A pergola is an outdoor garden feature forming a shaded walkway, passageway, or sitting area of vertical posts or pillars that usually support cross-beams and a sturdy open lattice. As a type of gazebo, it may also be an extension of a building or serve as protection for an open terrace or a link between pavilions. Pergolas are available in several outstanding styles, Free Standing, Attached and Operable.

Operable pergolas have a roof that can open or close. On beautiful days when you want to relax outside and enjoy some sunshine, you can use a slow-motion motor to open the rafters and allow the sunlight to filter through. If the sunshine becomes too intense, you can simply close the rafters and the pergola turns into a solid-roof patio cover

Free standing pergolas are not attached to a home or other structure. Most people place them in their backyards to provide a unique sitting area, or in their gardens to dress them up and add a fun, architectural element. Free standing pergolas allow light, sun, and air to come through, but still offers enough shade and protection from the harsh glare of direct sunlight.

Attached pergolas are fastened directly to the exterior of homes, these pergolas provide partial shade over patios and decks. An attached pergola functions as an extension of the house. It extends the living space into the yard and serves as a graceful transition between outdoors and indoors.