The pergola is a summer canopy that perfectly protects from the sun on hot days in the classic version. Previously, it was used as a basis for the growth of grapes, and over the years, it has become a beautiful element of landscape design, decoration of the garden and courtyard.
To assemble it, you can buy ready-made parts and make it from scratch. In any case, this will not take up a lot of the hosts’ time.
What it is
translated as an extension, a canopy. The standard design includes:
- repeating sections (arches, columns);
- pillars (the number depends on the shape);
- overlap in the form of a lattice.
For the canopy to harmoniously merge with nature, climbing plants are planted around the perimeter.
In addition to creating shade, the base for weaving plants performs several other functions:
1. Decorative. She will decorate the local area, add grace to the garden or park.
2. Zoning. Will become a separator of the garden and yard, playground, and front garden.
3. Camouflage. It perfectly hides the flaws of inconspicuous and straightforward buildings on the site.
4. Arrangement of the entrance group. In the form of an arch, it will become an original entrance to a garden or courtyard, and it will serve as a wide visor for a gate.
5. Recreation area decoration. An important design element when decorating a pool area. Serves as a shelter for an outdoor barbecue.
6.Creation of a green zone on the estate. It can be vertical or horizontal.
Pergola options
The design can be an addition to a sauna, steam bath, summer kitchen. The owners’ request becomes an alternative to an open gazebo, an unusual canopy for a garden swing.
In terms of form, they are more common:
- square ;
- triangular;
- arched;
- rectangular ;
- undulating.
Tunnel (corridor)
It is a long tunnel, which is why it got its name. The elongated frame consists of a set of supports (wood or metal) and a lattice floor.
It is customary to decorate a garden path, a transition to a house, or a gazebo with such a pergola. Climbing plants are planted near the racks. The covered corridor looks very impressive. And if you make a transparent roof made of polycarbonate, durable glass, it will become good protection from precipitation.
Screen
More often serves as a decorative fence or wall to create a secluded corner for relaxation. If you install along the border of the summer cottage and plant climbing plants around the perimeter, it will close what is happening in the yard from prying eyes.
The screen will be an excellent separator between the garden and the carport, playground. The photo above illustrates a pergola made of wooden slats assembled in the form of a lattice.
Canopy
The pergola roof is denser than usual to provide reasonable protection from the sun, partly from precipitation.
It is used instead of a pavilion for recreation, a canopy for a play area, car parking. To protect the awning from rain, flooring is made from a thick tarpaulin, polycarbonate. There are automatic folding options on sale.
Such a building will adjoin a residential building, serve as a veranda or stand separately. The roof is made shed in any of the cases.
The relaxation area near the pool also requires shade. It is convenient to place a sofa, chaise lounges, and a small table under the canopy. Vacationers have no risk of sunburn.
Visor
The visor can be built separately, or such an extension of the roof can be thought over in advance. It is placed on the south side of the house, which is most heated by the sun. This is a widespread practice in large cottages in the country’s southern regions with a mild climate.
Grapes, clematis can be planted nearby, which will curl up the supports. The structure will turn into a facade decoration.
Automatic (with electric drive)
It is used when arranging the landscape of a private house, summer grounds of cafes, restaurants. It is a frame structure. It was sold as a set of ready-made parts.
The advantages of this solution:
1.The ability to control the work of several canopies at the same time.
2. This design perfectly tolerates the effects of the environment (temperature drops, precipitation). The reason for this is the material of the frame – aluminum. For the roof, dense PVC, the waterproof acrylic fabric is used.
3. Affordable price for restaurant owners.
For owners of summer cottages, private houses, an automatic carport is quite an expensive pleasure.
With solar panels
The photo shows a sample of solar panels on the roof of a pergola – a modern energy-efficient solution. So the canopy also becomes an additional source of energy.
Such a pergola can be used to decorate the roof of the extension. It will fit perfectly into the high-tech style.
In the interior of a cottage, apartment
The design should harmoniously fit into the architecture of the building, complement the chosen design style.
Types of pergolas, depending on the purpose.
Pergolas are also often used when arranging a front garden, garden, flower bed. Let’s analyze this moment in more detail.
For flowers
Zoned garden areas with a pergola look neat. It is created in a lattice along which climbing plants will trail, a high stand with legs.
You can assemble a small structure from available tools. Wooden slats, thin and narrow boards will do. The forged stand always looks beautiful. You can purchase it ready-made or cook it yourself.
For cucumbers
A good design for growing cucumbers is a trellis. Often there are two pillars with supports on the sides and a crossbar on top. A plastic, lightweight metal mesh is attached to the crossbar or a fishing line, a thin cord is pulled.
Vertical cultivation gives the cucumbers a lot of light and good air exchange. They grow better and faster, and the color turns the same green from all sides. Even in a small garden, it will be easy to produce more than a dozen cucumber bushes.
The tapestry can also be triangular, where the threads are pulled at an angle. At the end of the season, the structure is dismantled.
For climbing plants
Created in the form of an arch, lattice. The frame, braided with vines or roses, looks very harmonious in the garden front garden. Benches around will be appropriate for rest.
To care for a living green canopy, it is enough to thin out the branches in the fall, cut off the dried ones. Inside you can put a table with chairs and enjoy your tea in the fresh air. The flooring is laid out with concrete slabs, pebbles, stone.
Materials for making
Basic requirements for the finished building:
1. Correctly calculated size. The canopy should harmoniously fit into the surrounding environment. In a small yard, a structure with elements of forging and plastic will look good. In large areas, strong columns of logs, timber, concrete will be appropriate.
2. Material strength and calculation of the approximate load. Growing up, climbing plants will create additional stress on the frame. The material must be selected so that it does not break under the weight of branches or snow cover in winter.
Pergolas are made from:
- plastic;
- wood;
- metal pipes;
- polycarbonate;
- concrete;
- stone.
The most popular are wood and metal. Let us analyze them in more detail.
Metal
Welded structures are made according to a previously prepared drawing. It is convenient to bend arched pergolas from metal. There are options for a lattice made of thin reinforcement rods welded together.
A metal structure needs mandatory corrosion protection. For this, the finished product is coated with a primer, and after drying – paint for metal.
Such pergolas serve for decades. If you wish, you can always repaint them in a different color.
Wood
Natural wood is most often used in the construction of summer arbors, pergolas.
The most durable lumber will be:
- oak;
- larch;
- pine trees;
- acacia.
Aged wood fits perfectly into the style of Provence, rough boards, timber – into the country. Wood goes well with other materials. A canopy with stone, brick pillars, and wooden beams are always appropriate in the style of a chalet, half-timbered house. Combination with metal allows you to create a seemingly light, not bulky, canopy.
Style of design
The direction of the design should be determined at the planning stage, creating a design diagram. The list of materials, the method and need for finishing, decorative elements depends on this.
Minimalism
A building in this style will have a rectangular roof. Above, the flooring is made of polycarbonate, dense fabric. Electric awnings are used. Wooden and metal posts. The color scheme is classic—no bright colors or experiments. Only practical details are helpful.
It is often a separate building, equipped with an entire seating area with a sofa, small armchairs, and a table.
High tech
The roof can be retractable. All elements should talk about the latest innovations.
The dimensions of the building do not matter. It can be just a canopy with one folding chair or a whole area with a large table and chairs.
Modern
The unusual shape is also traced. Electric awnings are acceptable. The pergola is located near the house or attached to one of the walls.
Of the materials for construction, metal and wood are more often used. The roof is lattice or covered with polycarbonate.
Provence
The furniture is given a slightly aged look. You can put a rocking chair with a blanket, a small tea table on which the paint is somewhat rubbed, and the same chairs.
The floor is lined with decking; paving slabs are laid. The more vegetation and potted flowers around, the better.
Loft
Applied to a pergola, it is more often found when decorating summer areas of cafes and restaurants. In a strict style, gray, brown, and black predominate. Contrasting combinations are possible.
Rough lines should be traced in the decoration of the interior. No colorful, floral textiles. A minimum of details. Only the essentials. The combination of wood and metal prevails. The wood is not painted but simply varnished to emphasize the beauty of the wood. The metal is covered with paint more for corrosion protection than for beauty.
Country
They call it rustic style. Logs or rough, unpainted timber are used under the posts. The roof is assembled from slats with a lattice or covered with a solid slab of intertwined branches. Wooden benches and a table are installed under the canopy. Flowers planted in clay pots serve as decoration.
All materials and decor should be as close to nature as possible. Therefore, stone, wood, clay prevail.
Modern
Comfort and functionality are the hallmarks of modern style. The awning is equipped with an automatic collapsible shelter. For lighting, lamps are used, fixed on the support beams of the roof. An additional source is lamps on the side posts. The floor is made on a small hill so that water does not accumulate under the canopy during rain. There are no restrictions on materials, shapes, colors. The main thing is a stylish and harmonious combination.
Here is an example of a modern pergola near the pool. Looks restrained and beautiful.
Japanese (Asian)
The building is going to be made of wood. The roof is made shed or pyramidal. The edges can be concave. The Japanese style is dominated by red, black, brown. For lighting, unusual square lanterns are used, suspended from ceiling beams and poles. It is appropriate to place it near an artificial reservoir, in the middle of a garden. Low sofas and the same low oblong table can be used as furniture. Flowers are planted along the perimeter in containers, flowerpots.
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