Pergolas are new to the mode should you buy one ?

If you think of ways to restyle your garden, the pergola is an option that can really give your space that little air magazine trendy garden. And they are rather stylish, too. Joanna Gaines has made his trademark in his show, " Fixer Upper ", which raised the interest in these structures over the past few years.

If you've never seen before, a pergola is a structure that provides protection from the sun while maintaining a feeling open and airy. It is supported by columns and can be freestanding or attached to your home. If you plan to build or buy one, you should probably know the advantages and disadvantages. I've put together the best info on the Internet (and I consulted a few experts) – here's what they say

Let's start with the advantages of a pergola

Pergolas are not super expensive
A pergola may be an economical way to give your property a unique look and a personal level. According to HomeAdvisor, the average cost of a pergola is approximately $ 3,600, but you can find them from $ 750 to $ (or up to 9 150 $). For an example of a pergola economic, here's one that you can buy at JCPenney for $ 750 each. It is ideal if you are a tenant : the structure is retractable, since it is made of steel rather than of cedar. If you have a budget more flexible, you can look at pergolas from Home Depot, which cost about $ 1,200 (but are made of real cedar and are much more durable).

Pergolas are easy to do it yourself
You can build your own pergola if you are ready for a project. Resources like HGTV or Popular Mechanics that will give you a list of materials you need and step by step instructions. HomeAdvisor indicates that build a pergola yourself average cost is $ 3,500, while that hiring a pro will cost you about $ 500 more. Of course, the benefits of the build it yourself, which include the fact that it is perfectly suited to your home and your taste.

Pergolas are usually made of wood and very durable
According to LandscapingNetwork, pergolas can be made of several types of wood : Ipe (who behaves well on the coasts, because it can withstand more humid conditions, and salt), red wood (sustainable), cedar (known for its aroma, as well as its durability – the cedar is resistant to the humidity of the air and repels insects and termites), and pressure-treated wood (which is not as nice as the ipe, redwood, or cedar, but is durable and repels insects).

Pergolas create spaces outdoor living
Pergolas create a great atmosphere for entertaining and dining outside, especially if the structures provide shade, and a landscape (such as vineyards, which grow around columns or beams).

You can attach the fabric to a pergola to more protection against the elements
If you really want your pergola protects you from the elements while you take your breakfast outside or that you host a barbecue with the family, you can customize the structure so that it provides more shade, either by creating a roof instead of beams, either by attaching to the fabric. You can also install a cargo cover. This can protect you from the sun and rain.

Disadvantages of owning a pergola :

Pergolas need some maintenance
Although this depends on the type of wood, pergolas should be treated, cleaned and repainted over time, if you want to prevent them from appearing aged. If you live in a place where the air is humid, you will need to pay attention to the mold. If you ignore it, the mold could easily destroy your pergola, this is why you might want to use a mixture of Bleach and water as soon as you see signs of mold growth.

The wood should be photoshopped

It is normal for the columns that are damaged or have scratches over time. You can fill in scratches or dents with wood filler, or metal. You also want to be careful about splinters and paint that stand out (especially if you have children). Sand columns from time to time can protect against injury (minor).

If the pergola has of the foliage on its canopy (such as vines), make sure that you prune it regularly so as not to burden the pergola

Your pergola might change appearance over time
According to the Outdoor Living Today, if your structure is made of cedar, the color of the wood will change from red-brown clear in a silver grey, which is a natural phenomenon. You can preserve the original colour of the cedar in the sealant : You must first clean up the wood, apply a stain to the wood, and then the sealant. Each year, you will apply a new coat of stain to the wood to maintain the appearance.

If you live in a place where the climate is harsh, you'll probably need to spend more time to care for your pergola, especially if it is made of wood less durable as the Douglas fir. You can also opt for a pergola metal.

Beware of termites
Although the pergolas made of certain types of wood such as cedar or pine pressure-treated to repel naturally resistant to termites, it is not uncommon to discover that your pergola is infested by them. According to the Landscaping Network, deal regularly with the wood should prevent (or at least slow down), taking control of termites. All of this comes down to the interview !

Everyone is not a fan
While pergolas can add value to your home, some buyers will not want to bother with a permanent structure such as a pergola. Robin Kencel, a broker with Compass Real Estate in Greenwich, Connecticut, said that she found recently that its buyers prefer the awning with automatic retractable pergolas.

"That said, there are times when only pink or glycine flowing through a pergola can create the ambiance that an owner or a designer looking for ", said Kencel.

They will probably increase the value of your property
That a pergola adds value to your property is subject to debate. While sites such as Extra Space and Outdoor Living Today assert that a pergola can increase the value of your home, a forum for discussion on Trulia adds that this may or may not add value in function of the location of the seller.

But Beatrice de Jong, an expert in consumer trends in Opendoor in Los Angeles, said that the pergolas do not generally add no value to your house.

"But there could be a buyer, who loves and sees the value in having one," she adds.

If a pergola is the answer to your vision board mind-for the garden, you now have all the information to decide whether to build or buy a is the right path for you.