Tips for Choosing the Right Pergola Installer

More and more Maryland homeowners are adding one or more custom pergolas to their outdoor living space. We can honestly say they’re one of the most popular features our clients ask for. If you’re looking to add beauty and shelter to your space, you’ll want to read these tips for choosing the right pergola installer.

What Is a Pergola?

You’ve seen pergolas informal gardens and in upscale backyards. They’re the structure with four pillars and an open beam top, and the basic structure dates back centuries. They can be free-standing or attached to your home. You’ve seen pavilions as well. A pavilion is essentially a free-standing pergola with a fixed roof. They’re more commonly used to shelter an outdoor kitchen or dining area.

Pergolas and pavilions are built with a variety of materials, including:

• Cedar
• Treated lumber
• Vinyl or composite
• Aluminum
• Stone (to support columns)

Which material you choose depends on your aesthetic, and whether you plan to maintain the pergola or want a no or low-maintenance pergola.

Do They Do Custom Pergola Designs?

It’s very possible that you can hire someone to install a cheap pergola kit. But most of our clients are looking for quality craftsmanship. Kits are limited to a few specific sizes and styles. If you’re looking for a custom pergola design, you want to make sure the pergola installer you hire is also capable of custom design.

The kits may be cheap, but that also means they may fall apart. It also means they are not customizable.

Make Sure They Build and Install All Types of Pergolas and Pavilions

You want to hire a pergola installer who has designed and built all types of pergolas and pavilions, using all of the different materials, and is experienced in the various roofs and beam configurations. It will help you select the right pergola contractor if you have several design ideas to show them. Just Google “pergola ideas” and check out the images.

Listen to what they say about why that design is a good one (or a bad one) for your specific space. Do they seem knowledgeable about the pros and cons?

Contractor Basics

As with hiring any service provider or making any purchase, do your research. Get recommendations from friends, family, and coworkers. Check out the pergola installer’s portfolio of finished projects. Then get multiple bids, and go with the licensed and insured pergola contractor who best fits your needs.

And remember, you get what you pay for. If you hire a handyman to do a more complex cantilevered pergola, you may be disappointed in the quality of the installation. Stick with experienced professionals who can show you examples of their work and provide references.

Make It Exceptional. Make It Woodfield.

If you’re looking for a pergola contractor who shares your vision and can turn your pergola ideas into reality, we can help. We frequently install pergolas and pavilions as part of a larger outdoor living project, such as an outdoor kitchen or overall landscape design. But feel free to contact us if the pergola is a stand-alone project as well.

We serve discerning homeowners in Central Maryland in Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Cecil County, Harford County, Howard County. Fill out the contact form to schedule a consultation, or call us at 443-299-6500.