Pergola construction: a guide for pros

What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.

Offering pergola construction

Pergolas look simple, and customers judge them on how solid the posts feel and how square the frame stays after a few seasons. Win the job by showing the footing and the beam connections, then quoting the wood and the finish clearly.

What customers ask

  • Will it blow over in a storm?
  • Can you attach it to my house?
  • What wood will last longest, and what finish do you use?
  • Can I add a roof or slats later?
  • How long will it take to build?
  • Will the vines damage the structure?

How to win the job

  • On the first call, ask what the pergola is for, where it will sit, what size it must be and whether it will be attached to the house.
  • On site, check the footing locations for utilities and drains, the soil and the slope, and mark the post centers before you quote.
  • Show a framing plan with the footings, the post bases, the beams and the rafter spacing, so the customer sees the structure.
  • In the quote, list the footings, the posts, the beams, the rafters, the connections, the attachment and the finish as separate lines.
  • Explain how the connections resist wind in plain words, since the customer will feel the structure in a storm.
  • Put the finish schedule and the connection check in writing, so the structure stays solid over the years.

What to put on your profile

  • Photos of footings and post bases before the posts go in, shot with the anchors visible
  • Finished pergola photos from the patio and the yard, showing the shade and the finish
  • Pergola types you build, such as open rafter, slatted, louvered and attached designs
  • Your service area and whether you also do decks, patio covers and outdoor kitchen structures

Follow-up that helps the customer

  • Offer a yearly check of the connections and the post bases, explained as routine care
  • Suggest a stain or sealer schedule for the wood, with the product and timing explained
  • Mention a shade slat or cover upgrade as information when the customer is planning more shade

Licenses and permits

Whether a pergola needs a contractor license varies by place, and attached, roofed or large pergolas are commonly regulated and may need a permit. Confirm what applies where you work with your state or local licensing agency and local building department, and keep your insurance current.

Questions

What do I do when the customer wants the posts set on blocks to save on footings?

Explain that posts on blocks can shift and rot at the base, and that wind can move the whole structure. Quote the footing and the anchor, and put your recommendation in writing.

Should I warranty the wood on a pergola?

Warranty your workmanship and the connections, and state that wood checks, grays and moves with the weather. Put the finish schedule in writing with the warranty.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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