How to Cover a Pergola? Tips and Solutions
A pergola is an attractive addition to your outdoor space, offering shelter from the elements while providing an open space to enjoy the outdoors. However, to maximize its use, it is crucial to cover it effectively. In this article, we will explore various options to determine how to cover your pergola, focusing on aesthetics, durability, and weather resistance.
A brief definition of what we call a pergola…
By pergola, we mean a garden structure that offers a shaded and protected space, ideal for enjoying the outdoors. It can be made of wood, aluminum, wrought iron or sometimes bamboo. Traditionally, pergolas were found on a terrace or large balcony and were covered with climbing plants. But today, there are a multitude of solutions to cover a pergola, from reeds to polycarbonate.
Criteria for choosing a pergola roof
Before selecting the covering material for your pergola, several criteria must be taken into account. We have listed here the different tested criteria:
- Aesthetics : the pergola covering should harmoniously integrate with the architecture of your house and the layout of your garden.
- Weather resistance : the cover must be able to withstand various weather conditions, from scorching sun to heavy rain and snow.
- UV and heat resistance : a good pergola cover should offer protection against the sun but also against heat.
- Ease of maintenance : the pergola cover should be easy to clean and maintain.
- Durability : the covering material must be durable, bio-based, and able to withstand the test of time.
The different materials for covering a pergola
Reeds, heather, or bamboo
Reeds are a lightweight, ecological, and economical covering solution for pergolas. They offer a tropical ambiance and filter sunlight. Reeds can be made from different materials, such as bamboo, wicker, or heather twigs, each with its own advantages in terms of moisture resistance.
Advantages:
- reeds are an economical option for covering a pergola.
- they offer a tropical look and pleasantly filter sunlight.
Drawbacks:
- they can be fragile, especially under the weight of snow.
- they have low resistance to strong winds, especially near the sea and in the mountains (think of Mistral, Tramontana, etc.).
- they require frequent replacement (sometimes every year).
PVC plates
PVC (also called “polycarbonate”) transparent or translucent plates are a solution for pergolas with wooden structures.
Advantages:
- lets light through.
- protects against rain.
Drawbacks:
- requires frequent cleaning as dirt is visible from inside the pergola.
- is not a bio-based or ecological material.
- makes noise under the rain.
- is not comfortable in summer: under the sun, it quickly gets very hot under this type of cover (UV passes through).
Wood
Wood offers versatility for pergola coverings. You can use vertically laid wooden slats or wooden panels to create a pleasant light filter. Wooden panels also provide real shelter and can be made waterproof by adding an extra layer (waterproof tarp, tiles…) but the cost can quickly escalate. However, wood requires regular maintenance to resist moisture and other external aggressions.
Advantages:
- wood offers a natural and warm aesthetic for a pergola cover.
- it is durable and resistant to weather.
Drawbacks:
- its installation is long and tedious without the right tools and little experience.
- At noon, during your meal, the sun will pass through the wooden slats, and the shadow will be relative… if it is not nonexistent.
- it requires regular maintenance to prevent mold and rot (insects, etc.). Do not neglect the annual hours of work it may represent for sanding, varnishing, treating…
- don’t forget that a simple pergola shouldn’t turn into a closed living room, if you don’t want to have issues with urban planning.
PVC fabric
Fabric is a lightweight and easily removable option for covering a pergola. It offers a wide variety of choices in terms of colors and styles. You can opt for retractable or roll-up fabric, which allows you to control the desired amount of light.
Advantages :
- fabric is a lightweight and flexible cover solution for a pergola.
- it is easy to install and remove, allowing adjustments according to weather conditions.
- the wide range of colors allows for creativity.
Drawbacks:
- the fabric can fade over time and requires regular cleaning.
- under the effect of heat, it can stretch, and an unpleasant smell of harmful plastic can be emitted.
- in high heat, the sensation under the tarp is unpleasant because the air does not circulate. UVs are trapped under the tarp, and the air can quickly become suffocating.
- snow and rain accumulate if it is slack… which will deform it even more and can even break it.
A coconut shade sail
Les pergola fabrics made of coco are a light and aesthetic covering solution for pergolas. They offer a tropical ambiance and gently filter sunlight.
Advantages:
- the fabric is a lightweight and flexible cover solution for a pergola (approximately 1.2 kg per m²).
- la coconut fiber provides very good resistance to weather conditions: rain and strong winds pose no problem.
- its bohemian chic aesthetic is very trendy. You create an ambiance worthy of magazine photos.
- Bio-based and made of natural and ecological material, coconut fiber is rot-proof and therefore insensitivity to rain and snow.
- the shade is soft, and it manages to maintain a certain freshness like that felt under a tree.
Drawbacks:
- being openwork, it is not possible to stay under your pergola in the rain.
- the fabric can slightly fade (gray) over time. However, this patina is sometimes appreciated by clients.
- guaranteed 2 years, it usually needs to be replaced after 5 to 7 years if no winterizing is done.
- during installation, it can still slightly discolor (tannins), so it is advisable to wash it with a hose before installing.
> See our shade sail models for pergola
Vegetation
Climbing plants offer a natural and attractive cover for a pergola. However, they require regular maintenance and do not provide waterproof protection against precipitation.
Advantages:
- vegetation offers a natural and attractive cover for a pergola.
- it adds a touch of greenery to your outdoor space and can provide dense, refreshing shade.
- in winter, light will pass once the leaves have fallen.
Drawbacks:
- climbing plants require regular maintenance and do not provide waterproof protection against precipitation.
- in autumn, the leaves fall and generate dirt and moss on your terrace.
- plants harbor insects that can be unpleasant (ants, aphids, mosquitoes…).
- it’s rare, but sometimes the plant dies (drought, disease…) and you have to start all over again.
- finally, the last but not least disadvantage… it takes a long time to have a cover that offers total shade. Count 10 to 40 cm of growth per year… It often takes 5 to 10 years before being fully protected.
How to choose the right cover for your pergola?
Determine your needs
Before choosing your pergola cover, consider how you plan to use it. If you want shelter from rain, opt for waterproof covering like polycarbonate or wooden panels. If you are looking for adjustable shade, retractable canvases or adjustable aluminum slats are good options.
Consider durability
Make sure to choose a durable cover that will withstand weather and external aggression. Polycarbonate is a material resistant to shocks and hail, while treated wood can be durable if maintained regularly. However, these two materials completely block sunlight and are not very aesthetic! A coconut shade sail is natural and resists strong winds.
Harmonize the roof with the aesthetics of your pergola
The cover of your pergola should harmonize with its style and the rest of your garden or house. Choose a material and color that complement the overall look of your outdoor space. For example, a wrought iron pergola will more easily accommodate a coconut shade sail or canes with an authentic and warm appearance than a PVC fabric.
Consider your budget
The cost of covering your pergola can vary depending on the chosen material. Canes and some fabrics are generally more affordable, while polycarbonate and wooden panels can be more expensive. However, don’t neglect the medium-term cost: replacing canes annually is not ultimately so cheap!
In conclusion, choosing the cover for your pergola depends on many factors such as aesthetics, durability, weather resistance, and your budget. By considering these factors, you can choose the best cover solution for your pergola and fully enjoy your outdoor space.
Our choice obviously fell on coconut fiber for all its advantages.
FAQ:
How to dress the roof of a pergola?
There are many solutions. You will need to ask yourself the following questions: do I want to be protected from rain? What is my maximum budget? Is my pergola exposed to the wind? Is the light beneath my pergola important? For all these questions, coconut shade covers seem to be the best compromise between quality, strength, price, aesthetics, and pleasure.
How to close a pergola cheaply?
If your project is to have a completely waterproof roof, wood with a waterproof coating on top seems to be the most durable and eco-friendly solution. If you just want to enjoy the shade under your pergola, a coconut shade will be the most interesting option (balance of strength, comfort, price).
What is the best cover for a pergola?
In our eyes, it’s the coconut shade. It combines aesthetics, strength, durability, resistance to wind and weather, affordability, and eco-friendliness.
How to cover a terrace without darkening it?
You can opt for PVC (polycarbonate) sheets, but be careful about the heat felt in the height of summer. You’ll be in a real solar oven with the greenhouse effect. We recommend a perforated sail. It gently filters the light to create shade without darkening the room.