Ready-made pergola from a store or made to measure – what's the difference?

Every spring DIY stores fill up with ready-made pergolas: wood, metal or aluminium, with a fabric roof or polycarbonate. The price is on the label, the kit is in a box, and it seems the job is done in a weekend. On the other side, companies offer made-to-measure pergolas, where a site visit comes first and then a quote. What is the real difference, and which suits you?

The answer is not “custom is always better”. There are cases where a kit is a perfectly sensible choice. There are also cases where it will cost you more than it seems. Below we separate them honestly, starting with what you actually get in each case.

What a ready-made (kit) pergola is

A ready-made pergola is a kit in standard sizes, made for mass sale. The buyer usually assembles it alone or with help. Typical materials are:

• Wood: attractive, but needs regular protection against moisture and sun.
• Steel tube with powder coating: strong, but where the coating is scratched it can start to rust.
• Thin-walled aluminium: light and rust-free, but thin profiles have limited span and load capacity.
• Roof of fabric, polycarbonate sheets or, less often, simple louvres.

Sizes are fixed and the fixings are meant for an “average” situation, often a concrete slab or ground spikes.

What a made-to-measure pergola is

A made-to-measure pergola is designed for one specific place. It starts with measuring and checking the wall and the base, and the profiles are chosen to carry the required span. Colour, height, slope, drainage, lighting and side enclosure are decided from the start. Installation is done by a team responsible for anchoring and for making the pergola level, even when the terrace or the wall is not.

Point-by-point comparison

• Size: a kit comes in standard sizes that rarely match the terrace. A custom pergola follows the wall, windows and slab exactly.
• Profiles: in kits they are optimised for price and transport. In custom pergolas they are chosen for the span, snow and wind.
• Wind and snow: with kits it is often unclear what load they are designed for. With a custom system that is a question you should get an answer to.
• Water: many kits have no real drainage, and water falls wherever it falls. Custom pergolas have gutters and drainage through the posts.
• Wall fixing: kits rely on standard plugs. Custom pergolas are fixed according to the type of wall, including insulated façades.
• Extras: side screens, glass and lighting rarely fit a kit. With a custom pergola they are planned from the start.
• Installation: you assemble a kit yourself. A custom pergola is installed by a team that answers for the result.
• Durability: depends on material and care, but good powder-coated aluminium needs the least maintenance.

When a ready-made pergola makes sense

• You want shade for a small corner of the garden, away from the house.
• The spot is sheltered from wind, for example between buildings or behind a high fence.
• The pergola is a temporary solution or you rent your home.
• You need shade only in summer and are fine taking the fabric down for winter.
• You are handy, with tools and a helper for the assembly.

In these cases a kit can do a good job. Just check exactly what you are buying, using the list below.

When a custom pergola is worth it

• The pergola is fixed to the house and must fit exactly between windows, doors and eaves.
• The size is larger than standard kits or the shape is unusual.
• You want protection from rain, not just sun, with proper drainage.
• The site is open, on a hill or on a roof terrace, and exposed to wind.
• You are thinking about side ZIP screens or sliding glass now or later.
• You want a solution for many years, not for one or two seasons.

If you are unsure, at the free site visit we will tell you honestly whether the spot needs a custom solution at all.

What to check if you buy a kit

1. The thickness of the profiles and whether the aluminium or steel is powder-coated.
2. Whether the manufacturer states what wind and snow the pergola is designed for.
3. Which anchors are included and what base they fix into.
4. How water is drained from the roof and where it will run off.
5. Whether the fabric or polycarbonate is UV-resistant and whether spare parts are available.
6. Whether the assembly instructions are clear and complete.

The hidden costs of a kit

The price on the label is rarely the final one. Often you add:

• a foundation: concrete pads or a slab if there is no suitable one;
• better anchors than those included;
• a gutter and downpipe if not in the kit;
• replacing the fabric or polycarbonate after a few sunny seasons;
• paid help with assembly and tools;
• your own time, which for a large kit is more than one weekend.

Compare the full sum, not just the label. Sometimes the difference between a good kit with all the extras and a simple custom pergola is smaller than it looks. How the price of a custom pergola is made up is explained in how much does a bioclimatic pergola cost.

Imported kits and “custom pergolas” online

A middle option is imported kits ordered from a catalogue in a few sizes and delivered to your door. They are often better than store kits but remain standard: the size does not follow your space exactly, and installation and foundation are still your job. If you choose one, ask the same questions as for any pergola: what load it is designed for, how it is fixed and who is responsible if something doesn't fit.

If you want to see how a made-to-measure pergola would look on your terrace, try the 3D configurator. Have a look at our pergolas and verandas as well. We work from Ruse all over Bulgaria. Book a free site visit and we will measure, check the wall and base and give you a no-obligation quote.