GuidesChoosing a pergola
Pergola buying guide: six questions before you decide.
This pergola buying guide answers six common questions in plain words. Louvred or retractable roof? What happens when it rains, and do you need a permit? How do you care for the system, what sets the price, and when is a winter garden the better choice? Our team has built pergola systems since 1989.
- Six short guides
- Pergola maker since 1989
- Reply within one working day
Short answer
What should you check before buying a pergola?
Start with how you want to use the terrace: do you need a roof that closes in the rain, or shade that folds away? Next, note the size, the wind and sun direction, and any need for side screens or lighting. Check permit rules with your local authority or building management. Finally, send your size for an indicative quote; the firm quote follows a site survey or your drawings.
01Choosing a system
Louvred roof or retractable roof?
The first question in this pergola guide: should the roof be louvres or fabric?
A bioclimatic pergola has a roof of motorised aluminium louvres. Closed, the louvres form a roof that protects from rain; open, they give shade and let air through. The louvres also stop at intermediate angles, so you can follow the sun.
On a retractable roof pergola, a technical fabric roof folds back along rails. That way you can open the roof fully and close it again whenever you like. The Avantgarde and Elegant series move by motor, while the fabric roof of Toscana, from our shading family, opens and closes by hand.
Which one suits you depends on how often you use the terrace, the look you want and whether you need side closure. That is why the choice of series usually becomes clear during the survey or from your drawings.
02Rain
Does a pergola keep the rain out?
With the louvres closed, a bioclimatic pergola forms a roof that protects from rain. Rainwater runs into channels along the louvres and drains away through the posts. The drainage line and the cabling also stay hidden inside the profiles, and an optional rain and wind sensor can close the roof for you.
Fabric roofs depend on the series. For example, the technical fabric of Avantgarde is waterproof and works with gutter profiles, and the Toscana fabric is waterproof too. In every case the right pitch, correct installation and regular maintenance matter, which is why our team checks the ground and the water outlet during the survey or from drawings.
03Permits
Do you need a permit for a pergola?
General information, not legal advice.
There is no single answer for every place. Whether you need a permit depends on local planning rules, the rules of your building or community, and whether the pergola stands free or connects to the building. For example, an apartment terrace may need the consent of the building management, while in a detached garden the rules of the local authority may matter more.
So before you order, check with your local authority and, where relevant, your building management. You can ask our team for the drawings and technical information your application may need. The information in this pergola buying guide is general and does not replace legal advice.
04Care
How do you care for a pergola?
Regular care helps a pergola work as it should in rain and sun. On louvred systems, rainwater drains through the channels and the posts, so keep the channels free of leaves and dirt. Also treat the powder-coated aluminium surfaces and the fabrics gently, with soft cleaning instead of harsh or abrasive products.
If you notice a problem with a motor, a sensor or the remote control, do not take the system apart yourself. Instead, contact our after-sales support through one point of contact; the same team gives care advice for your series and site. We set out the warranty terms in writing with the offer.
05Price
What sets the price of a pergola?
This pergola guide lists no fixed prices, because we make every system to the project. Size, series, colour and finish, side closure and extras such as LED lighting, heaters and sensors set the price together with the installation site. The ground, the fixing points and the power supply also affect the quote.
That is why the first step is an indicative price range. Send your size and intended use, and our team replies within one working day. The firm quote follows in writing after a site survey or from your drawings, once we know the size and the ground.
06Winter garden
Pergola or winter garden?
A winter garden is usually understood as a permanent, glazed room. A pergola, by contrast, has a roof that opens and closes: it gives shade and airflow in summer and closes when it rains. With glass panels or i-Zip Screen zip screens between the posts, the terrace stays usable in winter too.
So the real question is when and how you want to use the terrace through the year. If you love fresh air but want shelter from rain and wind, a bioclimatic pergola with side closure covers both needs. Heater and LED lighting options then stretch your evenings.
07FAQ
Pergola buying guide: common questions.
What should I look for when choosing a pergola?
Start with the size of the terrace, the ground, and the wind and sun direction. Then define the use, because a home terrace, a pool deck and a restaurant terrace may call for different series. Mention side closure, lighting and heating early, since we plan the power supply together with the project. If you are still unsure, the comparison in this pergola guide or Sky Advisor can help.
Can you use a bioclimatic pergola in winter?
Yes. With the louvres closed, the roof protects from rain and snow. Add glass panels or zip screens between the posts and the wind stays outside too, while heater and LED lighting options stretch the evening. For snow and wind conditions, our technical team calculates the size and structural details of each project and provides the values in writing.
Is a pergola wind resistant?
We design our systems for rain, wind and snow conditions. However, resistance values change with the size and the installation site, so we do not quote one general figure. The survey or your drawings show the wind direction and the ground; then our technical team prepares the values for your project in writing. A rain and wind sensor is also available as an option.
Who installs the pergola?
In Türkiye our own team installs and commissions the system. Abroad, our authorised dealers or the project's installation team carry out the installation, supported by an installation manual, drawings and remote technical support. On large hotel and project work, our project sales team coordinates the site. After-sales support and warranty registration run through one point of contact.
How soon will I get a pergola quote?
Send your size and intended use through the form, and our team replies within one working day with an indicative price range. Your request reaches the right team for your role; if an authorised dealer covers your region, it goes to that dealer. The firm quote follows in writing, after a free site survey in Türkiye or from drawings elsewhere.
09Plan
You have the answers. Now plan your terrace.
Tell us the size and the use, and we will answer the questions from this pergola buying guide for your own project. We reply within one working day; you can also continue on WhatsApp.
Indicative only. A firm quote follows a site survey or drawings.
- 01Terrace
- 02Contact