And, because a louvered pergola allows users to adjust sunlight and airflow, these stylish structures have quickly become one of the hottest home additions.
So What Exactly is a Pergola?
Benefits of a Louvered Pergola
In a home, a louvered pergola provides a variety of benefits, including:
- Extending a home’s living space outdoors
- Providing coverage /or privacy for a wide range of areas, including over driveways, walkways, patios, porches, verandas, terraces, decks and balconies
- Functioning as a form of climate control by regulating exposure to sun, wind and rain
- Adding value with stylish design or by blocking unsightly views
Louvered Pergolas Aren’t Just for Patios Anymore
Spaces you can create with a louvered pergola include:
An Outdoor BBQ and Dining Area
Extend your kitchen and dining space with an outdoor BBQ and entertaining area that maximizes your ability to multitask and boosts your mood by letting you practice your chef skills in the fresh air.
An Outdoor Yoga Studio
Close the louvers and start the day with a Sun Salutation that helps you build strength and stay cool and dry. Open the louvers at the end of the day and do your downward dogs as the sun sets and the stars begin to twinkle.
A Restful Retreat
Adjust the overhead louvers for shade and hook up a hammock or two. Put a comfy bed down for your pet, settle in and get ready to spend some quality downtime.
A Private Planetarium
And speaking of stars, break out the blankets and beanbag chairs, gather friends in a circle, then lean back and let the universe do its stuff. Whether it’s a full moon or a meteor shower, it’s better when you view it in comfort beneath a louvered pergola.
An At-Home Spa
Drop a hot tub underneath your louvered pergola and opt for cold plunges in the summer and luxurious warm water soaks in the winter. Or switch it up and spend summertime in the tub and save your polar bear plunge for New Year’s Day.
A Shady Sandbox, Kiddie Pool Cover or Play Space for Kids
Keep kids protected from the sun while they enjoy playtime in the backyard.
A Party Pavillion
Attach curtains and fairy lights, and you’ll be ready to dance the night away.
A Garden Area with Added Dimension
Add lattices on the edges of your louvered pergola and grow strawberries up one side and grapes on the other. Arrange louver blades to shade delicate plants like lettuces and herbs in one area while you leave tomatoes and citrus trees in full sun in another.
A Fully-enclosed Area for Quiet Contemplation
Use our versatile FLEXfence louvered pergola kits to close off all four sides of your louvered pergola for privacy, add a bench, water feature or a walking labyrinth beneath, and get your Zen on.
A No-fuss Carport
No room for a second car in the garage? Park it beneath a louvered pergola that doubles as a carport and protect your extra set of wheels from sun, rain and hail.
Deciding on the Dimensions for Your Louvered Pergola
The dimensions of your pergola will depend on what sort of space you’re trying to create.
Our FLEXfence Louver System hardware is available in 4-foot standard louvered pergola kits or custom lengths to a maximum of 8 feet and can be easily cut and sized to meet your needs. Each kit includes an operating bar that allows you to adjust the louvers, all fastening hardware, rails and brackets, plus easy-to-follow instruction sheets.
To get an idea of what’s involved in constructing a louvered pergola from scratch, download our DIY louvered pergola plan. It shows you how to build a 12′ x 12′ louvered pergola that requires a total of nine FLEXfence Louver System hardware kits arranged in three rows of three.
If that size works for your space, you’re good to go. If not, our dimension guide and materials calculator will help you determine the number of boards and FLEXfence kits you’ll need for your project. You’ll also find a selection of accessories that might come in handy on the same webpage.
Choosing Materials for Posts, Beams and Louver Boards
Once you’ve decided on the dimensions of your louvered pergola, you’ll need to think about what type of wood you want to use for posts, rafters and louver slats.
Both Cedar and Redwood are great candidates, as they’re naturally rot- and insect-resistant and tend not to warp.
If using pressure-treated lumber ensure the wood is completely dried, or it could warp. It can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months for the wood to dry and stabilize.
In the end, since the appearance of your louvered pergola is a personal choice, it might be best to get a sample of Cedar and Redwood boards from your local lumber center and see what looks best in your home environment. Lumber sales associates can also advise you on the best sealing, staining and painting products.
No matter which sealant, stain or paint you choose, most brands recommend you re-apply products every two to three years for maximum effectiveness. To extend the lifespan of your wood, you’ll also want to clean off any bird droppings, dirt, mold or mildew.
A Note About Colour
We chose a black color for our FLEXfence Louver System hardware kits, as it has better UV properties. If you want to paint our hardware to match your designs, you’re welcome to do so; just make sure you use plastic-compatible paint.
WATCH HOW-TO VIDEO
Where to Buy
Ready to buy your FLEXfence louvered pergola kits and get building? On our Where to Buy page, you’ll find a selection of retailers and regional outlets that stock our FLEXfence Louver System hardware kits in Canada and the USA. You can also view a list of nearby suppliers by simply entering your city and country in our location tool.
Not Sure if a Louvered Pergola is for You?
Read what our customers have to say before you decide to nix the whole idea. And remember, if you’re uncomfortable installing a louvered pergola on your own, you can always hire an experienced contractor to build it for you utilizing our FLEXfence Louver System.
What Loyal Customer Are Saying
This replace some lattice that was an space between 4×4 poles. Looks great!
I mounted the shutters vertically… The spacing worked in my favor after figuring how meny shutters would best fit into the baluster spacings. Viola!