In the ASLA 2014 Residential Landscape Architecture Trends Survey, pergolas came in at 82.8 when combining the percentages of "popular" and "somewhat popular" ratings for the most in-demand features.

Building a pergola from scratch might not be in your skillset, but there are kits that can be ordered and assembled for your customers, and make you a profit.

Utah-based Western Timber Frame is a manufacturer of DIY timber pergola kits. They state that their kits can be assembled in as little as one or two days, and range in size from small garden arbors to a large-scale projects encompassing multiple pergolas, gazebos, and pavilions. They offer contractors a 25 percent discount, installation training, 3-D architectural drawings on custom jobs, national NSRP price sheets, and no limits or caps on what you can charge. Nurseries and pool contractors can also take advantage of this program. www.westerntimberframe.com

Walpole Outdoors manufacturers and distributes cellular PVC pergola kits that they market as looking like painted wood but never peeling, rotting, or splitting. For professional contractors they provide services including design assistance, quotes, complete drawings from CAD technology of your project for approval, cost opinions for budgeting projects, and a 10 percent discount for the materials. www.walpolewoodworkers.com