A Pergola on Deck Can Add Elegance to Your Outdoor Living Space

A pergola on deck can add a whole new dimension to your outdoor space. It can protect your furniture, plants, and other items from direct sunlight that can damage them.
Before you install your pergola, make sure the deck can support it. Check the load-bearing capabilities of your deck’s wood and use proper hardware for attaching the rafters to the posts.
Hanging Flower Garden
A pergola is a great place to grow plants and flowers that thrive in partial shade. For example, you can hang hydrangeas, lilacs, or other flowering shrubs. You can also use hanging baskets to add texture and color to the space. Mounting lights near the top of the pergola will illuminate the plants and create a magical atmosphere after dark.
You can also build planter boxes around the base of your pergola to create a garden or herb garden. These boxes can be filled with herbs, flowers, or succulents. They’re easy to install and a good do-it-yourself project for the weekend.
You can even create a vertical garden on your pergola by using trellis planters that have pockets for growing plants. These planters are simple to install and provide a beautiful, natural look to your deck.
Sun Shade
A pergola is a great way to create shade for your deck. This allows you to relax outside without absorbing the sun’s harmful rays that can damage paint and other materials.
Use vines like grapevine and wisteria to create a natural canopy over your deck area. They can quickly grow and add a soft, delicate touch to your landscape.
If you plan to add a roof to your pergola, make sure it’s not too top-heavy. ‘To keep your structure safe, you want to avoid anything that can cause the structure to become unstable or collapse,’ says Trex.
If you want the flexibility of being able to adjust how much sun and shade your pergola offers, consider a retractable canopy. These canopies work well with modern and contemporary designs and are easy to operate.
Canopy
A pergola adds a touch of elegance to any deck. It can be used as a place to dine, host a small wedding or simply be a quiet spot for relaxing.
Pergolas can be built out of woods or low-maintenance materials like aluminum, vinyl and PVC. Wood pergolas can also be customized by length and height depending on the roofline of your home and sightlines.
A pergola should be properly supported and secured to the deck to ensure safety and durability. Using strong post bases and timber bolts for the posts is key to building an attractive and safe structure. These hardware items are not usually included in kit-based pergolas and will require the services of a local landscape professional. The best hardware is galvanized and powder-coated to withstand the elements.
Fireplace
No matter your outdoor living design goals, a fireplace brings the ultimate in creature comforts. Nothing brings people together like the dancing flames of a fire.
Pergolas can handle the heat emitted by an outdoor fireplace as long as there is enough clearance between the fire and any combustible material beneath it. That includes the pergola itself, which can be made of wood or low maintenance composite materials.
Propane and gas fires produce less smoke than wood burns, making them safer to use under a pergola. However, they still emit a great deal of heat and may need to be covered with DeckProtect or a similar protective surface that catches burning amber preventing damage to the deck boards. It’s also important to check local regulations and your homeowner’s insurance policy about using a fireplace on a pergola and how close it can be to the home.
Curtains
Curtains add a romantic touch to your pergola and block out the sun allowing you to relax on it even during the hottest summer months. They also protect your furniture and plants from sun damage, create privacy, and can help to keep mosquitoes at bay.
If you choose to use curtains on your pergola, make sure they are made for outdoor use and have UV protection and water resistance. Generally, polyester or acrylic fabrics work best for this type of setting.
Cotton fabrics are inexpensive but do not have the ability to resist moisture and will need to be washed on a regular basis. These fabrics can also build up a static charge and attract debris like dust and pet hair. Polypropylene and olefin (or polyethylene) are more expensive but are very durable and do not build up static.
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