Pergola Kits and Outdoor Living Ideas Pergola Depot Blog

Top 5 Uses for a Pergola

The list of uses for a pergola is endless! Carport, patio cover, garden feature, patio shade. Are you trying to make your outdoor space usable year-round? Have you heard people talking about pergolas and gazebos and thinking this could be the answer? What is a pergola and what is a pergola used for? If you're new to the term "pergola", it's synonymous with the word "retreat" or "arbor" but can also be much more than that. They can transform a backyard in a new outdoor room. Pergola kits can create a lifestyle. In today's landscape design, pergolas have many purposes. They add function and style to backyards of any size, and are one of the easiest ways to build an outdoor retreat. If you're still wondering if this a possible solution...

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3 Time-tested Elements for Outdoor Living Space Design

A leading trend in outdoor room design incorporates outdoor pergola kits into the landscape. Designs have evolved over the years, but core elements that still remain to create the framework for your outdoor space include patio flooring, natural boundaries, and structures such as outdoor pergola kits, gazebos, pagodas, and similar wood structures. One of the first steps is to define the borders of your outdoor room. Measure off the area and make your wish-list for the space. Are you trying to preserve the natural aspects of your surroundings? Do you want to be sure you don't obstruct your view or are you trying to create more privacy? Are there space or building restrictions? Answers to these questions will lead you to one of your first decisions on how you'll create the...

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DIY Spruce-ups for Wood Pergola Kits and Patio Pieces

Getting your outdoor furniture and structures ready for the season? Grab a paintbrush and do a quick spruce up of your front door, patio furniture, and other structures. The summer heat that will be here soon can crack and warp a wooden front door's surface over time. Repainting or staining doors, wooden benches, and furniture can help protect those wood surfaces from the elements. It also makes it look fresh and welcoming! Assess your larger outdoor wooden structures such as pergola, deck, trellis, or fence and decide if it's time to add another coat of sealant or stain to preserve the natural look of your wood. Spring is the time to clean, refresh, and get your patio furniture ready to use again, and it's also a good time to do...

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How to Get Started with Your Outdoor Patio Design

If you're just getting started with a new outdoor patio design, try one of the many sample outdoor patio drawings out there. Or start from scratch by creating your own rough sketch of your yard and some of the basic features you'd like to add. Your local landscaper could help you out or do your own quick drawing with pencil and paper first. This can help you figure out your space, think about the elements you'd like to incorporate, and decide possible placement that'll create the landscape that best meets your needs. Maybe you're trying to create more shade, add more privacy, or make an entirely new outdoor room. Choosing plants, trees, outdoor structures, accessories, and patio or deck materials are some of the elements you'll be able to customize to really...

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10 Spring Home Maintenance Tips

It's fun to flip through the home & garden fliers that show up in our mailbox this time of year, dream about the possibilities for home improvements, and make plans for the upcoming outdoor season. As I was leafing through a few recent mailers, I noticed that most of them have a handy checklist for spring home maintenance. Obviously, the one you get in your mailbox will have the best list suited to your climate. But I pulled out a top 10 list that applies to nearly every state that we ship our pergola kits to. Inspect your A/C unit. If you have central air, give the system a check and make sure it's in working order before the outside temps start rising. Or call a qualified technician and...

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Planning a Spring or Summer Garden Party?

Are you getting spring fever? Now's the time to get your patio plan in place, starting with an outdoor wood structure kit! Perhaps you'll be hosting an outdoor gathering for your high schooler's prom or spring formal. Maybe you have a graduate to honor and are looking for backyard graduation party ideas so you can host the party on your patio? Or, you could be offering your backyard for a garden wedding the happy couple has always dreamed of! Any of these events would be made even more magical with a special area for dining, relaxing, or a unique photo op complete with a gorgeous pergola. If you have an empty spot on your deck, patio or backyard, an outdoor wood structure could be the missing piece to bring...

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How to Measure Pergola Dimensions

Ready to take the big leap and add a backyard pergola to complete your patio design? First step - you'll want to measure your space so you know the best size pergola for your outdoor living setup. Here are a few steps that'll walk you through how to measure and find the pergola dimensions and size to fit your space. We've outlined how to measure for a pergola attached to a wall or a freestanding pergola. For our pergola kits, standard pergola dimensions range from 8x8 to 20x20. Once you take your measurements, you'll know if a standard size will work, or if you'll need to request a custom pergola size.

Planning Your Pergola Space

One of the first considerations is how much useable...

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Pergola Depot Awarded Best of Houzz 2018

We're pleased to announce that Pergola Depot has been awarded "Best Of Customer Service" on Houzz®, the leading platform for home remodeling and design. This is Pergola Depot's fourth Best Of Houzz award, following on from our 2015, 2016, and 2017 awards for Customer Service. We love our customers and very much appreciate all of the pergola kit customer reviews we've received, and being recognized for the attention to quality that is so important to our team at Pergola Depot.

Pergola Depot Best of Houzz Award 2018

Thank you to our customers for making this achievement possible for us!

The Best Of Houzz is awarded annually in three categories: Design, Customer Service and Photography. Customer Service honors are based on several factors, including the number and quality of client reviews a professional received in...

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Best Wood for Pergolas

This easy to follow wood pergola guide offers a brief overview of two of the most popular wood types for pergolas. What are the most important factors when choosing pergola wood? We've found that durability, sustainability, and easy of installation are 3 of the top features that homeowners are looking for when shopping for a wood pergola. Two classic choices of wood for pergola kits that offer those features and more are #1 pressure treated Southern Yellow Pine and Western Red Rough Sawn Tight Knot Cedar. Both are excellent choices for a sturdy pergola that will last for many years. These wood types offer strength and durability that look good in many types of settings from rustic to traditional. Which type do you prefer? We’ll compare...

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Winter Staycation Ideas

When you think of a winter outdoor retreat or winter staycation ideas, what comes to mind? A great way to take a break from the last minute holiday shopping and excitement if you can't venture too far from home is to find a nearby trail or park, take a neighborhood stroll or bike ride, or relax and enjoy the backyard retreat you spent all that time creating this summer. If you're planning to take a First Day Hike when 2018 arrives, maybe you can do a preview hike of the location you've scoped out for January 1. For a coast-to-coast listing, Stateparks.org is a good resource showing parks from Maine to California who are hosting guided hikes on New Year's Day, or you can search your state's department of...

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