An attractive way to create an outdoor sanctuary of shade and style is to add life to your backyard with a pergola. If you are like many people, you may confuse a pergola with an arbor. Often people use the two interchangeably. If you want to have pergolas in Waukesha WI, visit Outdoorlivingunlimited.com for gorgeous options built by quality experts.
What Is the Difference Between a Pergola and Arbor?
Pergolas are typically wooden structures, although they can come in vinyl, aluminum, and steel as well. They have open sides or sometimes lattice walls and are supported by at least four beams. The roof has cross-beams that are separated from each other to allow for air and sunlight to come through. Usually meant for entertaining groups of people and gatherings, pergolas can also provide shade. You can find them attached to the sides of buildings or freestanding.
Arbors can also get placed on walkways, as well as, entrances and paths. However, most commonly, they get built as an entrance to a garden. You can sometimes find vines or plants growing on them. As opposed to pergolas, which accommodate gatherings, the intent for arbors is for a person to walk through and not linger. They are made of wood most often but can also get made of aluminum, steel, or iron.
Types of Pergolas
If you are considering having Pergolas in Waukesha WI, it may help to know options are available. They can come in the following styles:
Angled or flat open-topped
These are used most often in backyards and consists of four beams and a flat roof with up to two cross-beams or an angled top with one side being higher than another.
Steel frame
Since steel is an extremely sturdy material, you may find structures designed with only one support. Some steel frame pergolas could have two or three, but the traditional four posts are not always necessary.
Pitched or gabled roof
These structures are typically attached to a home as sort of an outdoor living room or extension. Many homeowners like that with this design, it can get built above ground with a storage space beneath it.
Sail top
This pergola has three or four support beams. The most distinguishable feature of the sail top pergola is the posts which connect across the tops of the support poles and provide not only shade but a chic and modern look.
