Pergola vs Gazebo: Which One is For You?
What you do with your yard can add value to your home and that includes the landscaping and any structures you may wish to add. Both pergolas and gazebos can add value to your home not to mention the fact that they can provide an ideal outdoor space to relax and entertain guests.
Pergolas and gazebos are structures you can build in your yard to provide shelter. This is about the only similarity between both these structures. Pergolas and gazebos differ in the amount of shade they provide, their shapes as well as their overall look.
Which between a pergola and a gazebo you wish to build in your yard depends on how you will use the structure and of course your personal preference. To help you make the decision, you ought to know the exact difference between a pergola and a gazebo.
-
Pergola
A pergola is a covered walkway with trellised sides. A pergola can be built either with wrought iron or wood. A pergola has open sides as well as open and flat roof made from horizontal wood planks. Vines often crawl along the top and sides of a pergola.
A pergola can provide a certain amount of shade for entertaining and relaxing. It, however, cannot provide protection against the rain and extreme weather. More often, pergolas are built to provide a venue for climbing plants.
Pergolas can be a stand-alone structure or attached to a wall in the garden and comes in either a square or rectangular shape.
Pros
- Available in a variety of styles and materials
- Inexpensive to build
- Easy to build
Cons
- Cannot withstand extreme weather
- Does not have flooring
- Does not provide protection against insects and other elements in the garden
- Provides only a small amount of shade.
Pergolas are often built to provide a space to showcase the beauty of crawling flowers and plants and to provide a walkway to another part of the garden.
Gazebo
A gazebo is an octagonal, round or hexagonal structure with a dome-shaped roof supported by symmetrical columns. A gazebo has open sides and a solid floor. Gazebo diameters can range from a few feet ideal for entertaining some guests and relaxation to large structures for hosting large parties.
Gazebos can provide a huge amount of shade and can also provide protection against the rain. Lighting and electrical outlets can also be installed to serve as an outdoor room similar to what you have indoors.
Pros
- Available in a variety of styles and materials
- Has both a solid floor and roof
- Electricity and other accessories can be installed.
- Provides protection from the rain and other elements
Cons
- More difficult to construct than pergolas
- Expensive to build
- Requires more outdoor space
Gazebos are often built to have an additional entertainment and relaxation space in your yard.
Difference in Cost
On the onset, a gazebo is definitely more expensive to build than a pergola because it is a structure with solid flooring, solid roofing, seating, and railings. However, the difference in cost really depends on the design of the pergola and gazebo. There are lavish pergolas that cost more than a regular gazebo.
Difference in Installation
A pergola is definitely easier to build than a gazebo. Installing a pergola simply entails sinking 4 poles connecting crossbeams into the ground. Gazebos, on the other hand, is entails building a solid floor and a solid roof and adding the preferred electrical connections.
Difference in Durability
If a pergola and gazebo are built with the same materials, gazebos will naturally be more durable. A gazebo will have two times the lifetime of a pergola.
So, which one is for your yard, a pergola or a gazebo?