Categoría: Tips

Patios and terraces are spaces in a home that, in many cases, are not fully used. Being exposed to the open air and environmental conditions, they can be used on summer days, but not when it rains or is too cold.

For this reason, more and more homeowners are looking for solutions to make these outdoor areas true paradise oases through the installation of pergolas and decoration of the surrounding areas. In this way, in addition to adding valuable useful meters to the property, they enjoy that area all year round.

Types of pergolas

Pergolas are manufactured in many different styles and models. Before deciding which is the best, you should consider that it depends on the style of your home and the use you expect to give it. Here you will find the best known styles.

Simple or classic pergola

They are the most traditional and are manufactured in a large number of shapes and designs that adapt to almost all styles of home.

Rustic pergola

This style is widely used and is usually made of wood, logs or stone. In some cases, ornaments are included and rustic carvings are usually made on the pillars.

Romantic pergola

The main characteristic that differentiates this style from the previous ones is that they are usually made with rounded shapes. They are mainly made with wrought iron, wood or cement columns with special shapes.

Modern pergola

They keep a clean and very simple profile. They usually have many right angles and are made of wood, steel, aluminum, iron, cement or concrete. They are almost always installed in houses with modern and minimalist designs.

Bio-climatic pergola

This is the most innovative style and they are generally manufactured with aluminum slat systems that control the entry of air and sunlight.

The slat system allows them to open at a different angle depending on weather conditions. In this way, they can be completely closed for complete control or opened to allow the entry of environmental elements. Some models are capable of opening up to 135º.

The most advanced models have opening systems that allow air to pass through, but not water (even if it’s raining). In addition, they have an application that allows you to program them from your mobile, so that the slats open at dawn or dusk, close at noon, etc.
At this point it is important to mention that almost any pergola, whether rustic, romantic or traditional, can be conditioned to work as a bio-climatic.

Where to locate a pergola?

In general terms, pergolas can be placed anywhere outdoors where control of environmental elements such as rain, wind or harsh rays of the Sun is required.

The most common sites are balconies, terraces or patios, but they are also often seen in the middle of the garden or in an area near the pool.

Pergolas are very versatile and it is common to see them in:

Hotels

The owners of this type of business, in general, need to make the most of all the available areas of their facilities during the twelve months of the year. That is why it is very common to see pergolas in this type of business.

Restaurants and bars

People usually like to eat in an intimate and cozy place, but sometimes they prefer to enjoy a meal or an evening outdoors. For this reason, normal or even bio-climatic pergolas are installed in many bars and restaurants. In this way, customers can choose the type of environment in which they want to stay while they eat or hang out with their acquaintances or family members.

Private Homes

In homes it is also very common to see these metal structures protecting terraces or other areas that are outdoors. Thus the inhabitants of the house can use these areas throughout the year and not only on days of good weather. So you can enjoy a great evening outdoors with your family and friends without worrying about the weather.

Are you thinking of closing your terrace?

If you want to achieve a modern and versatile outdoor space, you will love our solutions for pergolas and aluminum insulated ceilings, a simple installation for your home and an investment that will always be worth it.

Outdoor spaces such as terraces, gardens, porches and attics are a great advantage for the home, as they allow you to enjoy the fresh air and unwind.

However, these spaces may become unusable due to inclement weather.

Since the pandemic, the home has taken on great importance in multiple aspects and it is essential to get the most out of it.

The insulated roof has become a trend to modernize outdoor areas such as terraces and patios, creating a comfortable and useful space that can be used throughout the year.

At Fast Metal Roofs we have been working for several years on the installation of insulated aluminum roofs, with the aim of multiplying the uses of your outdoor spaces. Our experience allows us to adapt to your tastes and needs.

Create New Outdoor environments with Insulated Aluminum Panels

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Another idea to achieve a modern terrace with the installation of insulated ceilings is the creation of a new space in your home. Thanks to the great insulation capacity, you can design a new room on the terrace as a living room, a living room or even a gym.

The insulated roof also manages to expand the m2 of the house and allows a terrace to be used as one more space, adapting in harmony with the entire aesthetics of the home.

Revitalize your outdoor spaces and design the places of your dreams with the furniture you want without fear of it being damaged by weather conditions.

What is a pergola?

A pergola is a structure, usually made of wood although it can be built of other materials, formed by columns on which a reticular structure of beams rests, with the original purpose of providing shade.

Normally we can find them outside a house ( gardens, terraces or roof terraces) or even in squares and public gardens.

Pergolas are intended to provide shade in an open space, especially when climbing plants are allowed to grow around them and between the beams, they can be solely for decorative purposes, to form a corridor or even as a means of separating environments.

The pergolas are mainly made of wood and are fixed to the ground making it a fixed structure, and this same system is used in metal pergolas as aluminum pergolas for example. But there are also other types of materials such as plastic that can be assembled and disassembled but are much less resistant and elegant.

Which roof are more beautiful and durable?

Neither in winter, nor in summer, do you put yourself in the sun outright

If you have a pergola and its roof has caused you problems, it is possible that the materials were not suitable or that the folding mechanisms, if any, were not adapted to the circumstances. However, knowing which roof is best for a pergola, making the right choice and maintaining the necessary care, you will find well-being insurance to spend the summer days lying in the shade.

In this article you will be able to know all the typologies that currently exist and learn how to choose the best roof for your pergola in particular. Because what is valid in some cases can be a real failure in others and vice versa. Therefore, we recommend you analyze your needs before making a decision in this regard.

Types of roofs according to their versatility

In this classification we can find only two options, fixed pergola roofs and mobile roofs. It is an issue that depends exclusively on the use that you are going to give it and the maintenance that you can carry out on the roof. For the rest, both possibilities can be perfectly exploitable.

Fixed pergola roofs

Fixed roofs for pergolas will always be made of rigid materials, usually wood or masonry and in some cases aluminum. The maintenance that they may require is something punctual, such as varnishing or painting the surface from time to time. They are used in many cases as a porch or as a carport and can be located anchored to the wall or completely separated.

Mobile roofs for pergolas

When choosing the shade for your garden and deciding which roof is best for a pergola that you are really going to take advantage of, it is important that you ask yourself some questions such as if you are going to use it throughout the year, if you have the possibility of remove the cover when you stop using it or whatever your budget.

Our recommendation, in the event that there are stages of disuse, is to resort to a material that allows the roof to be removed, such as canvas or fabric. If you have a bigger budget, the roofs for pergolas with retractable systems made of aluminum are more versatile, more resistant and require less maintenance.

What material is best for the roof of a pergola?

Although we have mentioned them before when talking about the possibilities of mobility, it is important to distinguish the different types of materials when we talk about what to put on the roof of a wooden, masonry or metal pergola. In this sense, each alternative has its particularities and is better adapted to one situation or another, which is why we emphasize the importance of analyzing each case.

Pergolas with wooden roofs

Wooden roofs for pergolas are usually fixed. There are certain retractable mechanisms in this material, but they are not highly recommended. In general, the most frequent is to cover the wood with some waterproof material on the external face -asphalt cloth, for example-. In addition, it is the most careful option, as long as the necessary maintenance is dedicated to it.

Canvas roofs for pergolas

One of the first materials that comes to mind when we think about which roof to put on a pergola is fabric, a very basic retractable system similar to that of awnings. However, the most common is to resort to canvases made from plastic fabrics that are waterproof. It is the cheapest option and can also be replaced without any problem; in return, it is the most fragile and the one that requires the most maintenance.

Metal roofs for pergolas

It is one of the latest advances regarding this product and, of course, aluminum is the absolute protagonist. It is the most appropriate metal for these purposes due to its lightness and because it is cheaper. Without a doubt, the best option when we talk about retractable roofs for pergolas, since it also requires minimal maintenance.

Masonry roofs for pergolas

When we talk about masonry ceilings, we get closer to the idea we have of a porch. Sometimes they are simple tiles and in other cases they are real constructions. Obviously it is a completely fixed structure and, in addition, it is always attached to a wall, so it is recommended for locations with a lot of use throughout the year.

What is the most important thing when choosing your new pergola?

Consideing all the typologies that we have mentioned throughout the article, our recommendations regarding the aspects to take into account when choosing which roof to put on a pergola are quite simple. In the first place, it is necessary to assess the location and the use that is going to be given to it, then set the budget and, finally, give aesthetics the place it deserves -any option can be configured to taste-.