The difference between pergolas and verandas is that the pergola is a freestanding structure that can be added to any outdoor space. Verandas must be attached to your home and are usually used to create a luxury patio area that leads to the outdoors.

In addition to needing regular maintenance, traditional wooden pergolas can deteriorate over time. Due to weather, pests, and other external factors, the wood can become damaged over the years and adopt a tattered appearance.

Since they are made of wood, which is vulnerable to both rot and mold, you’ll need to re-stain any wood pergola every year to keep it at bay. How much maintenance you do determines how long your pergola will last. If you stain it every year, you can expect it to give you 10 to 12 years of performance. Metal or brick pergolas will last decades and won’t need as much maintenance, but they’re a bit more expensive.

Pergolas need a structure to ensure they don’t wobble. At the same time, you can’t dig up holes in the ground and bury the posts; that’s unsafe and not up to code. Here at MCM, we’re building all of our pergolas on a concrete foundation so we avoid common issues like rot and decay. Although pergolas built on grass are less common and still possible, we’d rather not take any chances and build you a pergola we know for sure will last decades.

In most instances, it is recommended to incorporate drainage around your pergola or gazebo when the roof is completely closed or has the ability to be closed. Prior to purchasing or installing a pergola, we highly recommend consulting local council regulations for compliance.