Best Pergola Material：Aluminum vs. Wood vs. Vinyl

You’ve adored pergolas for years. You enjoy the beauty and elegance that they add to a backyard environment. Now that you’re finally ready to buy one, you have one question:  What is the best pergola material?

Vinyl, wood, or Aluminum – you have a few alternatives. The pergola material you pick impacts the pergola pricing, the design, the maintenance demands, and how long your pergola will survive.

Conclusion: At PergolaKits, we firmly believe that Aluminum pergolas are a superior alternative to wood and Vinyl. Read on to learn why!

Picking the Best Material for Pergolas

No matter what material you pick, your pergola will be sure to offer a gorgeous centerpiece in any outdoor space. With the correct materials and regular upkeep, you may enjoy your backyard hideaway for years to come.

Nevertheless, before you start enjoying the elegance, comfort, and extra living space it gives to your yard, there are a few considerations you need to make.

Pressure-Treated Wood Pergolas

With the widest variety of color possibilities and the most budget-friendly pricing – it’s simple to understand why pressure-treated wood is one of the top pergola materials on the market. Able to be stained or painted, wood pergolas may complete an aesthetically basic rustic design — or stand out as a vital feature piece. Yet although our wooden pergolas are pressure treated to withstand decay, mold, and pests, they are more sensitive to problems than other pergola materials.

See more Wood pergola inforation HERE!

Pros:

• Can be stained or painted for the most color options
• Match both rustic and modern decor
• Budget-friendly price tag
• It can fit a variety of decors
• Budget-friendly price tag
• create a wide variety of shapes and sizes

Cons:

• Requires re-painting and re-staining
• Even with maintenance, has the shortest lifespan
• Wood may have a shorter lifespan
• Wood pergolas are high maintenance
• Wood can be susceptible to decay and infestation

Vinyl Pergolas

Vinyl pergolas have a traditional and clean aesthetic that looks wonderful on decks, patios, and other outdoor settings. The exquisite aesthetic of white vinyl complements practically any outdoor space — while standing out as a genuine style focus. In many respects, vinyl is one of the greatest pergola materials since it will last a lifetime with relatively minimum care on your part. But, all of these advantages come at a price – vinyl pergolas are the most costly alternative on the market.

Learn more about vinyl pergolas!

Pros:

• Vinyl can withstand extreme weather conditions
• Completely impervious to mold, termites, and rot
• Never needs to be painted or re-stained
• Vinyl is low maintancence
• Easy and quick installation
• Never needs to be painted or re-stained

Cons:

• Highest price point
• Vinyl cannot be painted or stained
• Vinyl cannot be painted or stained

Aluminum Pergolas

Aluminum is becoming a popular material for pergola building. It is highly strong, tough, minimal maintenance, and middle of the road price-wise. Metal has many of the same advantages as vinyl.

Sturdy and lightweight, Aluminum is perfect for bigger pergola designs that cover more space without extra support pillars.

As with vinyl, the style is clean and contemporary, so if you want to go rustic and merge into the natural setting, you still definitely want to go with wood.

Pros:

• Low maintenance
• Moderately priced
• Strong and lightweight
• Aluminum materials are smooth and non-porous
• Aluminum is resistant to pest damage
• Aluminum is highly resistant to weathering and water damage
• Aluminum easy-to-install
• Strong and lightweight

Cons:

• Material costs for aluminum are slightly higher than wood
• it’s susceptible to wind damage without the proper anchor system
• It does not blend with the natural landscape

Insist on The Best Pergola Material

About Best Pergola Materials FAQs

Is it cheaper to build or buy a pergola?

Constructing a pergola yourself will be more cost-effective than buying one because you only have to pay for supplies and not labor. The national average cost to build a 10 ft. classic wooden pergola yourself is around $3,500; however, it varies based on the project and the area.

What can I use instead of wood pergola?

With a solid metal frame, an aluminum pergola may combine the stability of a timber structure with a clean beauty, and entirely customisable with accessories. Very long lasting and nearly maintenance free, your aluminum pergola is likely to survive through a lifetime of both rain and shine.

Does a pergola need to be on concrete?

With a solid metal frame, an aluminum pergola may combine the stability of a timber structure with a clean beauty, and entirely customisable with accessories. Very long lasting and nearly maintenance free, your aluminum pergola is likely to survive through a lifetime of both rain and shine.

Do pergolas add value home?

While there are many limitations, in brief, the answer is yes. A pergola has the ability to add value to your property, with many estimates estimating the return on investment at anywhere around 50% to 80%. It makes pergolas one of the more valuable improvements homeowners can place on their houses.

How do I keep my pergola from rotting?

Utilizing post shoes lifts the posts above ground and clear of any water. This is a guaranteed strategy of avoiding degradation. Putting the post into concrete also appears to aid with its lifespan.

How do you weatherproof a pergola?

Be inventive and winterize a pergola by adding roof panels or a sloped tin roof to enable rain and snow to flow. A pergola built with a metal or plastic roof, treated canvas, or waterproof cover is good at keeping cold, rain, and snow outside.

Does a pergola need drainage?

There are few exceptions to needing to connect your veranda to storm water drains. And one of those exclusions would be the pergola. A conventional veranda is covered, by definition if it has a roof cover it is collecting rainwater. A pergola is an open frame, and hence an exemption because rainfall is not collected.

Make More Shade Using the Best Pergola Materials

It’s evident that aluminum is the most cost-effective material choice when it comes to erecting a pergola. For more information, you can contact us or go to our aluminum pergola page