Handcrafted wood and steel overhead structures built to define your outdoor space — engineered for Peninsula wind loads and finished for the coastal environment.
A pergola does more than provide shade — it creates a focal point that transforms a patio into an outdoor room. Done well, it looks like it was always part of the property.
We specialize in heavy-timber redwood pergolas and custom arbors that are built to last in the Peninsula climate. The outdoor environment here runs in two distinct modes — months of dry heat and afternoon sun, followed by months of marine layer, rain, and coastal wind. A structure that performs well in both needs to be designed for both. A south-facing pergola in San Bruno behaves differently from one on a north-facing lot in Pacifica, and we design for your specific site orientation and conditions — not a standard plan pulled from a catalog.
Attachment to the house is the most critical detail on any attached pergola or porch cover. Where the structure connects to the wall creates a flashing and waterproofing condition that has to perform for the life of the structure. Done incorrectly — a ledger bolted through siding without proper flashing, or a beam bearing on a surface that directs water toward the wall — it creates a dry rot path that works inward for years before it becomes visible. We treat the wall connection as the critical detail it is on every attached structure and document it for inspection. For freestanding structures, we engineer the post footings for the specific soil conditions and wind exposure of your lot.
Pergolas and arbors connect naturally to adjacent outdoor elements. A pergola over a redwood deck creates a cohesive covered outdoor room; a freestanding garden arbor can serve as the entry feature to a hardscaped patio or yard. We handle the full scope when the project calls for it. For properties where a more enclosed covered structure is appropriate, see our porches and patios page — the line between a pergola and a covered porch is often a roofing decision, and we build both.
The right structure depends on how you use the space, where it sits on the property, and how it connects to the house. Here is how we approach the most common configurations on the Peninsula.
An attached pergola extends the interior living space directly onto the patio or deck — it reads as part of the house rather than a structure placed in the yard. The ledger connection to the house wall is the most critical detail in the build. Properly flashed and bolted, it sheds water and carries load for decades. Poorly detailed, it creates a moisture path into the wall framing that shows up as rot years later. We flash every ledger connection correctly and document it for inspection.
The beam size, rafter spacing, and post sizing for an attached pergola are calculated based on the span, the roof load (even an open lattice carries wind load and sometimes snow load in higher Peninsula elevations), and the connection to the house. We size members for the actual loads — not by visual proportion alone. A pergola that feels undersized or springy under wind load was not engineered correctly.
Attached pergola roofs range from open beam and lattice (maximum light, minimum shade, no waterproofing) to solid polycarbonate or metal panel roofing (full weather protection). In between are options like spaced board decking for partial shade and rain filtering, louvered systems for adjustable coverage, and shade sail integration. The right choice depends on how much of the year you plan to use the space and how much direct sun the location receives.
Attached pergolas with solid or semi-solid roofing almost always require a building permit in Peninsula cities. Open lattice structures may or may not require one depending on the city and the size. We confirm permit requirements at the estimate and handle the application and inspection coordination as part of every project.
A freestanding pergola or shade structure creates a defined "destination" in the yard — a place that feels like a room even without walls. Positioned over a patio, beside a pool, or in a garden corner, a well-placed freestanding structure organizes the outdoor space and gives it purpose. It also avoids the wall connection detail entirely, which simplifies the structural design and removes the waterproofing consideration from the build.
Freestanding structures carry all their loads — gravity and lateral wind — through the post footings. On Peninsula hillside lots, footing design depends on the soil conditions at each post location. We confirm soil conditions at the estimate walk and design footings for what is actually there. Rocky soil, fill, and clay all require different approaches. Footings are drilled or dug to stable bearing depth and poured in concrete.
The Peninsula's coastal wind is a real structural consideration for freestanding overhead structures. An open pergola acts as a wind sail — the larger the roof area and the more solid the infill, the more lateral load the posts and footings must resist. We size post sections and footing diameters for the actual wind exposure of the site. A pergola that rocks in a winter storm was not engineered for its location.
Freestanding pergolas typically sit on or adjacent to a paved surface — a concrete patio, paver deck, or flagstone area. When we build both the hardscape and the overhead structure, we coordinate the footing locations and depths with the paving design so the finished result integrates cleanly. See our hardscapes and walls page for patio and paving options.
A garden arbor is a smaller overhead structure — typically spanning a path, gate, or garden entry — that provides a vertical accent and a sense of arrival or transition in the landscape. Arbors are generally lighter in construction than pergolas, with smaller post sections and a more open overhead treatment. They are particularly effective as entry features for fence lines, garden paths, or transitions between yard areas. Climbing plants — roses, wisteria, jasmine — are traditional pairings that soften the structure over time.
Arbors integrated with fence lines are one of the most common requests on Peninsula properties — a gate with an overhead arbor creates a formal entry that is far more impactful than a gate alone. We build arbors to match the fencing material and style, coordinating the post sizing and connection so the arbor reads as part of the fence rather than an afterthought placed next to it.
Larger entry structures — overhead elements spanning a driveway entry or a main pedestrian approach — require more structural consideration than garden arbors. The span determines beam sizing, the height above grade affects wind leverage on the posts, and the connection to adjacent fence or wall elements affects how loads are distributed. We design entry structures for the specific span and exposure, not from a standard template.
Arbors and entry structures are most commonly built in redwood for compatibility with fencing and natural landscapes. Steel and iron arbor frames are available for a more contemporary or formal look — iron in particular pairs well with ornamental iron fencing and gates. See our ironwork and gates page for iron structure options across the property.
Heavy-timber redwood is the traditional material for Peninsula pergolas and arbors. Its natural resistance to rot and insects, dimensional stability in coastal humidity, and warm visual character make it the default choice for properties where a natural wood aesthetic is the goal. Cedar is a lighter alternative with similar natural resistance properties — appropriate for arbors and smaller structures where the timber scale of a redwood pergola would feel heavy. Both materials can be left natural, sealed, or stained.
All post bases, beam connectors, joist hangers, and fasteners in our pergola and arbor builds are hot-dipped galvanized or stainless. Standard hardware corrodes fast in coastal salt air — we do not use it. The connection hardware in an overhead structure carries the gravity and wind loads for the life of the structure and it needs to be specified for the environment.
Steel post and beam pergola systems offer a more industrial or contemporary aesthetic that works well with modern Peninsula architecture. Steel members can span further than wood at equivalent section sizes, which opens up design options for wide-span structures or those with clean minimal profiles. All steel work is finished with a multi-stage coastal-rated powder coat system — the same approach we apply to our ironwork and gate fabrication.
Wood and steel combinations are common on Peninsula pergolas — steel posts with redwood beam and rafter work, or a steel frame with wood infill for the overhead element. Mixed systems give you the spanning capacity and clean profiles of steel at the structural level with the warmth and character of wood at the surface level. We discuss material combinations at every estimate based on the design intent and the site context.
What we hear most before the estimate and during the build.
We build pergolas, arbors, covered patios, attached and detached patio roofs, screen enclosures, and fully custom outdoor structures. Most projects combine structure with adjacent decking, stairs, or hardscape — we handle the full scope.
Usually yes, especially if it’s attached to the house or has a solid roof. Freestanding open-lattice pergolas sometimes fall under a size threshold, but this varies by Peninsula city. We confirm what’s required for your project at the estimate.
A pergola has an open lattice or beam roof — it provides partial shade and defines the space but doesn’t keep you dry. A patio cover or covered patio has a solid or semi-solid roof that provides real weather protection. We build both, and can help you decide which fits your goals and site.
Yes. Attached patio covers are one of our most common projects. The attachment point to the house requires careful flashing and waterproofing — improper attachment is a leading cause of dry rot and water intrusion. We treat this detail as a critical part of every attached structure we build.
We build primarily in clear heart redwood and cedar for traditional aesthetics, and in structural steel, aluminum, or pressure-treated lumber where conditions require it. Roofing options include polycarbonate panels, corrugated metal, and built-up roofing depending on the look and weather protection you need.
A straightforward pergola or patio cover typically takes three to five days of construction once permits are approved. Larger or more complex custom structures take longer — we give you a realistic timeline at the estimate.
Free estimates on all fencing, decking, hardscape, and custom build projects across the Peninsula.
