Pergola on decking: The perfect outdoor combo

Benefits of adding a pergola on decking

Style and design versatility

If your decking is next to your house, a wall-mounted pergola will ensure you can slide open your patio doors and step out onto a deck covered by a beautiful pergola. If you’ve a floating deck in the middle of your lawn, a free standing pergola will cover it stylishly, giving you an area of shade and shelter.

Protection and comfort

Pergolas protect the people you love from the elements. The extra shade they provide and the UV protection of polycarbonate and louvred roofs protects skin from the sun. And you can shelter from wind and rain while still enjoying fresh air.

A pergola also protects your decking - from sunlight that fades the wood and rain that rots it over time. 

It will also protect whatever you put underneath, whether that’s recliners, a barbecue set, a dining table and chairs or something else.

Pergola on decking ideas to inspire your outdoor oasis

Creating a relaxing retreat with a pergola

A pergola means you can use your decking for all kinds of purposes all year round:

A children’s play area that gets little ones out of the house and protects them from sun and rain.

A dining area – look forward to Sunday roasts with all the family the weather can’t spoil, gathered on your decking sheltered by your pergola.

A cosy hideaway in your garden over which climbing plants can grow and from which you can enjoy the best views of your flowerbeds, pond or any other sights you just love.

Bringing the garden to life with a pergola

A gazebo to go on decking makes for a great frame around, over and under which you can grow all kinds of plants and flowers. 

A louvred roof will allow you to vary the sunlight levels and stop heavy rain soaking your plant pots whether they’re on the decking or hanging from the pergola frame. 

A pergola blossoming with colour and teeming with nature will delight the senses and help you relax.

Lighting ideas for your pergola on decking

Light up your pergola and enjoy time outside long after the sun’s called it a day. 

Strip lights, lanterns and lights on strings all add to the ambience. And if you have pull down screens around the sides of your pergola, you can create a snug and private outside room on your decking you can use all year round, just like a summer house.

Can you put a pergola on decking?

As long as your decking is strong enough, the answer to the question: Can you put a pergola on decking? is a resounding yes! Aluminium pergolas are popular because they offer the best combination of lightness and durability.

Key points before installing a pergola on a terrace

What material is your decking made of?

An aluminium pergola on composite decking will give you a strong, modern, weather resistant combo. 

A wooden gazebo on decking made from wood gives you a rustic look, but you must ensure your decking is strong enough to take the heavy load.

Is your decking structurally sound?

Check the beams and joists under your decking. They will need to be strong enough to support your pergola. You may want to get a professional to confirm this before going ahead with your plans.

Also, think about how to secure a gazebo on decking and whether you plan to use brackets, bolts, anchors, straps or pads.

What are you going to use your pergola for?

When it comes to deciding if your decking is strong enough, much depends on what you’re planning to put under your pergola roof.

A dining table, chairs plus people sitting on them will all add a lot of weight to your decking. So too a BBQ, plant pots and garden furniture. Combined, that’s a heavy load, but most types of decking are designed to handle the weight.

Is the surface flat?

All decking should be flat. A pergola will accentuate any imperfections, so it’s best to check your surface is perfectly level before building a pergola on it.

Will you need planning permission?

Most pergolas for domestic use don’t need planning permission unless they are installed at the front of your house, take up more than half your land, are particularly high, or are close to a neighbour’s property. 

One of the many advantages of buying a pergola from Close The Deal is that all our models are 2.5m high, which is the maximum height allowed in the UK without requiring planning permission.

Too high?

If your decking is already raised above ground and you’re worried your pergola will exceed permitted heights and require planning permission, you can always cut holes in the decking and anchor the posts of the pergola in the ground below.

Installing a pergola on decking: DIY and professional help

DIY

Can you build a pergola on decking yourself? If you’ve built your own decking, installing a pergola will be child’s play for you by comparison. Simply get a friend or two to help, open the instruction manual and off you go. It’ll save you having to pay a professional.

Hire Professionals

If you can’t be bothered to find out how to build a pergola on decking, call in the professionals. Yes, it will cost you, but the peace of mind you’ll get from knowing experts will be installing gazebo on decking is worth its weight in gold. We can put you in touch with professional pergola installers here at Close The Deal.

Maintenance tips for your pergola on decking

Regular care to keep your pergola in top shape

Wooden pergolas will require a fair bit of maintenance (much like wooden decking). You’ll need to invest in plenty of wood preservative, staining and or sealant to protect those surfaces from the sun and rain.

If that doesn’t appeal, you can choose aluminium pergolas which require much less looking after. And for the best of both worlds, opt for an aluminium pergola with a wood style finish.

Seasonal care tips for a long-lasting pergola

Pergolas are designed to be low maintenance all year round, especially aluminium models. These have built-in drainage systems that direct excess rain water off the roof and down the inside of the posts.

All pergolas will need a roof clean twice yearly, removing twigs, leaves and other debris that gather in spring and fall in autumn so that you can enjoy uninterrupted views of the sky from down below.

Transforming your outdoor space with a pergola to decking

A garden pergola on decking will transform your outside space. As long as you do your planning and preparation, you’ll have a beautiful-looking, shade-providing addition to your back yard that will look great and serve multiple purposes for many years.