From the luxurious country club estates of Boca Raton to the palatial seaside homes of South Beach Miami and the epic resorts and private clubs throughout South Florida, majestic pergolas adorn many backyards, pool decks, and rooftop patios. With the extreme heat and routine afternoon showers that frequent the region, a high-quality pergola is a must for any homeowner or club member looking to enjoy the outdoors.
Pergolas throughout Florida can be fabricated from a number of materials, with the most common options being aluminum and wood. Each material has its strengths, so here we will discuss some of the advantages and limitations of these pergola materials.
The primary difference between wood and aluminum pergolas is their outward appearance. Wood imparts a very traditional or rustic look to pergolas when left untreated. The untreated look can be appealing for a coastal beach house or a patio surrounded by dense foliage. Wood is also easily painted to match any home’s exterior. Of course, a painted pergola will need to be repainted fairly regularly.
On the other hand, metal pergolas are most-often fabricated from aluminum. Our outdoor living structures are crafted from high-quality and lightweight aluminum by our manufacturing partner Azenco. With no visible assembly hardware, our metal pergolas deliver clean exterior lines throughout the structure.
To protect the structure from the humid and wet climates here in South Florida, each pergola is coated in a heavy-duty powder coating. This exterior coating is most commonly seen in standard colors such as black, gray and bronze, or you can order a white pergola. Additionally, we can customize the color of your pergola to color match any hue. So, your pergola can perfectly match your existing home, or even your favorite blooming flowers. If you love the natural look of wood, but want the durability and functionality of a metal pergola (more on those in a minute), we can also coat a pergola or just its roof sections in a wood grain powder coating.
The longevity of a wood pergola vs. a metal pergola is one area where you will see drastic differences. As mentioned earlier, wood pergolas need some sort of exterior protective coating. Stain or paint are a common option, or a heavy-duty waterproofing if you want to maintain the natural look of the wood. Unfortunately, these coatings need to be reapplied each year. Ultimately, though, even protected wood is prone to drying and eventually rotting. So, the lifetime of your wood pergola is limited.
With a properly powder-coated aluminum pergola, that lifecycle expands drastically. The powder coating perfectly protects the structure from the extreme heat and beating sun. Best of all, the maintenance for our aluminum pergolas is super simple. We recommend twice annual maintenance just to make sure you haven’t scratched the powder coating, and no debris has fallen into the motorized louvered roof or gutter system. Keeping a metal pergola clean is also as simple as a quick bath with a gentle garden hose.
The most exciting difference between a metal vs wood pergola is the wonderful functionality that can be incorporated into aluminum outdoor structures. Because it is a very heavy material, wood pergolas are static structures. So, they either feature an open slatted roof that does not provide full rain protection, or a solid fixed roof that is limited to creating full-time shade on the patio.
Our R-Blade pergolas incorporate electric motors to offer you a patio cover that opens and closes. Adjusted with a remote control, your metal pergola roof can open to allow the sun to reach the patio, angle the louvers to create shade while promoting airflow, or close completely to block out the sun. Our pergolas also use a unique louver design that makes them the only model on the market that completely blocks the rain when closed. So, you can enjoy your covered patio even when it’s raining.
The motorized louvers can also be integrated with smart weather sensors. These wind and rain sensors constantly monitor the weather and automatically close the roof when a rain shower is detected or open the roof in strong winds that could potentially damage the louvers. This smart wind sensor is a great addition for homes in South Florida where unexpected storms can pop up while you are away from home.
Once you realize the amazing benefits of today’s high-tech metal pergolas, the difference between a metal vs wood pergola becomes very straightforward. If you are looking to bring a luxurious, custom aluminum pergola to your home or business, please reach out to our design team today to start your consultation.
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