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 modern vinyl & aluminum pergola contains a rust-proof aluminum frame in all weight-bearing components (5.7mm in 7x7 posts / 2.5mm 10-gauge in 2x8 box beams / 2.0mm 12-gauge in 2x6 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 easy-to-build 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 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 4 posts (columns) included in this DIY modern pergola kit are 10 feet tall, which is ideal for most customers.
If you need/want shorter posts, 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.
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Q: Have Sunset Pergolas undergone wind and/or structural testing by an independent firm?
Absolutely. This DIY kit that makes it easy to build your own pergola has undergone FEA testing by an independent structural engineering firm and passed with flying colors.
Q: How well do Sunset Pergolas withstand extreme heat and cold?
Very well! All weight-bearing components in this kit for a modern-looking 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!
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.
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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.
Q: How thick (what gauge) are the aluminum frame inserts?
This 10' x 8' modern standalone pergola has a rust-proof aluminum frame in all weight-bearing components (5.7mm in 7x7 posts / 2.5mm 10-gauge in 2x8 box beams / 2.0mm 12-gauge in 2x6 rafters). You simply won't find a similar-sized pergola with a thicker aluminum frame on the market.
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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.
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