The moment that you feel that warm nighttime breeze coming across the yard is like no other. It heralds the coming of outdoor living; late nights under the stars, cozy firepit reunions, and dinner parties surrounding by the sounds and smells of nature. However, just sitting in your yard doesn’t quite conjure up the full magic of summer; you need to think about installing a pergola in your yard to get the full effect.
A pergola in your yard will be a free-standing structure typically made from wood in a post and beam format. The height of the pergola and materials used will be down to your individual preferences as will be the location and prominence of your backyard pergola. If you’re still not sure about why to push the button on this easy summer project, here are some of the more common reasons to install a pergola in your yard this year, including:
- Extended privacy – even a simple family dinner is not something that you want your whole neighborhood to see and be a part of. A pergola in your yard allows you to pull down the curtains and give you extended privacy while you’re outside. Buying a pergola with retractable shades will give you ultimate control over the extent to which you and your guests can be seen by others.
- Shade in the heat – most pergolas come with the option of overhead shades and taking advantage of this choice means that you can enjoy some cool shade even in the midday sun. If you are choosing to install your pergola in a part of your yard that receives full sunshine all day, you may also want to consider a set of retractable shades for each side that you can lift up and down in accordance with the sun’s position in the sky.
- A defined space – if you have a large yard, installing a pergola is a great way to create some definition and zoned spaces. A pergola in your yard will act as a focal point due it’s size, and by running a path from your house to your new structure, you’ll start dividing up your yard. This creates defined spaces that can have specific purposes which will in turn make your yard look way more organized and structured.
- Quick installation – one of the best reasons to install a pergola for your yard is the speed of installation. You simply need to dig out deep holes for your upright posts and decide whether to secure them with concrete or a dirt/gravel mix. The rest of the pergola simply screws together; you can do the project yourself in a weekend, or a team of professionals can install your pergola to a high standard of safety and quality in a matter of hours.
Whether you’re looking to generate a new entertaining space, find a shady spot for the heat of the afternoon, or simply looking for a quick way to add value to your home, installing a pergola for your yard will be a must do summer project for you and your family.
Thank you for going in-depth about pergolas and their different ways of providing shade and light for a patio space. Outdoor hangouts have become a favorite past time of our family, and we’re trying to come up with new ways of enjoying them. My yard has ample sunlight exposure and a very nice garden next to it, so it sounds like the perfect place to call a contractor in and set up a pergola for us to spend time in.