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Alex Zevenboom

Pergola design decisions and considerations

What’s the difference between a pergola, patio and a verandah?


You have probably heard of all three but understanding the difference is important so you can properly plan and know what to expect. The key element that the three have in common is that they’re all designed around recreation from outdoor dining to relaxation, they are all luxury additions to make your house a home.


Pergola

As we know it today, the pergola has evolved to bring outdoor relaxation and entertaining spaces to the home. Of course with the climate in Australia, they are a popular addition to every home and with different add ons, can be enjoyed year-round.


The key standout for a pergola versus a patio or verandah is the design principle for interacting with your garden. You can choose to have a free-standing pergola or a pergola that is connected to your home.




Patio

Patios, unlike pergolas, are usually exposed without roofs with paved or decked floors. Patios are most popular amongst homeowners looking for an area to display their outdoor furniture and plant pots.


Verandah

Fun fact! ‘Verandah’ is derived from an Indian word that means “a place that leads outdoors”. Verandahs are a true icon on many homes around Australia - I’m sure there’s at least one home on your street with one.


Verandahs are typically at the ground level of a building and are traditionally more narrow than pergolas and patios. Traditionally located at the front of a home, verandahs are always roofed. A perfect place to sit back with a cuppa or a glass of wine to admire your front garden and wave to the neighbours.


So now you know you’re sure you’d like a pergola, let’s take a look at the type of design decisions you’ll need to consider (with our help, of course!).


Size & Proportions

Start by simply looking at the space you want to transform. Think about where you can envision the pergola sitting where it will serve your home the best. For example, consider your garden - are you happy with the current garden beds or would you make them larger or smaller to accommodate your pergola? Obviously, at the time of your quote, we will chat through the area and suggest the best outcome for your home.



Style of pergolas

Next up, think about how you want the pergola to look - are you dreaming of a modern and sleek design or something more traditional? Pergola designs are classified by their roof design. Gable pergolas are the more commonly known style with two sloping slides to the roof that meet at a ridge. Almost flat pergolas are known as skillion pergolas. Let’s run through some design considerations for each.


Skillion

A reverse skillion pergola put simply is a large roof structure leaning back towards your house so when you walk through the back door, the roof raises as you walk out, making the space feel vast and expansive. When the Faultless team create Reverse skillions, they’re planned with their own box gutter system to ensure there is minimal stress put onto the existing house gutter.


A consideration to note when deciding between a skillion and a Gable pergola is that due to skillion pergolas (generally) lower roof, there’s an opportunity for skillion pergolas to become hot during summer months unless designed adequately. The Faultless team stand by creating work that is functional and enjoyable year-round so you as the client can benefit from the true value of your investment. The great news is that due to the flat roof, skillion pergolas are versatile and open your opportunity to add customisations and personalise your design. We have a few tricks to minimise the heat from the roofing choice, fans, and clever structure alignment.



Gable

Gable pergolas are commonly known as the traditional and formal types of pergolas and for good reason; they add the WOW factor to your outdoors. The pitched roof with two sloping sides, forming a peak in the middle creates a grand sense of height and space, allowing room to add personal touches such as lighting and fans without impeding on the space. If the main house structure fashions a gable roof then a gable pergola lends itself beautifully to the look and feel of the home, feeling like a seamless extension from the indoors out.


A big benefit of the gable pergola is its ability to withstand hot summer days. Thanks to its roof structure, the sun strikes more indirectly, heating up slower than a skillion pergola. If the gable ends are open, the airflow under the roof better allows heat to naturally dissipate.


One consideration to note about gable pergolas is that they are slightly more challenging to clean than skillion pergolas.


Consider the line of sight you want to create

Consider your line of sight not only when you are sitting under your new pergola and basking in the joys of your new entertaining area, but also when inside, looking out. No one wants a poorly considered pergola placement that blocks natural light from getting in or blocks a beautiful view. Don’t worry, the Faultless team will make sure this never happens but it’s great to bear in mind and think about in the lead up to your quote.


If there’s a view or something special in your garden that you want to highlight, be sure to raise this with us at the time of your quote and we can discuss options to ensure this view is maximised. Likewise, if there’s a feature in your garden that you would like to hide, such as a pool pump, neighbouring garden or a shed, we can discuss screening options to not only add privacy but an additional design element.



Consider the climate in your area

It’s no secret that the Faultless team adore all parts of South Australia, specifically the hills where we were born and bred. The climate here in South Australia can be harsh and depending on where you are located, you will need to make some design considerations such as the type of timbers. Like the hills, an area prone to bushfires requires fire-resistant timber varieties such as Jarrah or Blackbutt. If you live in a bushfire prone area, the Faultless team will seek a CFS rating for your home at the time of your quote to ensure your new structure meets safety standards and is built with correct materials.


The climate in your area also comes into play when designing the placement of your pergola. Consider what time of day the pergola will be most commonly used so any screening, skylights, or lighting can be installed to suit your needs. If you’re an entertainer, consider keeping the pergola close to the kitchen (where possible) for easy, seamless entertaining from inside, out. If you’re a big green thumb, think about how a pergola can be best positioned to maximise your enjoyment in your garden.



Council guidelines

Often an oversight for some, Council guidelines can dictate your pergola design. Within these guidelines, you can learn the ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’ for creating an outdoor entertaining area that will play into your design. Get to know these restrictions early on before having your heart set on a specific design to reduce any potential disappointments. The Faultless team take care of the council approvals once we have your quote drafted up so rest assured, you won’t need to personally deal with the council or a third party.


Colour choices

The Faultless team always suggest trying to match the structure colour to your existing house fascias and surrounding structures to create a seamless transfer between spaces. Alex is a big fan of using large posts to create an impactful design statement and a more solid feel to the structure. We can offer 135mm x 135mm posts and they look amazing!



Timber Vs Steel

Head honcho, Alex says; “In my personal opinion timber is better. A lot of people are concerned about the maintenance, I can completely understand why you feel that way although there is no need to worry. We can factor in a two-coat paint job to the timber before it's erected. After it is completed it will just need touch-ups and it will last for numerous years without needing to paint it again. After all, it has a roof on it protecting it from the majority of the elements. Steel I find gets hot in the summer and projects that heat around the area, it is also harder to repair if certain someone runs into it on their bike or hits a post with a cricket bat. Again this is only my personal opinion, you need to do what you think is right for your space”. When quoting, we can discuss both options and suggest what works best for you in your climate and for the design, you are looking to achieve.


Roofing

Next, you'll need to decide on roofing. If it is a space that gets loads of natural light, you can opt for a solid Colorbond corrugated roof to bounce most of the heat off. If you are subjected to a slightly darker area I would suggest using some polycarbonate sheeting to allow light into openings such as doors and windows. Allow at least two sheets above windows and doors for the best result. The polycarbonate sheeting that people are scared of no longer exists. The old sheeting used to let so much heat through that it became uncomfortable to sit and relax outside. The new sheeting however has a lifetime warranty, has 99.9% UV protection, is fire resistant, and is a lot stronger. For example, our most popular option, diffused grey, lets in 20% of light and 18% solar transmittance.


Add ons

Your new pergola will speak for itself but if you would like to elevate it further, there are a range of add ons and customisations to make an impact and ensure you get the most value from your investment. Pergolas are an extension of your home and create so much opportunity to add massive value to your home and enjoyability. A pergola is just the start of your outdoor entertaining space. Here are our top tips for improving your experience.


Lighting

Lighting is a great way to ensure your pergola can be enjoyed at any time of the day. There’s something truly magical about enjoying a meal with friends and family under a pergola with a magical atmosphere set by well-considered lighting. We suggest a lighting design that sets the mood and is functional for you. From downlights, feature lights and even uplighting from the ground, there are many options to bring your pergola to life and extend the hours of enjoyment.


Fans & Heating

Trust us when we say you won’t ever regret adding a fan to your pergola. Fans add significant value to your pergola as you can enjoy sitting outside, under your pergola even on the hot days and balmy nights. Think about where you might have a bbq set up as fans will also help move around any cooking smells and smoke.


There are some awesome heaters on the market these days and obviously, including one or two will mean even on the chilly days and nights, you can sit back and enjoy!


Screening

As touched on before, privacy screening is not just a great functional addition to your pergola but it also adds a real WOW factor to your design. Think about any areas you would like to block off or close in. If you’re thinking of an outdoor bar or kitchen, a beautiful timber screen is an awesome backdrop for this to highlight your outdoor entertaining paradise.


Timber screening also allows you to add hanging plants and artwork to bring your personality into your design.



Blinds

Outdoor blinds add protection from the weather and additional privacy. Cafe blinds are often clear or tinted and are a great option to add protection without compromising on losing your beautiful view.


Shade blinds won’t block out as much wind and rain and cafe blinds but are a great option to keep your outdoor area private thanks to their reduced transparency while offering protection from UV rays and offering a great level of insulation.


Shade blinds are available in multiple colours to suit the style of your pergola and home and can be paired with electronic operating systems.

Opaque blinds are another option, blocking out 99% of UV rays and offer the highest level of privacy whilst protecting from wind and rain.


Stairs

Of course, if your pergola is built at a height, you’ll need to consider the style of stairs and handrailing to go with it! There are codes and regulations that the Faultless teamwork under and at the time of your quote, we will discuss your options.


Balustrading

If you would like to create a sense of different spaces in your back garden without completely blocking off with timber screening, the Faultless team love a feature stainless steel balustrade or feature glass balustrade.


Built-in seating

We love a pergola that features a beautiful screen and built-in seating. It’s seamless and adds so much value to your pergola. You can use features such a built-in seating to tell a story within a space. Style your seating as an area to relax and have another area where you dine. You’ll thank yourself later for creating a functional space and a true extension of your home.


Outdoor bar or kitchen

If your pergola connects to your home right outside your kitchen, consider building a timber bar area or servery outside the window to allow for easy entertaining from the inside out.


Or maybe consider in your layout, a separate bar or outdoor kitchen at one end of the pergola. Given South Australia’s long and balmy summer evenings, you will be so grateful for a pergola that’s as functional as it is beautiful.


A deck to match

We simply couldn’t get this far and not talk about a matching deck. There’s something magical about a beautiful pergola that sits on a matching deck. From a functionally and design perspective, decks are the winner. Imagine stepping out onto your new deck with beautiful balustrading with uplights in the deck highlighting your new pergola - you just can’t beat it!



So now what?

So you’re dreaming of a pergola for your outdoor area, you know the rough size, style and features you’d like to include...or maybe not! Maybe you still need some professional advice and that’s OK! That’s what the Faultless team and here for. Where do you go from here? We suggest getting some inspiration - take a look through our recent work to see the different looks that can be achieved with a pergola. Browse Pinterest and save some designs that you love. Get in touch with us for a free quote and we will take it from there. We can’t wait to bring your pergola dreams to life so you can fall in love with your home all over again!


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