What used to be called a patio roof is now commonly referred to as a pergola – it provides protection from the sun, rain and wind while expanding the living space of your home. An important architectural structure, pergolas are made up of rafters, beams and posts. They can be attached to or detached from a house. While opinions vary as to what distinguishes it from a gazebo, a gazebo is typically freestanding and has a pitched roof, while a pergola’s roof is flat. The terms arbor and pergola are often used interchangeably, but an arbor is more like a structure used to support vines or direct foot traffic within a garden.
