.
Provides a structure for vining plants and shade:
Many people choose to grow vining plants, including grapes or honeysuckles, up and along their pergolas.
This beautifies the structure!
It also adds much needed shade during the summer months, and still allows for sunlight to come through in the winter months when the vining plants lose their leaves. The additional sunlight in the winter can help keep your home warmer.
Also, if you have a smaller area for growing plants, utilizing the vertical space can be very helpful (especially if you want to grow delicious edible plants!).
Can create more privacy:
For this pergola design, we made the top slat parts slanted to help provide more privacy from neighbors. Eventually, the honeysuckles planted near the fence will vine upwards and cascade over the top of the pergola filling in the open space. Grapes planted on either side will also vine up and across the top to add to the privacy and shade.
Could add value to your home:
Adding architectural structures and hardscaping to your landscape is an excellent investment because it adds an irresistible style to your yard. It will certainly stand out from other properties on the market. These additions also add a sense of luxury to a potential purchase, so you can increase your asking price when it comes time to sell.
Check out our design and build process for our most recent pergola project in the video linked below!