If you’ve been thinking about adding an outdoor structure to your home, you may have already considered a gazebo or pergola. Both are beautiful additions that can expand your living space and add value to your home. But how do you decide which is the right choice for your property? To help you make an informed decision, here is a closer look at the differences between pergolas and gazebos.
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What is a Pergola?
A pergola is essentially an open-air structure comprised of columns and beams that support a roof made up of cross beams. The roof can be covered with vines, lattice panels, or fabric to create shade in areas where traditional structures like awnings wouldn’t work. This makes it an excellent option for homeowners who want to create a shaded area in their backyard without detracting from the beauty of their landscape design.
What is a Gazebo?
Gazebos are closed-in structures that typically have four sides and are built on posts or pillars with walls made from latticework or similar materials. Unlike pergolas, they have solid roofs that provide complete protection from the elements. These roofs are often constructed from materials such as asphalt shingles, metal sheeting, or even tiles for added durability and aesthetic appeal. While gazebos don’t offer as much shade as pergolas, they still provide some protection against sun and rain while keeping out bugs and other pests.
Pergolas: Pros and Cons
Pergolas are open-air structures comprised of columns and beams that support an overhead latticework or trellis. Pergolas are often used to create an outdoor living space for relaxation or entertaining guests. One of the major advantages of a pergola is its versatility—pergolas can be customized with lighting, curtains, furniture, and more to create a unique outdoor living area that fits your needs perfectly.
Plus, they don’t require as much maintenance as other backyard structures like gazebos or decks since they don’t have solid walls or roofs that can collect dirt or debris over time. However, one major downside to pergolas is that they provide minimal protection from sun or rain when compared to other structures like gazebos or pavilions.
Gazebos: Pros and Cons
Gazebos are enclosed structures with walls and roofs that typically feature decorative trim, such as scalloped edges or ornamental posts on top. Gazebos provide significantly more protection from the elements than pergolas do since they have solid walls and roofs that keep out direct sunlight, wind, rain, bugs, etc., making them ideal for hosting parties outdoors without having to worry about weather conditions getting in the way.
On the downside, gazebos tend to be more expensive than pergolas due to their more complicated construction process; plus, their enclosed nature makes them slightly less versatile when it comes to customizing them with furniture or decorations since there isn’t as much free space inside them as there would be with a pergola structure.
FP&P: Your Central Florida Pergola Experts
The decision between installing a gazebo or pergola ultimately comes down to personal preference and your specific needs; there is no single “right" answer when deciding between the two options. Both will add visual interest to your outdoor space while providing additional living space for you to enjoy throughout the year.
At Florida Pavers & Pergolas, we specialize in creating custom pergolas for our clients’ homes. Please contact us if you would like more information about creating a one-of-a-kind backyard oasis! We will be happy to discuss what type of outdoor structures would best suit your property's needs!
Florida Pavers & Pergolas services the following areas:
Orange County, Seminole County, Lake County, Osceola County, Volusia County, and Broward County. Our team commonly operates in Metro West, Doctor Phillips, Windermere, Kissimmee, Winter Garden, Gotha, Oviedo, Oakland, Apopka, College Park, Winter Park, Sorrento, Longwood, Altamonte Springs, Lake Mary, Heathrow, & Sanford.