Shade, good looks, and appropriate layout are the key factors when choosing how to install your new pergola. If these three key requirements are met, your new pergola with shade lattice will provide a permanent decorative fixture that will shade your patio in just the right way, while transforming your outdoor space into an outdoor living room. A great pergola system will also be maintenance-free, strong enough to last a lifetime, and include the little finishing touches that give the structure a sleek, clean appearance.

• Extruded aluminum pergolas, such as the ones used in Renaissance Aria, are by far the most modern and lowest-maintenance option. They also offer high-strength construction so they last virtually forever even in tough environments.
• Wooden pergolas look great, they have that natural grain and texture that aluminum can’t quite duplicate. But like all wooden structures, they require a lot of maintenance. They have to be sealed, protected from termites, and painted every year to keep them looking their best. In addition, quality wood decks are usually expensive to build, and using cheap pressure-treated pine makes them look, well, cheap.
• Roll-formed sheet metal pergolas, such as the “Aluminum Wood” type products that are all over the market are easy and inexpensive to install, but like most things, you get what you pay for. The thin rolled aluminum and embossed wood grain don’t come close to approximating wood grain, and their low-quality paint finish ages quickly, requiring constant repainting and maintenance. They simply are not good investments.