Everything you need to know about pergolas: A glossary of pergola terms

We use the term all the time, but what does pergola actually mean, and where does the term even come from?

It probably doesn’t come as a great surprise that the term has Italian origins, just as the structure itself is Mediterranean. The term refers to a number of wooden outdoor structures, from a shaded walkway to a freestanding structure with an open roof.

A pergola can also be the extension of a building, and builders will use either timber or steel. A pergola can be any outdoor structure that provides shelter.

The beams are the long structural lengths of timber or steel that run both parallel and perpendicular to the house, just under the roof of the pergola. These form the outer 'frame' or edge of the structure. 

Also known as columns, the posts / uprights are the vertical pillars, secured to the ground, used to suspend the roof structure of a pergola. 

The footings describes how the pergola or structure is secured to the ground - For an attached-to-home pergola, these footings may be in the form of a concrete slab. The pergola posts are then secured to the existing concrete slab. 

For freestanding pergolas, the posts could be concreted into holes in the ground, or secured to stirrups which are concreted in - these concreted holes are considered the footings. 

On a structure extending from a house, the ledge is a long piece of timber anchored to the wall of the home.

It is usually the length of the pergola and the same height as the rafters, or closer to ground level if used for decking installation. This offers a 'ledge' or shelf for the structure to rest on for extra stability and security. 

Rafters are the lengths of timber or steel secured to the structural beams to create the roof shape and pitch. 

Purlins are the horizontal lengths of wood or steel that sit perpendicular to the rafters in the roof of your pergola, and are used to secure roof sheeting.

We mostly include them for structural reasons, however they can also provide extra shade in open pergolas.

The ridge board is the length of timber or steel used at the very peak of any pitched roof pergola. 

Joists are used to create structural stability in a pergola, and are secured to rafters perpendicularly to the ridge board. 

Flyover refers to a pergola roof that 'flies over' the roof of an existing building as an overlap, using a frame or stilts that extend above an existing roofline. Sometimes these space between the existing roof and the pergola beams are enclosed using roofing materials or mesh to allow a breeze. 

This is the term we use to describe the triangular end of a roof. This design is popular, as it adds character to the structure. This end can have decorative accents (as pictured) or be enclosed completely for a flat, contemporary finish. 

It can showcase the pitch of the roof of any structure and we can fully customise these ends to suit your personal preferences and tastes.

Stirrup Anchors are a strong, steel bracket used to secure uprights to footings.