Adding a sun covering to your home is a great option if you want to enjoy your yard all year round. Pergolas are a popular landscape option for homes that give it a timeless look. Pergolas come in two main options, free-standing and attached. While each option can be great for certain activities, choosing the right one for your home comes down to your budget and maintenance concerns. Below, we will discuss the pros and cons of attached and free-standing pergolas.

What Is An Attached Pergola?

An attached pergola is placed on your home and stays with the existing structure. These are often referred to as lean to pergolas. Attached pergolas are typically used as an extension of the living space that leads you into an outdoor patio. A pergola attached to your home can be secured to many different types of materials and is supported by columns or posts on the outside edge. The attached pergolas are open to the elements on 3 of the 4 sides. 

Pros Of Attached Pergolas

There are many benefits to any type of covering for your home. Here are some benefits of having your pergola directly attached to your home.

Installing the pergola directly into the home allows installers to choose a color and material that matches the existing home. Attached pergolas provide a more seamless integration as you don’t have to choose how it will look and limit the hard choice of where to place it. 

Attached pergolas also won’t take up your landscaping space. Since the pergola is attached to the home, you still have plenty of outdoor space for lounging, pets to run around, children to play, and more. 

Pergolas add sheltered space to your home. Having it right on your home will allow you to enjoy the outdoors with some added protection from the home. While pergolas don’t provide much shade, an attached one can help block some sun and weather from hitting the side of your home. This benefit can make your exterior materials last longer.

Cons Of Attached Pergolas

Although pergolas have plenty of benefits, some challenges come with them. One con to an attached pergola is that you will need permits to install them. Attached pergolas are considered an addition to a home, which requires permits and must meet regulations in many states. 

Attached pergolas also make repainting or repairing your home a challenge. Working around the pergola to do home repairs or landscaping maintenance can be frustrating and a deterrent for some. 

Pergolas are typically placed on the back side of a home, by a door, and over a patio space. While they can be placed in other places on the home, you are limited to space where there are no windows and the materials are strong enough to support the structure.

What Is A Free-Standing Pergola?

Free-standing pergolas can be placed anywhere around a home or in your yard. They are supported by columns and come in varying sizes. Free-standing pergolas can be made from wood, plastic, or metal.

Pros Of Free Standing Pergolas

Since these pergolas are free-standing, you will be able to place them anywhere on your property. Free-standing pergolas are often placed in a garden or over a fire pit area to add some decorative element. 

Free-standing pergolas have a distinctive design that doesn’t rely on your house for visual appeal. Free-standing pergolas are often used as a decoration for landscaping because they look whimsical and can be enhanced with climbing plants.

Since the structure isn’t attached to your home damage to the structure will not affect your home. When weather conditions like wind and snow wreak havoc on your pergola, your home materials will not be affected if the pergola falls. 

Cons Of Free Standing Pergolas

Since the free-standing pergolas don’t have your house to rely on for support, they need to be extra durable. This can impact the price of the pergola as more material is needed and structural support will need to be added. Depending on the size, pergolas can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars.

These pergola types are placed away from the home, which takes up space in your landscaping. A pergola will require you to have a big enough yard that still allows ample walking space. Pergolas can limit the usable play space in your backyard.

One thing pergolas don’t provide is protection from the elements. Since these structures are open on all sides, they don’t protect from bugs, pests, wind, or other weather elements. While pergolas help you enjoy your backyard space by providing a little bit of shade, they don’t offer protection beyond that. 

Some homeowners install extra shades or a wrap around the pergola to help keep pests out, but they aren’t always the best use of your money. 

Which Type Is Right For Your Home?

Both pergola options can work for a variety of home types, but choosing one that feels right may be a challenge. Free-standing pergolas may be better for smaller homes as to not overpower the structure. Homes with ample patio space may benefit from attached pergolas to extend the living space. 

Choosing the right pergola for your home will come down to what your needs are. Considering your budget, your usable yard space, and what you want to use the pergola for will help narrow down your decision. Using this list of pros and cons will help homeowners see where they can compromise and where they can’t. 

Pergola Options From Kool Breeze

Our team at Kool Breeze offers both free-standing and attached pergolas. Our lattice-type covers are manufactured with the highest quality materials and are maintenance-free. This will protect you from having bug infestations, the need for repairs, or repainting. 

Enjoying your outdoor space is possible with the right covering from Kool Breeze. No matter what type of cover or enclosure you are looking for, we can help ensure it looks like part of your home. Add some seclusion to your home in a non-intrusive way with the experts at Kool Breeze.

When you are creating an outdoor space, including a pergola or gazebo can elevate your curb appeal and provide shade when enjoying your backyard. Each option is slightly different, but can both be a great addition to an outdoor oasis. With different unique features, one option may be better for privacy or shade in your outdoor space. In this blog, we will share some differences between gazebos and pergolas and how they can elevate your outdoor aesthetic.

Key Components Of Gazebos And Pergolas

Homeowners who want their landscaping to have a timeless feel should choose a gazebo. These coverings date back to the ancient civilizations where they were used for gatherings of all kinds. Today, many different home styles utilize gazebos because of their sleek design. 

While today gazebos can be customized, they typically come in polygon shapes with 6 or 8 sides. Each side can be completely enclosed, include a half wall, be marked by railings, or have full walls with windows. A gazebo roof looks similar to a house, just on a smaller scale, which makes it easy to match the exterior of your home. 

Depending on the project, either a pergola or a gazebo can be a focal point in your exterior design. Typically, pergolas are used over patios or on a pool deck, but they can be used to cover a garden area, fire pit, or other outdoor lounge space. Pergolas are typically supported by 4 or 6 pillars and provide shade from the sun. Pergolas are typically more open to the elements and are placed over concrete, wood, or other decking material. 

Gazebos are more of an enclosed structure that can feature sitting areas or an open floor. Gazebos are secluded places for lounging, talking, dancing, or picnics. Depending on what you want to use your outdoor space for, choose an option that is typically used for that activity. 

Create A Focal Point In Your Yard

No matter which covered option you choose, these stunning additions can become a focal point in your exterior landscaping. With their customizable options and their intricate designs, both pergolas and gazebos fit well in any climate and are easy to match with most homes. Eyes are easily drawn to these larger structures, so it is best to lead pathing to your gazebo/pergola area and plant trees and shrubs that highlight your structure. 

Pergolas Blend Seamlessly With Nature

If you are planning to include shrubs, trees, or other plants around your yard, a pergola blends nicely with climbing vines or surrounding trees. Since pergolas are mostly open, it is easy to see landscaping from all sides. This means you can plant a flower bed behind your pergola and it is easily seen. Surround the pergolas with trees or other greenery to truly embrace the natural beauty of your landscape. 

Gazebos Come In Multiple Shapes And Sizes

Gazebos are known for their ornate designs and intricate details as they were developed at a time when intricacy and flowing layers were common. Today, gazebos can be found in different shapes and sizes, but they are still easy to recognize. While many of us recognize the iconic shape of a gazebo, they can be made in other shapes like a square, circle, or rectangle. 

Gazebos are often used for gatherings or special events, so they can be adjusted to hold multiple people at once. However, many homeowners choose a smaller gazebo to fit in their smaller yard, while cultivating a beautiful space around the gazebo as well. This makes the gazebo a stunning picture spot or a way to view the rest of the yard from a better angle. 

Pergolas Are More Affordable

Because there is more minimal construction and pergolas typically don’t require electricity, they are the more affordable option. The fewer materials and lower amount of labor make pergolas significantly cheaper than building a gazebo. If you choose a more expensive or durable material for your pergola, this will affect the price. Pergolas are typically low maintenance and really only need some attention when transitioning from fall to winter.

Stunning Pergola Options From Koolbreeze

Koolbreeze offers pergolas and lattice covers for homeowners in Ogden, UT. We provide the best quality shade protection and enclosure, so you can enjoy your backyard space, all year round. As a locally owned and operated company, we are proud to serve our local community and provide them with excellent craftsmanship.

We also offer sunrooms, window awnings, carports, rolling shutters, and patio accessories. No matter what kind of atmosphere you want to achieve, you will be sure to find a great option at Koolbreeze.