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Outdoor Pergolas - Tips on Design and How to Use it in Your Landscape |
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Written by Susan Schlenger
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An outdoor pergola is a standing structure which typically is
used for shading or covering a specific area in an outdoor
living space. The two separate design styles of pergolas are
described as being either free standing or attached to a solid
wall, such as the side of your home. Pergolas can be designed in
a combination of different shapes and sizes, the most popular
shape being a rectangular. That being said, a pergola can be
almost any shape, even curved. Curved pergolas, however, can be
quite costly due to the additional labor involved. They are
often designed in the shape of an arc. These fit nicely along a
curved hard scape surface.
A free standing pergola gives you the flexibility of being able
to cover any area of your garden, patio space, or pool. For
example, you may have a patio space which was designed adjacent
to your pool decking. A pergola could be built over this area,
regardless of the shape of the patio, for the purpose of decor
and shade. It's beautiful to look at and provides much comfort
on very hot, sunny days.
If you choose to attach a pergola to your house, it could give
way to the perception that extra space has been added to your
home. It can be attached directly onto the side of your house
similar to a porch covering. Pergolas can also be placed free
standing directly next to the house, say, to shade a portion of
the walkway up the side of your house or a sunny patio. Pergolas
often become interesting architectural elements, which creates
some excitement to the total landscape design.
When attaching a pergola to a house, certain things must be
considered. The height of the pergola must be looked at as
compared to window heights. You don't want the structure to be
in the middle of your window. In addition, think about the view
looking out from the interior of your house. Viewing the lattice
at the top of the pergola may be something that you don't want,
yet sometimes this is not considered an obstruction.
Once the pergola is placed in the desired area, it can then be
beautifully designed with an array of arbor vines, plants and
flowers. The most commonly used vines are Roses and Wisteria
which add beauty to any type of pergola design. The lattice
design on top of the pergola, as well as the high columns which
are indicative of a pergola, would welcome either of these types
of vine.
The pricing of a pergola takes into account many factors. The
type of wood used, the design itself, and the expertise of a
contractor are just a few of the things taken into account when
pricing your pergola. Heavy columns, intricate lattice work and
other details will add to the cost. As a rule of thumb, if you
simplify the structural design and concentrate more on the
landscape design around the pergola, this should cut down on the
cost of the overall project.
About the Author:
Susan Schlenger is a Landscape Designer with a degree in
Landscape Architecture. You can read more about the
Outdoor Pergolas at her website: Landscape Design Advice
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