Pergola FAQs

Yes, with the louvres closed — and it stays that way if it is maintained. Rain is channelled from the sealed blades into the beam gutters and down through the hollow posts, so anything that blocks that path holds water back. Keep the blades, gutters and drainage channels clear of leaves and debris, and check the blade seals as part of routine care; our Stewardship Program sets out what to do and when. The structure also needs to sit on a level base for the drainage to run as designed.

Our pergolas are designed for straightforward assembly, with detailed installation instructions provided. Damage caused during fitting isn't covered by the guarantee — but defects in the products themselves remain covered regardless of who installs them.

We do not publish a wind or snow rating, and we would rather explain why than quote a number we cannot stand behind. Most of the ratings quoted in this market are manufacturers' estimates rather than test results, and they are often labelled as estimates in the manufacturer's own documents. We will publish a figure when we hold a test report that names the structure we supply, and not before. What we do publish is the structure itself: the alloy and temper, the post section and the wall thickness — 6063-T5 or T6, on posts of 150 × 150 × 2.0 mm, 150 × 150 × 2.8 mm or 200 × 200 × 3.0 mm, with 304 stainless steel base plates on the Retractable. Most of the market publishes none of that. The Platinum carries a 15-year structural guarantee, given by Sterling Grid Security Ltd. Your quotation includes a foundation specification for your own site, because a pergola is only as strong as the base it stands on.

Your structure is built to your specification in Month 1 following your 75% initial stage payment. Delivery is scheduled in Months 2–3 with a secure shipping window, by HIAB crane to your prepared site. We send regular status updates through the shipping window, including video of your completed structure taken immediately after it is made, and you can track the shipping vessel on its journey to the UK.

A 75% initial stage payment is taken when we accept your bespoke order, and commits your bespoke manufacture and the supply, shipping and import arrangements that go with it. The remaining 25% balance is payable when your delivery is scheduled — so you have a confirmed date before the final payment is requested. The deposit secures factory allocation, engineering time and the start of manufacture; it is what lets us hold production continuity and international logistics together on a bespoke order, and it is a large part of why the price sits where it does. Manufacturing begins after a voluntary 24-hour amendment window, in line with our Terms and Conditions, so there is room to change your mind on a detail before anything is cut.

Every structure goes through pre-shipment assembly, testing and quality inspection at the factory before it ships.

A level, structurally sound base that is ready before delivery. A concrete slab is the usual choice, and it must be fully cured before the structure is fixed down — concrete reaches its working strength over about 28 days. The base has to carry the structure and its fixings, so this is the one part of the job worth getting a groundworker to do properly if you are in any doubt. An unlevel base is the commonest cause of a roof that will not close cleanly. We send the full specification with your drawings, so your builder can price the groundworks accurately before you commit to anything.

Often not — a garden structure of this kind frequently falls under permitted development in England. But it depends on height, siting, how close it is to a boundary, and whether your property is listed, in a conservation area, or has had its permitted development rights removed. Those conditions are specific to your property and we cannot assess them for you. Check with your local planning authority before you order; they will confirm it in writing and it costs little or nothing.

Delivery is by HIAB crane to your prepared site, so the lorry needs clear, firm access close enough for the crane to reach the drop point. Check the approach road, any width or weight restrictions, overhanging trees and cables, and where the crane can safely set up. Tell us about anything awkward well before the delivery window is booked — access problems found on the day are expensive for everyone.

Models with powered louvres, lighting or heating need a suitable supply at the structure. Any fixed electrical work outdoors must be carried out by a qualified electrician and comply with the current wiring regulations and Part P — that is not something to take on yourself. It is worth planning the supply route at the same time as the base, while the ground is still open.

Very little, but not none. Keep the gutters and the internal drainage channels clear of leaves and debris, particularly in autumn — blocked drainage is what turns a working roof into a leaking one. Wash the aluminium down periodically with clean water and a mild detergent, never an abrasive or a solvent. Check the fixings are still tight after the first winter. Our Stewardship Program sets out the schedule.

Yes — components such as louvres, motors, seals and fixings are replaceable rather than the whole structure being a single sealed unit. Keep your order reference and the model name, because that is what identifies the exact specification years later. Contact us with those details and we will identify the part you need.

Yes. Outdoor seating only earns when people can sit in it, and a louvred roof closes in seconds when the weather turns, drains away through the posts and opens again when it passes. Commercial structures are made to your dimensions and quoted individually, the same way a domestic one is. Our commercial page has the detail.