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Pergola
Material Comparison
So why do we offer so many material options
for our pergolas? Well the answer is simple, there is no one material that
is perfect for everybody. Cost, structural properties, and aesthetics are just
a few of the differences that are important in considering what you want
your pergola to be fabricated from.
The table below shows some of the most important
characteristics of the materials that we offer for pergola kits. Most of the
information is objective, some subjective based on our own experience and
biases. If you have any questions on what is presented here or anything else
regarding our pergolas please email or call - we would love the opportunity
to help you.
|
Characteristic |
Fiberglass |
Vinyl |
Urethane |
Cedar |
AmishPine |
Cellular PVC |
|
Paint |
Excellent |
Good*** |
Excellent |
Very Good |
Very Good |
Excellent |
|
Stain |
No |
No |
No |
Excellent |
Excellent |
No |
|
Maintenance |
Very Low
Paint every 7-10 years |
“Maintenance Free”
w/Cleaning |
Very Low
Paint every 7-10 years |
Moderate
Paint/Stain 2-4 years |
Moderate Paint/Stain 2-4 years |
Very Low Paint 7-10 years |
|
Dbl. Beam
Span (w/ Insert*) |
18’ |
10’ (16') |
(20’) |
16’ |
16' |
(16') |
|
Rafter Span
(w/ Insert*) |
18’ |
8’ (16') |
(10’-20') |
16’ |
16' |
(10-16') |
|
Weight |
Moderate |
Moderate |
Light |
Light |
Moderate |
Moderate |
|
Custom Ends |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Matching
Accessories |
No |
Yes
Railings |
No |
Yes
By Owner |
Yes By Owner |
Yes By Owner |
|
Curves & Bends |
No |
Limited |
Yes |
Limited |
Limited |
Yes |
|
Largest Dimension |
2 x 10 |
2 x 8 |
4 x 12 |
4 x 12 |
2 x 12 |
6 x 14 |
|
Stability |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Good |
Excellent |
Excellent |
|
Custom
Models |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Engineering
Available |
Yes, but Limited |
Yes, but Limited |
Yes, but Limited |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes, but Limited |
|
Durability |
Rot and Insect Proof |
Rot and Insect Proof |
Rot and Insect Proof |
Rot and Insect Resistant |
Rot and Insect Proof |
Rot and Insect Proof |
|
Warranty |
Lifetime |
Lifetime |
Lifetime |
5 Year |
Lifetime |
Lifetime |
* Vinyl with
treated wood or aluminum reinforcement
** Prices vary with sizes, type of column, and other options. Price range is
for rough comparison only.
*** Use a paint designed for vinyl such as Sherwin Williams exterior paint
with VinylSafe® Technology or Krylon's Fusion for Plastic® Are you wondering why some materials are
not included? The table just covers the materials that we use. We are not in
the vinyl business or the fiberglass or wood business. We are in the pergola
business. We want to offer pergolas that are attractive, easy to install,
have a long life, and are a great value. We have looked at just about every
material used to build pergolas. Some, like those made with mysterious
composite materials, seem to be impossible to ship without damage. Most of
the metal pergolas that we have seen look cheap and do not seem designed
to last more than a few seasons.
This is not to say that we will never offer anything other than what you see
above. We are currently working with several other materials that show
promise and new materials are constantly being introduced. We intentionally
set up our facility and designed our machinery to be able to handle a wide
range of materials and sizes. So if you have any interesting ideas let us
know - we have an open mind for business opportunities. |
