If your patio doesn’t already have a built-in cover or roof, and you have the money and time to build a permanent or semi-permanent cover for your patio, a pergola or gazebo are good recommendations.
Pergolas and Gazebos are medium-cost, unattached structures that can provide cover for your outdoor living space. One usually has a full roof or tiered roof. The other is open & you can attach weatherproof material to it for shade and protection. Both can keep you cool in hot weather.
You may think these are going to the extremes of cost when it comes to trying to beat the heat. But pergolas aren’t always very expensive. They’re also quite easy to build and get permitted for. Gazebos may be a bit more expensive and more difficult to permit, but they can be a wonderful addition to your backyard.
What Are Pergolas? What Are They Used For?
Pergolas are outdoor structures that consist of columns or pillars that support a roofing grid or rafters. Usually, the roof is left open or covered by a light covering. The covering is separate and usually there for shade, not really for protection from the elements.
Pergolas are usually room-sized and often are built as a continuation of a house into an outdoor living space. These structures can sometimes come with a retractable cover that can conveniently be used to provide simple shade from the sun.
Pergolas have been used to cover trails as well as for recreational backyard use. The main thing pergolas are used for in residential areas – is to define a specific outdoor living space away from the rest of the yard. You can find pergolas made of pressure-treated wood, vinyl, fiberglass, and metal.
What Are Gazebos? What Are They Used For?
Gazebos are similar to pergolas, but they generally have a solid roof or tiered roof – but definitely a roof that is not open to the sky. They are also usually free-standing and not part of the building or close to it. There are the traditional round (octagonal or hexagonal) gazebos and then there are the newer mass-marketed metal gazebos that may be square in shape. There can be seating inside and often railings or something that separates the inside from the outside.
Custom gazebos are often the focal point of a property, usually placed where people can have a nice view and enjoy themselves. Larger ones might even be used for get-togethers. Unlike pergolas, gazebos can actually protect you from a hard downpour just as much as they can protect you from the harsh sun.
How Much Do Pergolas and Gazebos Cost?
The cost of both structures really varies depending on what materials are being used (wood is at a premium at the moment) and the area of the country you live in – availability can drive pricing. To make sure your columns are sturdy, an auger will most likely need to be rented and cement used on the columns. And this is if you DIY.
If you opt for DIY kits, depending upon the material you can get a pergola for as little as $400. Keep in mind, these aren’t exactly going to be works of art, but they will be very practical.
There are wooden and vinyl kits that can be more, as I’ve listed above. Those look better but cost anywhere from $1400 to $3000. The price also depends upon the size of the pergola or gazebo you’re looking at.
Plain Metal Pergola Kit – Price does not include labor for supplies and assembly + permitting
Vinyl Pergola Kit – Price does not include labor for supplies and assembly + permitting
Wood Pergola Kit – Price does not include labor for supplies and assembly + permitting
For DIY gazebos, the price can go up or be around the same, depending on which version you choose. These prices also depend upon the size. You can have a permanent hardtop aluminum gazebo that’s a 10’ x 12’ for around $1900 or the same thing but 12’ x 20’ for around $3500.
This was the first option for us and went ahead with the purchase, but due to a lower wind rating for our area, we were restricted from building this and had to send it back.
Aluminum Gazebo Kit – Price does not include labor for supplies and assembly + permitting
You can get non-permanent gazebos made of a cheaper material for as cheap as $300. Just know you get what you pay for and these are not meant to last more than a season.
Hiring someone can cost more because they usually build custom pergolas and gazebos, not from kits. These can begin at around $3000 for pergolas and run upward of $7000 depending upon the intricacy and material. Custom gazebos in our neck of the woods can be much more expensive, beginning at $6500 and reaching around $14,000 for a residential version.
The larger they get the more expensive they can be. But on average, if they don’t have to be wind graded as ours do – the average price of a 12’x12’ custom wood gazebo is around $5000 – $7500. This is where doing your own research in your area is the best thing to do for details.
And don’t forget, most cities and counties make you get permits for building anything like a pergola or a gazebo. So, that needs to be taken into consideration. Remember, as long as the pergola or the gazebo are well constructed and proper maintenance is kept on them, they can definitely add value to your home. So the cost may be worth it for the enjoyment and the value that is added.
Other Than Providing Shade, How Can Pergolas and Gazebos Help Everyone Keep Cool?
Pergolas can provide a structure for trailing plants which can also actually provide shade beyond just what a cover can provide. Both pergolas and gazebos of all kinds can provide a structure from which misting systems, fans, and shade sails can be anchored and used. They can also hold speakers and lights as well as be fitted for shades and curtains for privacy.
Which Do You Think You’ll Get?
I know we’ve decided on a pergola that I will write about in a future article. Our bank account cannot take the cost of a gazebo, because in our area (close to the Atlantic coastline) gazebos must be wind rated for 130mph winds. And that costs a lot of extra money. You need to be sure of your local zoning and permitting practices before making your decisions.
If you need something less expensive to help with cooling your backyard, I’ve written an article about several different ways to handle the heat. Hopefully, this article can help you decide if a covered structure is right for you and if so, which one you need to begin looking into first.
"Growing up a country-girl means you enjoy the outdoors as much as possible, and no matter where you go in life, the outdoors is always part of you. I began doing research on things I wanted to do to make my outdoor space my own, no matter where we moved. And that research led me to write this blog to share with you!"
