Creating Multi-Purpose Outdoor Rooms

By Don Eberly, president & chief operating officer of Eberly & Collard Public Relations

Rope-driven canopies are recommended on ShadeFX Canopies pergola structures up to 170 square-feet, whereas for pergola?EUR??,,????'?????<

 

Given the ever-growing trend of outdoor rooms, design and installation jobs are increasing dramatically. Pergolas are a natural start to building the ultimate outdoor living environment.

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How long does it take to assemble/install? Pergolas require posts to be sunk into concrete for proper installation, which typically takes one day to complete. Then allow one day for standard pergola and canopy assembly. Photos courtesy of ShadeFX Canopies.

Pergolas are a viable element for residential exteriors. Traditionally, pergolas were covered in plant material, such as ivy. Recently however, another option has emerged: Shaded pergolas. Steve Ostrowski, owner of ShadeFX Canopies, and Lou Maglio, owner of Walpole Woodworkers, co-created shade pergolas, a line of wooden and cellular-vinyl pergolas with retractable canopy systems.

If the client already has an existing pergola or is starting from scratch, ShadeTree offers canopy options. Their pre-cut, pre-drilled pergola kits are available in low-maintenance vinyl. Their pergolas can be used as a freestanding structure, or attached to your house or building. Photo courtesy of ShadeTree.

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Made in the Shade

When planning a pergola for a job, understanding its use is the first consideration. ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Contractors can sell these structures based on the concept that pergolas can be located to block direct sunlight, thus reducing heat in the home and sunlight through doors and windows.

Maglio recommends installing pergolas to connect two structures like a house and garage or pool house. He says their use can win over a homeowner by giving the landscape a meaningful visual anchor, while also adding height to draw the eye upward and harmonize the overall design.

Clients tend to look at these spaces as needing to be finished with masonry, lighting, water features and other accessories, all of which present up-selling or upgrading opportunities.

In the end, a pergola offering a truly useable space, regardless of weather conditions, can open the door to selling ever more outdoor-living options?EUR??,,????'?????<

Lighting up the Pergola

By Bruce Fordyce

Once the contractor completes the pergola installation, a possible upgrade would be the addition of pergola lighting. If the clients plan to use the pergola at night, which they will, then lighting upgrades is a logical add-on.

Low-voltage lighting fits this bill well. There are several lighting techniques to consider, the most obvious being bolting lights up high inside the structure that shoot down on the seating area.

However, to improve upon the standard lighting scheme, propose adding up-lighting to highlight specific elements. Path lighting usually sheds light on the ground or shrubs, while in-ground fixtures throw light up and out to highlight a garden structure or wall. Other styles include tree-hung fixtures, spotlights, and deck lighting mounted flush into posts or steps. Such lighting also adds an extra measure of safety.

This Universal Lighting Systems project features a variety of the company?EUR??,,????'?????<