Pergolas in cedar, aluminum & steel.
Cedar, aluminum, steel and louvered pergolas — attached to the house or freestanding, over a patio, a deck or a spa.
A pergola gives a space shape and filtered shade without closing it in. It marks out an outdoor room, softens the afternoon sun and gives you something to hang lights and fans from.
The material decides how it looks and how much upkeep it needs. Cedar is warm and traditional. Aluminum and steel are slimmer and more modern. Louvered systems open and close.
What we build
Cedar pergolas
Cedar and timber structures that define a space anywhere in the yard — over a seating area, a hot tub or an outdoor kitchen.
Aluminum & steel pergolas
Slimmer posts and cleaner lines for a more modern house, and no restaining every few years the way cedar needs.
Louvered pergolas
Adjustable louvers that open for sun and close for shade or rain. One client's Sorara louvered system is reviewed below.
Attached pergolas
Tied to the house along the back wall, shading the windows and the patio together.
Freestanding pergolas
Standing on their own posts by the pool, over a spa or at the far end of the yard.
Pergolas over decks
Built together with a new deck, so the posts, footings and framing are planned as one structure.
What we pay attention to
How much shade you want. Rafter spacing, depth and direction decide how much sun gets through and when. A pergola can be mostly open or close to full shade.
Posts and footings. Post size and footings carry the structure through wind and DFW's shifting clay soil. When one client's storm-damaged cedar arbor came down, it went back up on larger 6×6 cedar posts anchored to the ground.
The material. Cedar needs restaining every few years in Texas sun. Aluminum and steel don't. Louvered systems add rain cover and cost more.
What's around it. A pergola over a patio, a deck or a spa gets planned with what's underneath it, so everything lines up.
What they said afterward.
Toby Pence and his crew did a wonderful job preparing my patio and installing a Sorara pergola. Toby was very professional and always available. His crew did the job on time and exceeded expectations.
…Toby also built a pergola and outdoor concrete patio and did a fantastic job! The job included electrical work with an outdoor fan and it has become the new family hangout even in the Texas heat.…
Good to know.
Cedar, aluminum, steel or a louvered system?
Cedar is warm, traditional and beautiful, and it needs restaining every few years in Texas sun. Aluminum and steel give a slimmer, more modern look and skip the restaining. Louvered systems cost more but give you adjustable shade and rain cover with very little upkeep. The right answer depends on the house, the budget and how much maintenance you want.
Pergola or patio cover?
A pergola gives filtered shade and lets light and air through. A patio cover has a solid roof, so it blocks rain and full sun. If you want to sit outside in the rain, you want a cover or a louvered pergola.
Do I need a permit for a pergola?
It depends on the city, the size and whether it attaches to the house. Many DFW cities require one for larger or attached pergolas, and some HOAs need to approve the design. We'll tell you what applies to your address and handle the permit.
Can you build a pergola over a deck?
Yes. Building them together is the best way to do it, because the pergola posts and the deck framing are planned as one structure from the footings up.
Also building: Patio Covers · Carports · Outdoor Kitchens & Fireplaces · Fence & Automatic Gates · Decks & Deck Covers · All services
Start with a conversation.
Send a few photos and a rough idea. We'll talk through options and give you a free estimate.