Pergola Material Guide · Houston, TX
Cedar, Aluminum and Vinyl Pergolas Side by Side
You have probably seen all three in a store or a neighbor's yard, and from the patio door they can look alike. Up close they are built very differently. Here is how they compare, based on what we see on jobs around Houston.
| Cedar | Aluminum | Vinyl | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is made of | Solid Western Red Cedar | Thin, light aluminum, close to gutter stock in our view | Vinyl sections |
| Solid or pieced together | Solid in every part, no hollow or pieced together parts | Pieced together like a kit | Pieced together sections, not solid material |
| Size and style | Built for your space and your home's style | Kits come in fixed sizes, such as 10 by 12 and 12 by 16 feet | Usually sold as a kit, and kits are fixed with no customization |
| How it is built | Measured and cut on site by our own crew, attached or freestanding | Assembled from the parts in the box | Assembled from premade sections |
| How it is anchored | Footings at least 2 feet deep and 2 feet across, with hurricane rated fasteners | Depends on the kit and the installer | Depends on the kit and the installer |
| What we see on jobs | A solid frame sized to the yard it stands in | Bends in Gulf Coast wind and rusts at the fasteners in humidity | The same problem as aluminum: pieced together, not solid |
| Finish and upkeep | Stained and sealed; per the stain manufacturer, no restain for 10 years | Factory finish, no stain or paint | No stain or paint; wash it down when it gets dirty |
| Look | Real wood grain and a warm color | Metal in a factory color | Smooth surface, often white |
| Built by us | Yes, $2,100 to $5,500 for most projects | No, we do not install aluminum kits | No, we build only in cedar |
The aluminum and vinyl columns are our view from the field, not lab data. If you are still weighing all three, request a free estimate and we will talk it through at your home.
Why We Build Only in Solid Cedar
If you want a pergola that is solid all the way through, that is the only kind we build. Every one is Western Red Cedar, with no hollow or pieced together parts.
A kit is fixed, so your patio has to fit the box. Ours start with a tape measure in your yard. We cut the cedar on site to fit your space and your home's style, attached to the house or freestanding.
The same crew handles it from design through the final walkthrough, with no subcontractors. Every job carries a lifetime workmanship warranty, plus the manufacturer warranty on all materials. You can see finished builds on our custom cedar pergolas in Houston page.
What We See With Aluminum and Vinyl Pergolas
If you are pricing aluminum or vinyl, the low upkeep pitch is real. The trouble we see on jobs is in how they are put together.
Aluminum
In our view, an aluminum pergola is thin, light material, close to gutter stock. It goes together piece by piece like a kit. On jobs we see it bend under Gulf Coast wind and rust at the fastener points in Houston humidity.
Vinyl
Vinyl has the same problem. It is pieced together sections, not solid material. It never needs stain, but you are still choosing from the sizes a kit comes in.
How a Cedar Pergola Holds Up in Houston
Your yard most likely sits on expansive clay, which swells when wet and shrinks as it dries. That movement is what pulls a weak post out of line.
- Our footings are at least 2 feet deep and 2 feet across, sized case by case for the area. In most yards that is enough.
- We use hurricane rated fasteners on every build.
- Every pergola is stained and sealed. Per the stain manufacturer, it will not need staining again for 10 years.
What a Cedar Pergola Costs in Houston
Most custom Western Red Cedar pergolas we build cost $2,100 to $5,500. The Houston market range for the same kind of pergola is $4,000 to $11,000.
A kit price usually covers the parts in the box. Footings, labor and permits come on top of it. So the fair comparison is a kit plus installation against our installed cedar price. Our Houston pergola cost guide shows what moves the number up or down.
When Cedar Is Not the Right Pick
Cedar is not for everyone, and we would rather tell you that at the kitchen table than after the build.
If you never want to think about a finish again, cedar may not suit you. The stain manufacturer puts the next coat about 10 years out, but it does come.
If you want to sit outside through a summer downpour, no pergola will do it. Its open roof gives filtered shade, not cover from rain. For that you want a patio cover. Ours are framed in lumber, wrapped in James Hardie fiber cement and painted, and most run $4,500 to $10,000. Compare the two on our Hardie wrapped patio covers page.
We build pergolas, patio covers and pavilions. Which one fits depends on your needs and budget, and we decide it with you case by case.
One Call Handles the Whole Job
You should not have to manage five trades to get shade on your patio. Once you sign with us, we handle it.
Some parts of the Houston area need a permit and others do not. HOAs apply in deed restricted communities. We take care of permits, HOA drawings and fees, all materials and all labor through completion, including paint, electrical and roofing.
Once permits and materials are in hand, most pergolas are built in 1 to 3 days. From first estimate to finished build is about 2 to 4 weeks. Call (832) 509-5457, Monday through Saturday, 8am to 6pm, or book your free estimate below.
Get a Free Pergola Estimate
Tell us about your patio below, or call Pergola Builder Houston at (832) 509-5457. We come to your home, measure your space and leave you a written scope and price. The estimate is free, and financing is available on every project. You can also get a free estimate through our contact page.