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How Much Does It Cost to Build a Pergola?

Are you looking for a structure to complement your outdoor living area? Would you like to make your garden look more polished and make your outside space more useful at the same time? Adding a pergola to your property can be the ideal upgrade.

With a cup of coffee in hand and your favorite book to curl up with, or to host friends over the weekend, pergolas are the perfect spot to unwind outside. They are also an excellent way to raise the value of your home.

Estimated Overall Cost

Materials and labor are the two main determinants of the cost of building a pergola cost. Material choice and whether a roof is included in the design may affect the price of the pergola you choose to build. Furthermore, prices will rise if you desire a more customized design.

The price of installing a pergola often ranges from $2,500 for the most basic materials alone to $5,500 for a full custom build with shade screens and the whole works. Normally, the cost is estimated per square foot, which may usually be around $10 and $60 per square foot. Overall, the cost of building a pergola is relative to the size, construction materials, designs, and features.

Types of Pergolas and their Minimum Cost

Wood/Timber Pergola

Wood/Timber Pergola - South Shore Deck Builders

The strongest and most adaptable material for a pergola is wood. It can be stained, painted, or allowed to weather naturally. However, wood is costly in every way, from shipping to customization, and installation takes time. For instance, pergolas made of redwood or cedar are extremely resilient to harsh weather conditions and are resistant to rot and insects. Although they cost between $40 and $50 per square foot, they are more expensive than several alternatives.

Vinyl Pergola

Vinyl Pergola - South Shore Deck Builders

Vinyl is an affordable pergola material. You won’t have to stain or repaint a vinyl pergola as frequently as you would a wooden one because vinyl doesn’t chip or fade as easily. Pergolas made of vinyl, however, don’t endure as long. To create a vinyl pergola, expect to pay between $10 and $30 per square foot.

Aluminum Pergola

Aluminum Pergola - South Shore Deck Builders

Aluminum is one of the least expensive materials that can be used to construct pergolas. Unlike other materials, it requires less upkeep and is resistant to weather, making it a durable and cost-effective choice. An aluminum pergola typically costs $10 to $30 per square foot to install.

Pergola Designs and Features and their Minimum Cost

Smart Pergola

Smart Pergola - South Shore Deck Builders

Pergolas with smart technology can be set up to open and close based on the weather. Therefore, if you’re outside and it starts to rain, a smart pergola can detect the change in weather and automatically close its own roof. They are quite practical because you can control them using an app on your phone. On average, these pergolas cost $60 to $65 per square foot.

Auto Pergola Louvers

Auto Pergola Louvers - South Shore Deck Builders

Automated louvered pergolas have retractable roofs just as manual retractable roof pergolas, but the automatic louvered pergola’s retractable roof is managed by an automatic system, allowing you to use a remote to regulate the retracting of the roof. The price to install an automatic louvered pergola ranges from $20 to $55 per square foot.

Pergola with Manual Retractable Roof

Pergola with Manual Retractable Roof - South Shore Deck Builders

If you wish to let in more sun or shield yourself from the rain, you may manually open and close a retractable roof pergola. Installing a manual retractable roof pergola normally runs between $10 and $30 per square foot.

Other Important Considerations in Building a Pergola

1. Without a roof, open top pergolas are typically utilized to enhance the aesthetic of an outdoor area or to give structure to ornamental elements like lights.

2. Pergolas with gable roofs have a triangle-shaped peaked roof. They are a wonderful option for areas with high rainfall since they permit enough ventilation and water to drain off the roof.

3. Gable pergolas are not as steeply pitched as flat roof pergolas. Nevertheless, if they are slightly angled, they promote adequate drainage, so they don’t cause problems during heavy downpours.

4. Sail pergolas are utilized to provide shade for the yard by extending fabric sails between the supports. They are ideal for a more relaxed design aesthetic.

Relevant Post: Why You Should Have a Pergola 

Premier Deck Builders in South Shore, MA

We provide top-notch craftsmanship at affordable prices so that your new outdoor addition increases the aesthetic appeal and monetary value of your house. To assist you in building the pergola of your dreams, we exclusively employ experienced and skilled local deck builders with a proven track of successful builds under their name.

Our local pergola builders know how to enhance your outdoor space by blending it with the current environment of your property. Because every region is unique, our neighborhood deck builders are well familiar with the relevant local building regulations and procedures, including who to contact to obtain the necessary permits.

Ready to build with us? Call us at today 617-870-0678 to get a free quote for our services!

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