Pergolas with Curved Beams

Curves are hot when it comes to Pergolas and Decks. This a great example of curved pergolas. This one is a minimalist pergola. Just the beam and open sky above. There is a square pergola beyond, but we will talk about that next post. It is an outstanding pergola on it's own.

The client had a circular patio, so we made the pergola a match for the curve. Luke Simonovski was the builder and I did the computer rendering for this curved pergola and worked with the client, (also a designer), until he was happy with the look.

Many TV builders will fake curves for outdoor, by making thousands of little cuts in the beams to enable them to bend. Fact is, when you make all those little cuts, they get weak, and the end grains soak up moisture, which means it will rot prematurely.

When it comes to curved pergola beams we use solid dry lamination methods. We know the right adhesives and use kiln dried lumber for long lasting structural laminations.

To see more photos of this curved pergola click here

If you are in need of laminated curved beams for a pergola or decks get in touch by email or phone at (888) 293-8938  We will need to know the length and radius.

A Pergola on Decks with Hot Tubs

Large decks need a pergola that fits. This hot tub pergola is a perfect match for the proportions of this deck.

This deck with pergola was designed and built for a home near Montreal Quebec. Pre-finished western red cedar, with solid and semi transparent finishes. Tempered glass rails frame the view rather than obstruct it.

I am sure you can imagine yourself enjoying this view, relaxing in your hot tub, shielded from prying eyes of neighbors. Notice the curved cuts on the underside of the pergola rafters.

Speak to one of our local design builders about creating this kind of retreat at your home!

To see more photos of this deck and pergola click here.

To find your local builders of decks and pergolas click here.

To see the video of this deck and pergola project click here

Call 888 293 8938 for a consultation.

A Pergola with a Roof? A Pavilion!

This Pergola with a full roof is more commonly known as a Pavilion. 

It has ornate pergola detailing and a full roof with eves-trough. The beams and posts scream pergola, but the roof makes it waterproof and full shade like a pavilion.

Before you tell me that there are no braces... that is what makes this one a little different. The structure is built in to the post assembly. GardenStructure.com designed a special fastening system just for structures like these. There is NO movement to this structure and it is adjustable if required to be tightened.

This one has shingle and a flat roof to fit within Oakville structural height restrictions.

This was designed by Gardenstructure.com (Lawrence Winterburn) and built by Dan Maragno-- Our Oakville Builder.

To see more of Lawrence and Dan's pergolas, please visit our Pergolas section. To see more photos of this Pergola please click  Roofed Pergola

L

More Pergolas 2010

Pergolas with Canvas Awnings!

 

Pergolas with Retractable Canopies

click to see more photos of this project!

This retractable canopy system can be fabricated for installation on nearly any size pergola. This pergola is 9 x 12' but these canopy systems can be made for up to 18 x 30'.

They are waterproof and carry a 12 year warranty on mechanicals and a 5 year Sunbrella warranty on the fabric.

You can go to Sunbrella.com to choose your fabric and let us take it from there.

The Design is by Lawrence Winterburn and it was built by Luke Simonovski-- our builder in East Toronto.

New Pergolas 2010

A pergola by www.gardenstructure.com click large pergolas and large pergolas 2 to see more shots.

It is the time of year that I get to show off some of the work our builders have done this year. Pergolas can be the framework for outdoor rooms, a dining room in this case. You can also see the hot tub in the far end beneath this rather large pergola. This shot is the view from behind the bar with granite counter tops.

We designed benches for guests not taking part in the hot tub festivities and as a separation from the dining area.

Trelliswork adds to the look. This pergola was constructed of western red cedar for the lower parts--and pressure treated materials for the beams and rafters.

Semi-transparent stain can help disguise pressure treated materials in a subtle way. Many of our structures have 2 color finishes which also minimizes upkeep.

For more views of this spectacular pergola built in the Toronto area by our local builder Brian D'Souza and Crew.


To see more shots of this project click pergolas or pergolas2

A Curved Pergola Inspection

A Curved Pergola gone horribly wrong. (GardenStructure.com did not build this pergola)

Best intentions won't build a pergola that lasts!

We were called in this month by a customer to give a quote on rebuilding a curved support beam on a pergola. This was obviously built by a well skilled carpenter that has likely built cabinetry. This builder knew something I could attempt to explain to a building department and have them stare back across the counter with an empty glazed over look.

"Box beams can be stronger than solid beams that weigh 3x more if built properly."

The trouble here was a poor choice of materials and adhesives and likely a bit of inexperience. This 5 year old pergola needs a new beam.

The moisture leaked through the connection points and caused the glue to let go when the "Interior Grade Materials" became saturated. As it became more wet, the sealants became porous and actually soaked up moisture from inside. They had leaks from within the beam and into the column caps that were a nasty looking brown color.

They used duracast columns by the look of it, and they held up perfectly.

This curved pergola beam looks to be made of western red cedar for the cap and interior, and they used "Bending Plywood", also known as flex ply, wacky wood or Wiggle Wood, for the exterior layer. They doubled up the flexply for strength and for a brief time it likely worked just fine!

There was no nailing blocks within the curved box beam either, which is something I would typically include.

These days there are better materials to use... We can build a box beam with a roof that you can easily expect permanent service from if maintained. (keep stain on it).

The cost of replacing the deficient pergola beam with one that will last was not feasible to this client. The builder initially had underbid, and the thought of paying nearly the same price they did initially was distasteful. Dan (our builder in Oakville--seen in the photo), has priced installing a square beam and also just removing the pergola for them altogether.

Such a waste!

If you want to know the right way to build a pergola... use our plans. (click) Our Pergola Plans

L

The Latest Trends in Pergolas

2010 is all about Adaptability!

Retractable canopies operated by a remote control is the latest feature to visit a yard near you.


The old wall mounted awnings are awkward and many homes don't have enough wall height to do it effectively. Nobody wants to duck their head to get under their awning. Mounting those old style awnings farther into the yard is tedious at best.


We've been designing pergolas to work with a new Canopy for a couple of years now so we are getting very good at it. The product is now 10 years old and has been retailing for about 3 years now.

There is a manual version and a motorized unit and each one is manufactured to fit your space exactly. Keep it square for the easiest installation and mount the canopy on a slope to channel water away from an area.


They can be mounted beneath nearly any pergola. If you want the motorized version it is a little more money and you will need power within 10 or so feet of the motor.

The Canvas Canopy has a 5 year warranty and the mechanicals carry a 12 year warranty.

Any relatively level structure with beams in the canopy area can be adapted to the system fairly easily. Of course it is better for us to design something that fits it perfectly and takes advantage of the unique capabilities of these canopies.

With a press of the button you can have your canopy pergola partially open, entirely closed or wide open. With the waterproof Sunbrella Fabric you can even have a sheltered sitting area for rainy days--never postpone that patio party again!

Get in touch with us today at 888 293 8938 to have a system designed just for your pergola. We can now walk you through the process of retrofitting your existing pergola. (expedite the process by sending photos and dimension maps by email to plans@gardenstructure.com )

L

Pergola or Arbor ?

Is it a Pergola or an Arbor? (or even Arbour)

Here is a general guideline-- If you live in the Southern US they are all Arbors or Trellises or Patio Covers. Click Pergolas link in the title to see all kinds.

In most of the rest of the world a pergola is a room without walls.

In Australia a Pergola is a roof in the yard and normally has sheet metal applied to reflect the sun.

There are many different variations on the theme.

Generally an arbor is a gate arch or 4 post entrance frame when entering a yard.

This is a gated pergola entrance with trellis screens, (or trelliage or trelliswork) in my humble opinion.

L

GardenStructure.com NEW SITE !

The main page helps you navigate through all the pergolas we have been hiding--actually, we were holding back designs to maintain an advantage over the competition.





This is likely the largest portfolio of pergola designs worldwide... so drop in and stay a while.




The new gallery shows many new pergola designs from the past 4 years not included in the previous website.








When you click the gallery items they open into a feature page and show different pergola views or versions of the pergola projects.











There is a separate section of Pergola Plans that you can find by the drop down menu for DIY Plans.

It has been a lot of work--but we think you will enjoy our new pergolas website!

L

Composite Pergolas

We get a couple of calls a week for composite pergolas. "Serves us right for making our pergolas look so flawless". People see the solid stain and tight joints and they often assume they are cast from plastic.

The fact is composite and PVC have aspects that make them unsuitable for building any structure that is in any way structural.

PVC products, (like siding, and plumbing materials), tend to get brittle when exposed to the sun for extended periods. In a place like Florida you will have a hard time finding an engineer to stick his neck out and stamp plans for a pvc pergola--and everything built in Florida needs an engineer's approval.

Here's a pergola hidden within a now defunct composite decking plant's yard...obviously not attractive enough to show in public. It even looks askew--and watch that last riser, looks like a killer.

Composite products have not been as wonderful as we all hoped. "Maintainance Free", turned into "Low Maintenance" after a few law suits. Recently those containing recycled wood and recycled plastic have been breaking out in mold spots that grow from the interior out, and troubles with disintegration, "Flaking".

There are a few new products, however they all have issues with weakness when heated, so without solid wood or metal within the structure they simply won't take high temperatures, wind or stress of any kind.

The last tragic issue has to do with fastening. It is difficult to make a secure connection from composite to composite, or pvc to pvc, (unless gluing--but even that lacks strength and doesn't look good with sleeves).

To create composite pergolas that don't have a metal frame or wood within will require designs that will change the look of composite pergolas. They won't look like pergolas as we know them--which means that they could be a hard sell.

If there are any composite companies looking to develop plans for composite pergolas give me a call and lets get moving on it.

For more about composite decking (click)

Large Span Pergolas

“I want a 22’ pergola but I only want it supported by two posts.”

We get numerous requests for pergolas that look like this. "Do your pergola plans work for a 16' x 18' pergola with 6 posts", and before I can begin to explain that "that type of span is possible, but that is no simple and basic structure to plan and build due to such a large span"--the guy hangs up! I was going to give him free information but the guy was too impatient to receive it.

Many people want to avoid posts for some reason. It is a common source of frustration for me. That kind of thing requires some engineering—heavy beams and structural tricks and in the end after you triple your budget it just doesn’t look right..

Inspired details need to be simple and practical. Unique Pergolas can be designed and built, however what will it look like and how much will it cost. I always said we can build anything—however you may not like the price.

Pergolas are typically built in a perpendicular way with supports about 8’ to 12’ apart.

The purpose of a pergola is to create a room without walls and offer a vertical source of interest. Just the framework to “Frame the View”. You don’t see very many walls that don’t have any support posts in a house…

“No… I don’t want mullions and I want a window that is 20’ wide”.

Now that would be kind of ridiculous. Even big glass buildings have support columns. There are always dividers and supports spaced between even a wall of windows if for no other purpose than to add strength to the glass.

Supports don’t detract from the view—they enhance it. They bring architecture to the view—blending nature with the human creation.

The last good reason for not having a 20’ span…

Proportional Correctness.

L

Pergolas

Pergolas are all about adding vertical interest and drawing the eye. This pergola is viewed from the neighbor's vantage. It makes you want to investigate. There is nothing more inviting than well designed pergolas.

You can view the most creative and inspired pergolas at our portfolio of pergolas.

You can view our Diy Pergola Plans here.