What a complete pergola quote includes
A pergola in Alberta carries snow. That one fact separates a structure that stands for decades from a shade ornament on posts.
Sizing here is arithmetic rather than taste. Here is what the document should tell you about how yours was worked out.
What it stands on
Pergola post loads are significant, and this is where the most common shortcut lives.
Independent footings below frost depth
Look for Footings on their own line, and whether they are independent of any deck.
We set independent concrete footings below frost depth rather than mounting posts to deck framing. Surface mounting to a deck is the most common shortcut and the most common cause of failure.
Rated post bases and structural hardware
Look for Named structural connectors, not decorative brackets.
Rated post bases, beam hangers, and rafter ties go on every connection. Decorative brackets look similar and carry nothing.
Definition →The structure itself
Sizing is a calculation, not a matter of proportion.
Beam sizing tied to span
Look for Beam dimensions, ideally with the span they cover.
Beam size is determined by the span it carries and the load above it. We calculate before specifying material rather than choosing what looks right.
Definition →Snow load addressed
Look for Any mention of snow load or local rating.
Alberta has meaningful snow load requirements. Aluminum louvred systems are rated for local conditions and cedar rafters get sized accordingly.
Rafter spacing
Look for A spacing figure.
Our cedar and timber pergola rafters run 12 inches on centre. On a pergola the rafters are the thing you are looking at, so spacing is structural and visual at once.
Definition →Ledger flashing, on an attached pergola
Look for How it connects to the house.
An attached pergola meets the house at a ledger board. If that connection is not flashed and sealed, water gets into the wall.
Definition →Material and features
Cedar and aluminum louvred are two different products at two very different price points.
The material and system, by name
Look for Cedar, timber, or a named aluminum louvred system.
A fixed cedar structure and a motorised louvred aluminum roof are not variants of the same thing. The louvred system closes to shed water into the frame and out through integrated gutters.
Definition →Electrical rough-in, if you want lighting
Look for Conduit or rough-in planned before the structure goes up.
Running electrical after the fact costs more and looks worse. If lighting, a heater, or screens are in the plan, the wiring gets designed in from the start.
Screens, glass, or drop panels
Look for Enclosure included, or quoted separately.
Enclosure is often what turns a pergola into a room, and it can be a large share of the total.
The job around the build
Permits
Look for Who is pulling one and whether the cost is in the number.
Requirements depend on the structure, its size, and your municipality. We handle permit support where a build needs one.
Definition →Coordination with a deck or patio
Look for One design covering the pergola and whatever sits under it.
Designed together, posts land where the framing wants them. Designed separately, they land wherever they fit afterward.
Site access
Look for Not usually stated. Worth a question.
Beams and louvred roof sections come in long and awkward. Getting them around a house and into a backyard is its own small operation.
Definition →Send us the quote and we will walk you through it.
Bring us the written estimate you already have and we will go through it line by line so you understand what is in it, what is not, and what the words mean. No obligation and no pressure. If it covers everything above, we will tell you that too.
Common questions
Can a pergola be mounted on an existing deck?
We set independent footings below frost depth rather than mounting posts to deck framing. Pergola post loads are significant, and surface mounting to a deck is the most common shortcut and the most common cause of failure. Where a deck-mounted structure is the only option, it needs a structural engineering review first.
How is pergola beam size decided?
By the span it has to carry and the load above it, calculated before material is specified. Choosing a beam because it looks proportional is how a structure ends up undersized for a snow year.
Do pergolas need to handle snow load in Alberta?
Yes, and it is one of the main things separating a structure built for this climate from one that is not. Aluminum louvred systems are rated for local conditions and cedar rafters are sized accordingly.
What is the difference between a cedar pergola and an aluminum louvred one?
A cedar pergola is a fixed open structure that filters light. An aluminum louvred pergola has a motorised roof that rotates from open to closed, and closed it sheds water into the frame and out through integrated gutters. They are different products at very different price points.
Should lighting be planned before the pergola is built?
Yes. Conduit and rough-in go in before the structure goes up. Running electrical afterward costs more and the result never looks as clean.
Checklists for other builds
Quoting more than one thing? Each build has its own list of what belongs in the document.