The Top 7 Benefits of Adding a Pergola to Your Home

But what exactly can you expect to gain from adding a pergola to your home? In this guide we’ll share the wealth of benefits, from the obvious to the surprising, that the installation of a pergola can deliver.

What are pergolas in NZ?

First things first. You’ve probably heard of pergolas, patios and verandahs, and you can probably picture all three structures, though they might look very similar in your mind’s eye. So what exactly is a pergola, and how might it differ from a patio and verandah?

First to the similarities: all these structures are designed to offer shaded and protected outdoor living space.

In terms of differences, verandahs tend to be narrow shaded areas that are usually attached to the front of a home, but that can wrap down the sides or even the whole way around the building. Pergolas and patios, on the other hand, tend to offer wider shaded areas and are more often added to the back of the home.

The differences between outdoor pergolas and patios are minor. As a general rule pergolas tend to be treated as an extension of the garden, while patios are viewed as an extension of the home. In years gone by pergolas would often lack a roof – protection from the elements was instead offered by incorporating plant life like trees and vines into the pergola’s structure.

But these days most pergolas have roofs, and the words ‘pergola’ and ‘patio’ are largely used interchangeably.

The top 7 pergola benefits

The number of pergolas in NZ has skyrocketed over recent decades, as more and more people recognise the perks of adding a pergola to their home. The reasons to invest in a pergola are many and varied, but below we have collected seven of the most compelling. 

1. Expand your usable outdoor space

Pergolas increase the amount of functional space on your property. A thoughtfully designed pergola can become a second dining room, a lounge room, an entertaining area, a kids playroom and more.

You can increase the footprint of your home for far less money than it would cost to build a fully enclosed extension, all while adding a unique space that delivers a totally different living experience to the rest of the rooms in your house.

2. Be the ultimate entertainer

Pergolas are built to be enjoyed with company. They’re a reason to invite friends, family and loved ones around for a catchup, whether you’re serving up a dinner cooked in an outdoor kitchen, or lounging around, with a drink in hand, watching the sunset from the comfort of your deck.

If your pergola is big enough, you can add a pool table, a poker table, a spa pool, a dart board or any number of other fun additions to dial the entertainment factor up even further.

3. Enhance your outdoor aesthetic

Your home is your castle, and you deserve to relax in a stunning setting. An expertly designed and installed pergola offers exactly that.

Case in point: Johnson & Couzins stunning aluminium retractable pergolas. The first in the country to feature a sliding roof, our pergolas bring European style to any property they’re added to. They also deliver unmatched functionality by allowing you to precisely control the amount of sunlight that cascades through the roof, through adjustable louvres.

4. Increase the value of your property

An investment in a quality pergola doesn’t just add beauty and functionality to your property – it can add tangible value too. If you ever choose to sell or let your property, you’ll likely find that a buyer or renter will be willing to part with more of their cash if they are able to enjoy a stunning outdoor area.

By some estimates, adding an outdoor living area can increase the return you make on a property investment by 50-80%, while a well-executed backyard can increase the resale value of a property by an estimated 20-30%.

5. Enjoy more shade

Perhaps the defining feature of a pergola is its ability to create shade. The great outdoors is best enjoyed on warm and sunny days, but that same sun can also cut your enjoyment short as it blankets you in UV.

A pergola lets you enjoy all the pleasures of a warm, sunny day in perfectly cool comfort and minus the risk of overexposure to sun. This is especially the case if you install a retractable pergola, like a Johnson & Couzins Automated Roof System, which lets you choose the precise amount of pergola shade cover you want to enjoy at any given moment.

6. Protect yourself from the elements

Why stick to sunny days? An outdoor area can be every bit as enjoyable when the weather is wet – the pitter-patter of rain is the perfect accompaniment to a book or a warm spa with friends.

At Johnson & Couzins we build outdoor living spaces that can totally isolate you from the weather, even if it’s hailing sideways in winter, thanks to our Silencio Rotating Vertical Louvres that can form a retractable wall around your pergola. As soon as the weather rolls in you can close the roof and the walls, and continue to enjoy your outdoor pergola in total comfort!

7. A customisable addition to your home

The installation of a pergola can offer a level of design freedom that a fully enclosed extension, or even a verandah, may not. Where extensions and verandahs are usually designed to fit in with the look of your home, pergolas can be designed to stand out.

Pergolas can be made of a wealth of different materials and in a wealth of different styles. At Johnson & Couzins we specialise in modern, elegant, European-inspired pergolas made from sleek yet hard-wearing aluminium – a material that pairs perfectly with everything from timber decking to Mediterranean pavers.

Johnson & Couzins: NZ’s ultimate pergolas

Between more usable space, the ability to entertain, and the enhanced look, feel, value and functionality of your home, there’s no shortage of reasons to add a pergola to your property. 

If you choose to make the investment, it’s important to view your pergola as exactly that: an investment. By choosing a high quality, long-lasting, beautiful and functional pergola, you’ll use it more, you’ll enjoy it more, and you’ll add far more value to your home.

At Johnson & Couzins we are the go-to brand for high-end pergolas in NZ. Our outdoor retractable pergolas represent the pinnacle in quality, beauty and functionality, and transform any property that they are added to.

Interested in enhancing your home with a retractable pergola? Get in touch with our friendly team today.

FAQs

Is it worth having a pergola?

No matter whether you’re talking about enhancing your lifestyle or the value of your home, a quality pergola is an investment that can more than pay itself back. As mentioned above, an outdoor living area can improve the ROI of your property investment by 50-80% and increase the resale value of the property by 20-30%.

What are the disadvantages of a pergola?

For the right customer, there really aren’t any disadvantages to a pergola. These structures are naturally more useful in warmer climates – if you live in a particularly cold area, you might use a traditional, fully enclosed house extension more than you would an outdoor area. But for most of NZ, a pergola can be comfortably used for at least six months of the year, particularly if you use our Silencio Rotating Vertical Louvres to enclose it.

If you choose to line your pergola with timber decking there will be a level of upkeep in oiling or staining the wood, but the pergola structure itself will require minimal maintenance, particularly if it is a Johnson & Couzins aluminium shade solution. 

Is it better to attach a pergola to a house?

While historically pergolas were considered an extension of the backyard or garden, most modern pergolas are attached directly to the house. This ensures that you can comfortably move between the home and the pergola without exposing yourself to the elements.

Are pergolas good for shade?

Pergolas are excellent for shade – that’s their main reason for being. In the past many pergolas relied on plant life like vines to provide shade cover, which, while charming, meant that you had to wait years for the cover to grow, and you didn’t have much protection from rain or wind once it did grow.

Modern pergolas generally provide full shade and rain cover, and a Johnson & Couzins retractable pergola lets you control exactly how much sunlight comes through, thanks to clever adjustable louvres.