A permanent outdoor shelter can be one of the most striking and important features of a backyard. It lets you enjoy the great outdoors even when the weather is not exactly ideal. Since modern homes don’t typically have covered porches—and because we tend to spend more time in the backyard than in the front yard—you may be having the gazebo and pergola debate: Deciding on the right shelter option for your Long Island, NY, outdoor living space is an important decision, and this article can shed light on the subject to simplify your choice.
Both pergolas and gazebos offer shelter from the sun. That’s where the similarities tend to end.
The Benefits of a Pergola
Pergolas are square or rectangular structures, usually made of wood, metal, or a combination of the two. Since they do not have a built-in floor, they are located on an existing patio, deck, or freestanding level “pad.” They feature open walls and columns that support an open roof made up of rafters and cross beams, which promote airflow and let heat escape. This makes pergolas a wonderful shelter for outdoor kitchens, sitting areas, and outdoor dining areas.
There is no standard size for a pergola: It can be designed to fit both tiny and grand spaces. As well, the architectural style is versatile, which makes pergolas infinitely adaptable. If you need shade but don’t want to spend time outdoors when it’s raining, a pergola could be the ideal choice.
Common Modifications to Pergolas
Adding a trellis on one or more sides allows your pergola to eventually be covered with flowering vines, which creates a private naturalistic sanctuary. Privacy can also be achieved with outdoor curtains.
Some homeowners add clear polycarbonate roofing panels to their pergolas for rain protection: this approach maintains the light airiness, but does not allow heat to escape as readily.
Adding an outdoor fireplace along one wall of the pergola adds coziness.
The Benefits of a Gazebo
Gazebos are round, square, hexagonal, or octagonal, and can be built in a variety of sizes, usually with wood. They have a built-in floor and typically feature half-walls or railings, and columns that support a solid roof. They can be placed virtually anywhere in your landscape.
A gazebo offers a softer, more romantic look than a pergola—more like a room with open windows, than simply a roof with open walls. Its solid roof means it can be the perfect outdoor shelter for a dining or sitting area, and of course an outdoor kitchen.
Common Modifications to Gazebos
You can increase the livability of a gazebo by adding insect screens and a screen door, which virtually eliminates the hassle of bug-filled summer evenings.
Add privacy with outdoor curtains or a vine-covered trellis, and coziness with a fireplace along one wall. If the gazebo is very generously sized, a two-sided fireplace could be situated in the center.
Which Shelter Option Is Better?
If you want sun protection on your patio or deck, you will probably view the classic pergola as a sound choice. If you want more flexibility over location and more shelter, then a gazebo could be the perfect choice.
