Covering terraces and balconies with pergolas is becoming an increasingly popular solution for those who value functionality and elegant outdoor design. If you have started thinking about creating the perfect shade on your terrace or garden, keep reading.

Before purchasing a pergola, we often get asked:

What is truly important when choosing a pergola to ensure the best quality for your money?

Since a pergola is an investment that will serve you for many years, this question is very relevant. Below are some useful tips to know before starting the pergola purchasing process.

1. It is important that the pergola withstands unpredictable weather conditions

A pergola’s main function is not only sun protection but also protection from wind, rain, and snow.

For rain protection, a watertight roof and a proper drainage system are crucial.

Pergola roofs can be made of aluminum slats or fabric. Both louvered pergolas and fabric pergolas can offer 100% waterproofing — for fabric pergolas, this requires water-repellent material. Where does the water drain? Most pergolas come with a hidden integrated drainage system, channeling rainwater through the supports and posts to the ground or side.

To use the pergola in winter, it must also have high snow load capacity.

Snow load varies by manufacturer and depends on construction type and dimensions. Some providers recommend slightly opening slats in winter to reduce snow weight. Pergolas designed for our market can handle closed slats in winter, offering up to 250 kg/m² snow load. Teflon gaskets are installed between the slats to prevent sticking during freezing.

For stability in increasingly frequent storms, a strong construction resistant to wind gusts is essential.

Check if the pergola provider guarantees high wind resistance.

2. It is important that the pergola is the right size for its intended use

Pergolas are custom-made products. However, it often happens that clients do not consider the intended purpose of the pergola before ordering, which can lead to mistakes in sizing. This is where we step in to provide advice, share best practices, and guide them. For example, in one case, we had already installed a pergola for a client, who later realized they wanted to have an outdoor kitchen under it as well. A large table with seating was already on the terrace, and adding even a small outdoor kitchen would have made the space quite cramped. Therefore, the primary intended use is crucial when determining the size of the pergola.

The decision to purchase a pergola can be motivated by different needs: for some, it is about creating a pleasant space to socialize with friends and family, while for others, the main purpose is to create a peaceful environment for relaxation and recharging in touch with nature. Increasingly, pergolas are installed as an extension of the house, expanding the living space and aesthetically complementing the overall appearance of the home and outdoor area.
We invite you to view our example of a terrace covering on a new build with a panoramic glass wall and a bioclimatic pergola in the blog post here.

3. It is important that the pergola provides long-lasting durability

The key to the long-lasting durability of a pergola is the selection of high-quality materials. We all want our pergola to maintain its appearance over the years without requiring maintenance every few years—or even every year. Most pergolas are made of aluminum, which generally requires no special maintenance, although quality can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. It is essential that the pergola is entirely constructed from stainless steel or aluminum protected against oxidation.

Equally important is that the pergola roof is made of materials suitable for outdoor use. For louvered (also called bioclimatic) pergolas, the roof is composed of aluminum slats, which ensures durability. For retractable fabric pergolas, the fabric must be water-repellent, UV-resistant, mold- and algae-resistant, and highly wind-stable.

Before purchasing a pergola, it is definitely worth taking the time to assess your needs and choose a quality provider who can offer advice and share best practices. This will save you a lot of time, stress, and, ultimately, money.

Pred nakupom pergole se je torej zagotovo vredno poglobiti, raziskati vaše potrebe in izbrati kvalitetnega ponudnika, ki vam bo na voljo za posvet in deljenje dobrih praks. S tem si lahko prihranite veliko časa, živcev in nenazadnje – denarja.

For a comprehensive and professional approach to your project, we invite you to contact us for free consultation and a non-binding offer at hello@chefdejardin.com or by clicking the button below.