Q: What sets Sunset Pergolas apart? How are they better than the competition?
Sunset Pergola Kits give you the unbeatable combination of...
1. High Strength - This 16' by 20' pergola contains a rust-proof aluminum frame in all weight-bearing components (3.8mm 7-gauge in 5x5 posts / 5.7mm in 7x7 posts / 2.5mm 10-gauge in 2x8 beams & rafters). When correctly installed with optional hurricane brackets, we offer a lifetime warranty for damage caused by high winds.
2. Low Maintenance - The exterior of every piece is made of premium extruded vinyl that is as beautiful as it is durable. Anyone who has ever had both a vinyl fence and a wooden fence knows how much easier it is to clean and maintain vinyl. Sunset Pergolas are virtually maintenance-free and are guaranteed to never chalk, pit, discolor or become brittle.
3. Real Shade - Our pergolas are as functional as they are beautiful. As you can see in this picture, they offer serious shade and UV protection (especially if you opt for '90% shade' option, which really provides 100% shade for most of the day).
4. Lifetime Warranty - Most pergolas on the market will last 2 or 3 years... or maybe 5 years if you're really lucky. In contrast, this vinyl & aluminum pergola is guaranteed to last a lifetime, making it more of an investment in your home's value than a one-time purchase.
We know Sunset Pergolas are far from the cheapest on the market, and we're okay with that (even proud of that). That's because Sunset Pergolas are made to last a lifetime, not to be replaced in a few short years. If you're looking for a cheap powder-coated pergola that will look nice for a couple years before it starts bowing, sagging, discoloring and falling apart, you're in the wrong place. It's very telling that over 50% of our customers are replacing an "economy/value" pergola they bought within the last couple/few years (as opposed to buying a pergola for the very first time).
Sunset Pergolas are commercial grade... luxury all the way and protected by a lifetime warranty. The entire exterior is made of USA-sourced premium extruded vinyl colored all the way through to ensure that it will never chalk, pit, chip or become brittle or discolored. And all structural, weight-bearing components (which includes all posts, beams and rafters) have a heavy-duty frame made of thick & durable American aluminum that is guaranteed to withstand heavy winds, intense heat, bitter cold and other extreme weather conditions.
If you're going to buy in a pergola, don't go half-way and buy one you'll need to replace in just a few years. Spend a little more and get a Sunset Pergola that will last a lifetime and likely increase your home's value by at least as much as it costs.
Click here to see verified reviews and pictures from past customers.
Q: How do I measure my space correctly to know which kit to order?
See this guide about measuring your outdoor space, as well as several other factors to consider when choosing the correct width and depth dimensions.
Q: How tall are the posts (columns)?
The 2 posts (columns) included in this 16x20 pergola kit are 10 feet tall, which is ideal for most customers.
If you need/want shorter posts (which is sometimes the case for wall-attached pergolas because of where it needs to be mounted to the outside wall of your home), the posts can easily be trimmed down to a shorter height using a basic circular (or chop saw or miter saw).
If you need/want taller posts, you have a couple options:
Option #1 (preferred) - Add risers or pillars to the base so that the posts themselves are only 10’ tall. If the risers are fairly short (no more than 12” tall), a 12x12-inch square riser should be fine. But if the pillars/risers are more than 1 foot tall, we’d recommend the risers be bigger (i.e. 18x18-inch square). Here are links to a few images that illustrate how pillars & risers can be used to make the posts taller: Image 1, Image 2, Image 3, Image 4, Image 5 and Image 6.
Option #2 - For an additional $300 per 5-inch post (or $400 per 7-inch post), you can get posts up to 4 feet longer (i.e. up to a maximum of 14 feet tall). Please contact us if you're interested in this option. Please note that, because all of the third-party engineer testing and certification was done using standard 10' tall posts, we cannot warrant pergolas that have posts taller than 10' tall. This doesn't mean pergolas with taller posts aren't structurally strong. Over the years, we’ve had many customers go over 10’ tall (some as tall as 13-14 feet) without any problems whatsoever. But it’s an infrequent enough occurrence that it hasn’t made sense for us to do the official engineer testing to get them certified.
back to top
Q: How well do Sunset Pergolas stand up to windy conditions?
Extremely well! In fact, we are so confident this 16-ft x 20-ft pergola will withstand heavy winds that, when installed correctly with hurricane brackets (an optional add-on), we offer a lifetime warranty against any and all damage caused by wind.
Q: Have Sunset Pergolas undergone wind and/or structural testing by an independent firm?
Absolutely. This vinyl pergola kit has undergone FEA testing by an independent structural engineering firm and passed with flying colors. We are so confident in the structural integrity of our system that we provide a warranty against wind damage when correctly installed using hurricane brackets. You can read more about our wind warranty here.
Q: How well do Sunset Pergolas withstand extreme heat and cold?
Very well! All weight-bearing components in this kit for building a 16' x 20' pergola have an internal aluminum frame to ensure your pergola won’t sag, bend, break or rust over time, even in the presence of extreme temperatures, wind, precipitation and humidity. And the premium extruded vinyl exterior is thick and durable enough that you don’t have to worry about it deforming in extreme heat or cracking/becoming brittle in the bitter cold. We guarantee it!
back to top
Q: Can I add a fan, lights, or speakers?
Sure, we encourage it! Adding a fan to keep air moving on a hot day is the perfect way to get even more enjoyment in your outside space. Lights and speakers are also a great addition. And because all of the components have an open core, it’s easy to chase wires and add boxes and switches through them.
Q: How are attached pergolas mounted to the house?
There are 3 different methods (as discussed and illustrated in this guide), at least one of which is a good option for over 98% of our customers. Please contact us if you have questions or concerns about your specific scenario.
Q: What if my house has a "bump-out" where I plan to attach the pergola?
It's not uncommon for homes to have either a square/rectangular bump-out (with 90-degree right angles) OR a bump-out with diagonal walls (with 45-degree angles) on the side of the home where the pergola is to be mounted. This isn't a problem at all. See this guide for information (and accompanying illustrations) about how this is handled.
back to top
Q: What are beam attachment brackets and are they really optional?
Beam attachment brackets are not necessary, nor do they add any structural strength. They just simplify and expedite the installation step of attaching the beams to the posts (which is one of the more difficult steps in the assembly process). If you have pretty good carpentry/assembly skills, you shouldn't need beam attachment brackets. However, if you're quite inexperienced and consider yourself a novice, we'd recommend adding them to your order.
Q: Do you offer fully-covered pergolas or patio covers?
We do not offer a fully-covered system at this time. However, the 90% shade option you can select above provides 100% shade the vast majority of the day. Light only gets through when the sun is directly overhead or very close to it. In the mid-to-late afternoon and evening (which is when most people tend to use their outdoor space), the shade purlins block the sun completely and provide 100% shade. Here's a side-by-side comparison of 90% shade (on the left) and 75% shade (on the right).
Our 90% shade option is perfect because it provides complete shade for almost the entire day, but it also allows rain/snow to get through, preventing drainage issues and snow pileup.
Q: Are 50%, 75% and 90% the only shade options? Can I get something else?
While our website only shows 50%, 75% and 90% shade options, you can technically get ANY percentage you'd like. The higher the shade percentage, the closer the shade purlins will be to each other (i.e. for 90% shade, the purlins have 3" on-center spacing, while 75% shade has 4" on-center spacing). If you'd like a custom percentage of shade coverage (i.e. 20%, 30%, 40%, 60%, 80%, etc.), please contact us.
back to top
Q: Under what circumstances do you recommend hurricane brackets?
Hurricane brackets add structural strength and stability to prevent wind damage. Using them gives you a lifetime wind warranty. We highly recommend adding hurricane brackets (one of the optional add-ons) if you live in an area that sometimes gets winds in excess of 70-80 miles per hour.
Hurricane brackets are placed at the intersection of each beam and rafter. They are visible, but they're very discreet (matching the color of the vinyl) and look nice (see this picture).
Q: How thick (what gauge) are the aluminum frame inserts?
This 16' x 20' wall-mount pergola has a rust-proof aluminum frame in all weight-bearing components (3.8mm 7-gauge in 5x5 posts / 5.7mm in 7x7 posts / 2.5mm 10-gauge in 2x8 beams & rafters). You simply won't find a similar-sized pergola with a thicker aluminum frame on the market.
Q: Do the posts have to be installed so there's an overhang?
This aluminum & vinyl pergola kit offers maximum flexibility with post placement and the resulting overhangs. While the CAD drawings assume a 12-inch overhang for both beams (running the width) and rafters (running the depth), you do NOT need to install them that way. The overhang can be as little as 0 inches (i.e. no overhang at all) or as much as 36 inches, or anything in between. Here is a picture that illustrates these options.
back to top
Q: I prefer the look of your modern pergolas but want the lower price of the traditional pergolas. Any advice?
Some customers are torn between the lower cost of a traditional kit and the more contemporary look (but 20-40% higher cost) of a modern kit. If you're in this camp, you may want to consider what we call our "hybrid" design. You actually just purchase a traditional kit (so you get the lower price), but you customize it and install it in a way that gives it a more contemporary look (i.e. no overhangs, and clean squared-off corners). Here's what a "hybrid" pergola looks like from underneath and from the outside.
Q: What are your biggest sales of the year?
We have multiple sales throughout the year associated with various holidays, seasons and events. The deepest discount we offer in ANY sale event is $1,000 off + half-off shipping ($499 instead of the regular $999).
Q: I still have questions. How do I get in touch with you?
If it's during business hours (Mon-Fri 8am-5pm MT), the best ways to get help are to call us (877-760-6992) or start a live chat. If it's outside of business hours, you can call and leave a message or submit a help ticket here.
see more FAQs (opens in a new tab) OR back to top
