Custom Pergola Builder in Toronto & the GTA
We design and build custom pergolas across Toronto and the GTA, from the footings to the last rafter, and lay the patio underneath. Choose cedar, painted wood or aluminum, then an open top, shade cloth, clear roof panels or a louvered roof that opens for sun and closes for rain. We can also build one on your deck. Want to see it first? Design your pergola in 3D in your own yard and send it to us.
Pergolas built for your yard
Wood pergolas
Cedar, natural or stained, with shaped rafter tails and knee braces, or pressure-treated wood painted or stained in your colour. Sizes from about 8 × 8 ft to 20 × 20 ft.
Aluminum and louvered pergolas
Black, white or bronze aluminum with clean lines and no upkeep. Add a louvered roof whose blades open for sun and close for rain.
Shade and rain cover
Open rafters and slats for dappled shade, shade cloth for more, or clear roof panels that keep the rain off and let the light in.
The patio underneath
Interlocking pavers or a concrete pad sized to the pergola, with a border around it, or the pergola set on the patio you already have.
Pergolas on decks
A pergola built into a new deck, or added to the one you have, over the table or the hot tub. Plan it in the 3D deck designer.
Privacy, lights and a fan
Privacy screens and outdoor curtains on the sides you choose, string lights or pot lights, and a ceiling fan.
Recent Pergola & Gazebo Work
Pergolas and gazebos we have built across Toronto and the GTA, from the footings to the finished roof.
How it works
Design it, or tell us about it
Use the free 3D pergola designer to set the size, frame, top and patio in your own yard and send it to us, or simply call and describe what you want.
Site visit, by-law check and quote
We look at the spot, the ground and access, check the size, height and setbacks against your city’s by-law, and give you a written quote. When a permit is needed, we handle it.
Build
Footings below the frost line, posts, beams and rafters, the top you chose, then the patio and any lights, screens or fan, and a clean site.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a pergola in Toronto?
An open pergola with only rafters and slats usually doesn’t need a building permit. A pergola with a roof (clear panels or a louvered roof) is treated as a roofed structure, and over 10 m² (108 sq ft) it usually does. Some cities may treat a fixed shade cloth as a roof too, and a pergola attached to the house can need a permit at any size. Zoning rules on height and placement apply either way, and lights or a fan need an ESA permit. We check the rules for your address before we build.
How tall can a pergola be, and how close to the fence?
It depends on the city. In Toronto, a backyard structure within 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) of the house can be up to 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) tall, and further out up to 4 m (13 ft 1 in). Brampton allows up to 3 m (9 ft 9 in), at least 0.6 m (2 ft) from every lot line. Pergolas usually can’t go in the front yard. We confirm the limits for your lot and place the pergola to meet them.
Wood or aluminum: which is better?
Cedar has the warm, classic look and shaped rafter tails, and needs a fresh coat of stain every few years. Pressure-treated wood is painted or stained in the colour you want. Aluminum needs almost no upkeep, comes in black, white or bronze, and is the frame a louvered roof needs. We can also wrap wood posts in aluminum, as on a modern pergola we built in Vaughan.
What is a louvered pergola?
A louvered pergola has a roof of aluminum blades that tilt: open them for sun and air, close them to keep the rain off. The blades, frame and gutters are all aluminum. Because it can close into a solid roof, a louvered pergola over 10 m² usually needs a building permit, which we handle.
Can you build a pergola on my deck?
Yes. We build pergolas into new decks and add them to existing ones, with posts carried down to proper footings, not just bolted to the deck boards. Our 3D deck designer lets you add a pergola to your deck, and the pergola designer is for one standing in the yard.
Do you build the patio under the pergola?
Yes. We lay interlocking pavers or pour a concrete pad, sized to the pergola with the border you want, on a compacted base that drains. In Toronto, at least half of most backyards must stay soft landscaping, so we size the patio with that in mind. If you already have a patio, we can set the pergola on it.
Can I design my pergola online first?
Yes. Our free 3D pergola designer lets you choose the size, frame, top and patio, add privacy screens, curtains, lights and a fan, and place the pergola in your own yard. Send it to us and we get your 3D view and a plan with the distances to your lot lines.
Ready to get started?
Tell us about your project and we'll put together a clear scope and quote.