Sitting out on your back patio over near the Broad Brook border in mid-July can be very uncomfortable when there is zero shade in sight. Manchester Deck Concepts sees this situation all the time. Homeowners spend good money putting in a nice paver patio or a backyard deck, only to find out they cannot actually use it between noon and four o'clock because the sun is beating straight down on them. That is usually when homeowners call Manchester Deck Concepts to talk about building a Pergola.
Manchester Deck Concepts has built plenty of these structures across town, from the split-levels up near Highland Park to the newer builds over toward Buckland Hills. A good Pergola does more than just look nice; a Pergola carves out an outdoor room and cuts the intensity of that direct New England sun without turning your yard into a cave.
Why Manchester Weather Puts Pergolas to the Test
People forget that outdoor structures in our area take a serious beating throughout the year. We deal with heavy, wet snow loads in January, ice storms that coat every branch and beam, and then blazing humidity come August. If you build a Pergola with cheap lumber or improper post footings, the frost heaves we get in the local clay-heavy soil are going to twist that structure out of square before you know it.
Local experience is very important for this exact reason. Manchester Deck Concepts knows how to sink posts deep enough past the frost line so your Pergola stays rock solid season after season. We usually stick with thick cedar or heavy pressure-treated posts, and sometimes wrap them in vinyl or trim if we are matching an existing house style. The key is making sure the rafters are spaced right to give you that dappled shade you actually want on a hot afternoon.
Designing for Your Specific Yard
Every yard in Manchester is a little different. If you live in an older neighborhood down near Center Street, your lot might be narrow with tight property lines, meaning we have to get creative with post placement and footprint size. If you are out closer to Northwest Park with a wide-open acre, we can build a massive freestanding Pergola structure over an outdoor kitchen or fire pit area.
Homeowners also have to think about how the sun tracks across their specific roofline. A standard flat-slat Pergola roof might work great for one house, but your neighbor two streets over might need angled louvers to block the late-day western glare coming off the trees. Manchester Deck Concepts looks at all of that before cutting a single board.
For homes and businesses in Manchester, Manchester Deck Concepts provides Pergola services. We will come out, take a look at your layout, and figure out a Pergola design that fits your space and your budget.