Pergolas
Wood, vinyl, or aluminum pergolas, anchored to footings or to a deck frame.
Get a free quote
Tell us what you want built and which town you're in. We'll call to set up a free on-site quote.
A pergola gives you filtered shade over a deck or patio without a full roof. It can stand on its own footings or mount to a deck frame that's built to carry it. Wood pergolas are usually pressure-treated pine or cedar. Vinyl and aluminum skip the staining. With the wind we get, how the posts are anchored and how the beams are connected matter as much as how it looks.
What's included
- On-site look and a written quote with a drawing
- Concrete footings, or mounting to a deck frame that can carry it
- Posts anchored with metal post bases
- Beams and rafters with metal connectors at the joints
- Your choice of pressure-treated pine, cedar, vinyl, or aluminum
- Stain or paint for wood, if you want it
- A permit where your town requires one
The process
- Look and quote. We look at where it will go and what it will stand on. You get a written quote with a drawing.
- Permit check. We confirm what your town requires and get the permit if one is needed.
- Footings or mounting. We pour footings or reinforce the deck frame where the posts will land.
- Posts and beams. Posts go up on metal bases, then the beams with connectors.
- Rafters and finish. Rafters, any shade slats, and stain or paint.
What affects the price
- Size. Bigger footprints need more posts, beams, and rafters.
- Material. Vinyl and aluminum kits often cost less than cedar or redwood.
- Freestanding or on a deck. A deck may need added framing under the posts.
- Shade. Closer rafter spacing or added slats cost more.
- Finish. Stain or paint on wood adds labor.
Questions homeowners ask
- Wood, vinyl, or aluminum?
- National guides put aluminum and vinyl at about $1,000 to $3,000 per 100 square feet, and cedar at about $2,500 to $3,500. Wood needs stain or paint every few years. Vinyl and aluminum don't. Wood is easier to custom-cut to fit a house.
- Can a pergola go on my existing deck?
- If the deck frame can carry it. The posts need to land on solid structure, not just the deck boards. We check the frame first, and some decks need added framing or footings under the posts.
- Will a pergola hold up in a storm?
- It's built with metal connectors at the posts and beams, and the posts are anchored to footings or framing. No pergola is storm-proof, though. Take down any shade fabric or loose panels before a big storm.
- Do I need a permit for a pergola?
- In the City of Charleston, any work needs a permit from Building Inspections. Other towns set their own rules for pergolas, and we check yours before we build.
Want some shade out back? Call (854) 777-0103 or send the form for a free quote.