PERGOLAS AND GAZEBOS
If you are looking for shade in all the right places, Barefoot Decking has you covered! Enjoy a cocktail with your friends on a hot summer day under the cover of a pergola or gazebo. You can relax in your extra space in the evenings, too, if you add some mood lighting options to your space. A beautiful gazebo can transform your backyard into your very own sanctuary. A pergola or gazebo adds a touch of elegance to any backyard. It also gives you protection from insects and rain, so you can spend more time reading, relaxing, and enjoying your outdoor space. We’ll tell you everything you need to know about both pergolas and gazebos so you can make the right choice for a gorgeous, shady addition to your new home!
What is a Pergola?
A pergola is an outdoor structure consisting of columns that support a roofing grid of beams and rafters. The roofing grid can either be left open, or you can choose to cover it so you can have another area that is shaded from the elements. Your pergola can be freestanding or attached to your home. Some use a pergola simply to add shade over a patio, while others use it to cover and frame a hot tub in their yards! The options are endless.
What is a Gazebo?
The setting of many romantic liaisons in books and movies, a gazebo is a free-standing, open garden structure. Gazebos are typically octagonal or hexagonal in shape, and all gazebos have a roof. Most gazebos are built with wood or metal and have built-in seating inside the sheltered area, so you can enjoy a gazebo all year long! Relax with a cold beverage and a book inside your gazebo in the summer, or sit and watch a rainstorm from the protected shade during the spring. Some gazebos have latticework or even outdoor curtains or drapes to create a sense of privacy. A gazebo creates a beautiful focal point in your yard in addition to providing shelter from the sun, not to mention additional usable space in your yard!
Pergolas vs. Gazebos: What’s the Difference?
So, what is the difference between pergolas and gazebos? A gazebo always has a closed roof, whereas a pergola can have either a covered or uncovered roof. A gazebo is also a freestanding structure, whereas a pergola can be attached to your home. This should help you determine whether a pergola or a gazebo is the right option for a shady spot to relax near (or connected to!) your home.
The similarity between pergolas and gazebos is that each provides a decorative and functional focal point to any yard. Be the talk of your block with a brand-new pergola or gazebo to gather with friends, or simply escape your home for a few minutes!
Enclosed 3-Season Room
We all know that those Chicago winters can get a bit chilly. If you want to spend more of the year enjoying your outdoor space to its fullest advantage, consider an enclosed three-season room. A three-season room is a sunroom addition to your home that is enclosed with glass. Most three-season rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows and doors. They are also not meant to be heated or cooled on a long-term basis, which is why they might be a bit too chilly to enjoy on the coldest days of the winter in the Chicagoland area - hence the name “three-season” room. A three-season room allows you to connect with nature and enjoy the views in the yard, without having to leave the comfort of the indoors (or put on any bug spray!)
Retractable Awnings
If you want to have options for your pergola, consider a retractable awning. That’s right: you can basically turn your pergola into a convertible, if you wish. If you want to block sun, rain, or wind, without sacrificing your view or having to go inside, a retractable awning is the answer. With a motorized retractable awning, you simply extend the awning to get cover whenever you want it. Decide when you want to soak up the sun, or enjoy some shade time! A retractable awning offers the best of both worlds, so you don’t have to choose between time in the sun or the shade. And if it starts to rain, you can simply roll out your awning. No need to head back inside!
Screening Options
At Barefoot Decking, we install a particular screening system called Screeneze. Screeneze is a unique system that is made for large span. This allows you to step away from traditional framed out screen rooms to one large opening. You can create the screen porch of your dreams with Screeneze! A screen is a necessity if you want to keep the pesky bugs away from you while you’re resting outdoors.
The Screeneze No-Spline Screen System comes in a variety of colors like black, bronze, white, sand, and clay. Our clients love the Screeneze systems because they are open and beautiful, while still screening off your deck to allow you to see the beautiful expanse of your yard beyond. Screeneze products are made in the United States by a family-owned and operated compan
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