$100,000–$150,000 · 7 weeks
Hill Country terrace, Boerne
Cibolo Creek area, Boerne · finished 2024 · led by Danny Ochoa
Outdoor Structures · from $14,000–$38,000
Pergolas in New Braunfels, Boerne and San Antonio
A pergola is the simplest way to turn a hot patio into a place you'll sit in the afternoon. Open rafters break up the sun, let breeze through and give vines something to climb. Done right, it also frames the view and makes the patio feel like a room.
We build pergolas in rough-sawn Western red cedar, Texas cedar and powder-coated steel, freestanding or attached to the house. Each one is designed with the patio under it, sized to the furniture, oriented for shade at the hours you'll use it, and anchored to concrete footings with steel post bases.
Who it's for
Who a pergola is for
Anyone with a west- or south-facing patio that's unusable from 2 to 7 p.m. in summer. Homeowners who want shade without the cost and permits of a full roof. People who want a frame for string lights, a swing or climbing vines like crossvine and Lady Banks rose.
Materials and options
Pergola materials
| Material | Look | Upkeep | Typical cost (12 × 16 ft) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western red cedar, rough-sawn | Warm, rustic | Stain every 2–3 years | $14,000–$20,000 |
| Texas cedar (Ashe juniper) posts | Natural, Hill Country | Low; checks with age | $16,000–$24,000 |
| Powder-coated steel | Slim, modern | Wash yearly | $22,000–$32,000 |
| Steel frame, cedar rafters | Mixed | Stain rafters only | $20,000–$28,000 |
| Louvered aluminum roof | Adjustable shade, rain cover | Low | $30,000–$38,000 |
What it costs
What pergolas costs
$14,000–$38,000
installed, footings and stain or powder coat included
Most cedar pergolas run $14,000 to $28,000 installed, depending on size and detail. Steel pergolas run $22,000 to $38,000. A 12-by-16-foot cedar pergola with 8-by-8 posts and rafters every 16 inches usually lands near $17,000. Fans, lighting and shade sails are priced as add-ons.
Timeline
How long it takes
Most pergolas take one to two weeks on site after design.
- Design and sun study1–2 weeks
- Permit, if required1–3 weeks
- Footings1–2 days + cure
- Framing and rafters3–5 days
- Stain, electrical, walkthrough1–3 days
Vines, fans and lights
Many clients plant crossvine, coral honeysuckle or Lady Banks rose at the posts; within three seasons they add real shade. We set galvanized eye bolts and wire for climbers during the build. Fans need a solid section or a louvered roof to mount to, so we plan that in the design. String lights and downlights run through conduit hidden in the beams, controlled from a switch by the back door or the same timer as your landscape lighting.
Orientation matters more than size
Rafters running east to west block more of the high summer sun. Adding a second layer of purlins on top, or a slatted screen on the west side, blocks the low late-afternoon sun that does the most damage. We test each option in the 3D render at 4, 5 and 6 p.m. in July before we pick one.
Case study
Hill Country terrace, Boerne
A backyard that fell 14 feet from the house, turned into two limestone terraces with a flagstone patio, a cedar pergola and native planting.
Read the case study“Danny walked us through every stake before they dug. Two summers in, the walls haven't moved, the mud is gone, and we eat dinner under the pergola most nights from April to October.”
Questions
Pergolas questions
How long does a cedar pergola last?
Twenty years or more with stain every two to three years and posts kept off the ground on steel bases. Most rot we see comes from posts buried directly in concrete or soil, which we never do.
Can a pergola go on an existing patio?
Often. We core through the patio and pour footings below it, or set posts on new footings just outside the edge. We check the patio's base and thickness first.
Will a pergola keep rain off?
No, an open pergola is for shade. For rain cover, add a louvered roof, polycarbonate panels or build a roofed patio cover instead.
Related outdoor structures services
All outdoor structures servicesWhere we build this most
Further reading
Free · 45 minutes · no obligation
Start with a free site walk
Forty-five minutes on your property with a designer. You'll leave with honest numbers and a clear next step. A fixed-price proposal with a 3D render follows within two weeks.