Pergolas in Kirkland & the Eastside
A pergola gives a deck or patio a ceiling without closing the sky. It frames the space, carries lights and plants, and with a shade cloth or retractable canopy cuts afternoon sun without the cost or the permit weight of a full roof. Custom pergolas on the Eastside run $8,000 to $35,000 installed.
Get a Free Design & Quote — we will size it to the space and the sun.
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Materials — pergola
| Material | Character | Maintenance | Installed range, 12 × 14 ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western red cedar | Warm, traditional, ages to silver | Oil every 2 – 3 years | $9,000 – $18,000 |
| Douglas fir, painted or stained | Heavier timbers, craftsman look | Repaint or restain every 4 – 6 years | $10,000 – $20,000 |
| Powder-coated aluminum | Clean, modern, slim profiles | Wash only | $12,000 – $25,000 |
| Steel, painted | Industrial, very slim, long spans | Touch-up as needed | $15,000 – $35,000 |
Shade options
- Rafter density: closer rafters and purlins give more shade at the cost of light.
- Retractable fabric canopy: slides open and closed by hand or motor.
- Shade sails or fixed fabric panels: seasonal, removed in winter.
- Clear polycarbonate panels on the rafters: rain cover that still lets in daylight, at which point it is a patio roof for permit purposes.
- Climbing plants: wisteria, grape or clematis; we add stainless wire guides and size the posts for the weight.
Attached or freestanding
An attached pergola ties into the house at a ledger and needs two posts on the far side. A freestanding pergola has four posts and its own bracing. Over a deck, posts land on new footings through the deck, not on the deck boards.
Pergola permits
Open-roof pergolas often need no permit below a size and height set by each city, but attached pergolas, large pergolas, and any pergola with a solid or clear roof generally do. The Deck Permit Checker covers pergolas by city.
How we build one
- Design: size, height, rafter layout, shade plan, lighting.
- Footings below the frost line, or through-deck footings.
- Posts on standoff bases, beams, rafters, purlins.
- End cuts and rafter tails shaped to the house style.
- Low-voltage or line-voltage lighting run inside the timbers where possible.
- Finish oil, stain or powder coat.
Three to six days on site for most pergolas.
A pergola we built
Cedar pergola with retractable canopy over a composite deck
Pergola questions
Will a pergola keep the rain off?
Not on its own. Add clear panels or a louvered roof if rain cover matters; the structure is then designed as a roof.
How tall should a pergola be?
Usually 8 to 10 feet to the underside of the beams, enough to feel open without losing the sense of a ceiling. Low eaves on the house may set the height.
Can lights and a fan go on a pergola?
Lights yes, on any material. A fan needs a solid section or a fan beam and a wet-rated fixture.
Do pergolas attract moss?
Cedar in shade does over time; oiling slows it. Aluminum and steel do not.
Send a photo of the deck or patio. We will sketch a pergola on it at the visit.