Having your very own swimming pool can be a great addition to your Houston home, it’s a great way to add personality and pizazz to your backyard.
However, a swimming pool should never be made to stand on its own, it needs the support of other backyard features as well – both functional and aesthetic. Pergolas are one such backyard feature that can provide not only aesthetic benefits but also functional benefits as well.
Let’s take a look at pergolas and just why having one can be a great addition to your Houston backyard and a stunning complement to your backyard swimming pool.
What Is A Pergola?
If you’ve never heard of a pergola then there is a good chance that you’ve encountered one before (see one or heard someone talking about one) but it was being called something else.
In Houston, pergolas are sometimes referred to as ‘gazebos’ and this nomenclature is correct in a broad sense of the word because while not all gazebos are pergolas, all pergolas are gazebos – since a pergola is a type of gazebo.
In its simplest form, a pergola is an outdoor structure that consists of vertical pillars (or posts) that support a lattice that forms a partially open roof.
What Should Your Pergola Be Made From?
Pergolas can be made from a wide variety (and combination) of materials. Traditionally, pergolas usually had pillars that were made from stone, brick, and wood. These traditional designs would then have these pillars supporting a wooden lattice.
Nowadays, pergola designs can incorporate one or more of the following materials: wood, CPVC (chlorinated polyvinyl chloride), fiberglass, vinyl, aluminum, stone, or brick.
Wooden pergolas are popular in Houston and while they have a traditional look and can be beautifully crafted, they also usually require more maintenance compared to pergolas that are created from other types of materials. Although weather resistant woods are usually used to create wooden pergolas, they still need to be finished (stained or painted), the downside to this is that this finish will usually need to be reapplied at least once every year or two.
When materials such as CPVC, fiberglass, vinyl, and aluminum, are used to create pergolas, these structures don’t usually require as frequent maintenance. In addition to being low maintenance, these materials can also easily be used to create pergolas that are not only stronger than wooden pergolas but also ones that are far more durable as well.
Does Your Houston Backyard Need A Pergola?
If you’re wondering if your backyard needs a pergola, first you need to ask yourself a few questions.
Firstly, you need to ask yourself if your backyard has enough space to fit a pergola in the first place. The good thing about pergolas is that most of the space that they take up is above ground level; only the pillars will be taking up floor space.
You also need to ask yourself if your pergola is going to serve as an attractive shelter for your outdoor sitting area or simply as a way to connect your house with your swimming pool or another outdoor feature.
