Can a Pergola Really Work Year-Round?

June is the perfect month to invest in garden upgrades. You can enjoy the sunshine, hydrate with refreshing drinks, and watch the kids play while you lounge in the garden. The big question you need to answer before buying is if you will even enjoy the garden come October. Most garden upgrades are forgotten and are only appreciated from the kitchen window for the rest of the year.

A retracting pergola roofs is, unsurprisingly, more versatile than a fixed roof because it is are able to change position.

The Real Function

Many think that the only advantage of a roof that can retract is that it can keep rain off. While that is true, the real advantage is that on a cloudy, still, and cool day, it can actually be completely opened to let in light and when the clouds decide to rain, closed for cover. This advantage allows you to not be stuck in a situation that completely commits you to being in the sun or being left in the elements.

Most of the nicer systems operate via a motorized retractable system that can be operated via a remote control, or even a mobile application, if you so choose. Unlike traditional awnings, where the fabric is rolled up, and the system, in general, looks like an afterthought, in these retractable roof systems, the fabric or louvres are folded away along the frame.

Spring and Autumn are where the real value is added

This is where people are the most surprised. The value of the system in the summer is obvious, and people love using a covered patio in the summer months. The real value of the system is the shoulder seasons.

Imagine a cool, but sunny day in April, when it is still a bit too brisk to be outside. With the roof fully retractable, and the optional side screens in place, you now have a comfy warm refuge that is several degrees warmer than the unprotected garden. The side screens also help hold the heat in, along with a patio heater or fire pit, for when the temperature drops in the evening.

The same can easily be said of the Autumn months as well. The golden, calm, but somewhat brisk fall afternoons can now be enjoyed outside without battling the leaves as they fall.

Winter is straightforward about its restrictions

To be honest, you won’t be out there in January as much as you will in July. You will be out there “not as much” as you will be in July, not “never.” A closed roof with weather enclosing doesn’t mean the space is off limits. Frost won’t settle on the tables and chairs. The boards won’t be a slippery sheet of iced over wet leaves. If you’ve ever stored your garden furniture in winter, only to take it out in March covered in green, you know the struggle.
Some people even bring the winter heating out there and convert it to a real outdoor room. It’s an expensive choice because of the heating, but it’s realistically worth it.

What users should be prepared for the most

First, drainage. The rain sits on top of a closed roof, and on a good system, it runs through the frame and out the post, but on a budget one, it will pool or sheet off the front and down to whoever is sitting the closest.

Second, wind rating. It matters more than the brochure picture shows, especially if your garden is somewhat exposed. Louvre and fabric systems will handle gusts differently, but there is usually a point where it’s more sensible to open the roof and let the wind through than fight it.

The question here is about fixing — are you going freestanding or attached to the house? We’ll say attached is neater, and tends to be cheaper since you’ve only got to build three sides of support. Going freestanding also gives you more options about placement. Neither option is right or wrong. It’s essentially down to the space you’re working with and what you want to achieve.

So, Is It Worth It?

For a decent amount of gardens the answer is yes, especially if you will use the garden for more than the just the warm months (usually around May to September). If you are the type to just use the garden for the warmest evenings, with a beach umbrella in hand, then maybe the structure is more than you need. But if you want the garden to be more of an extension to the home from March to November, an adjustable roof is the way to go.

A good sign of a good company is if they will come out to the space to measure rather than sell you a generic size off the page. Good companies will be honest, and if they suggest a simpler (and cheaper) awning, then they are a good company to listen to!