Traditionally, pergolas were made out of wooden support beams and had a cross-beam style roof, which were designed to support climbing plants and only offer partial shade and rain protection.
These days, modern pergola roofs can be made of either metal (aluminium or zinc-aluminium coated), polycarbonate, or solid treated pine to provide maximum shelter and comfort.
Furthermore, they come in a range of roof profiles to suit any home – including flat, pitched, and gabled – and can even be made into a louvered roof. So you can open and close the louvres with the touch of a remote control button – letting you enjoy the great outdoors any time of day, all year round.
If you’re interested in having your own private outdoor living space, here’s how a pergola can add value to your home and lifestyle.
Enhanced Social Life
Forget about scheduling around the weather. With a pergola you have the freedom to entertain, socialise, and unwind any time. So you can enjoy the finer things in life and appreciate the great outdoors at the same time.
Want to host a last-minute dinner party? No problem. Invite a few mates over for a barbecue? Too easy. Spend valuable time with the kids outdoors after work? You got it. The possibilities of a secure outdoor living space is nearly endless.
Don’t be surprised if your home becomes the new ‘hot spot’ for future social gatherings. Take it as a compliment!
Extra Living Space
With an outdoor living space you have the freedom to really ‘spread out’ and take advantage of the extra space.
You may want to repurpose existing rooms in the house. For instance, if your current indoor living space is a bit on the small side, you can setup an additional living space outside to accommodate for larger gatherings. You can also setup a second dining room to relax, entertain, and socialise during the warmer weather.
Furthermore, the transition from indoors to outdoors will make the place itself feel more ‘open’ and spacious.
Greater Privacy
If privacy is an issue, a strategically placed pergola can shield prying eyes and let you enjoy your own private outdoor paradise.
Even if the roof itself doesn’t offer privacy, the inclusion of plants around the outdoor living space, or a privacy screen attached to the support beams, will help separate you from the neighbours and establish your own private space.
You can even personalise how much privacy you get. For instance, plants can be placed sparingly around the space to still allow for some general viewing, while privacy screens can be timber slats – with gaps between each post – or a mesh screen to still let in some sunlight and a view.
This way, the space will still be private but not feel ‘too enclosed’ off from the rest of the world.
