Pergolas in Portland, OR & the Metro Area

Open-beam cedar structures that frame a patio, shade a deck or hold climbing vines, with a clear roof option for rainy months. Built across Portland, Lake Oswego, Wilsonville and surrounding communities.

A pergola is an open frame of posts, beams and rafters, usually over a patio, deck or garden path. It doesn't keep rain out on its own. What it does is give a yard structure, a bit of filtered shade and a frame for lights, curtains or climbing plants. It can stand free in the yard or attach to the house.

Because Portland gets so much rain, a lot of homeowners ask for one with a cover. Clear polycarbonate panels fitted between or on top of the rafters keep the area dry while still feeling open, and the sun still comes through on gray days. Shade cloth or a retractable canopy is a lighter option for summer only. If you'll want cover later, we size the rafters for it from the start.

We build them mostly in cedar, which looks good, resists rot and takes stain well. The posts are where water does the most harm, so they sit on raised post bases above the concrete instead of buried in the ground. That keeps the end grain dry through the wet months. Beam ends can be cut square or shaped for a more classic look.