Modern Smart Pergolas: 5 Commonly Asked Questions Answered

According to historical accounts, the first pergolas appeared on properties more than 3,400 years ago in Ancient Egypt. Over time, they spread to other countries and cultures. They also branched out into numerous sizes and layouts. Those earliest pergolas were typically made of wood, stone, and bricks. Those materials are still used today, but several others have been added to the mix, such as aluminum, vinyl, and fiberglass.

Modern pergolas share quite a few characteristics with their early predecessors. New design options and even smart features have also come into play over the centuries. These highly versatile structures have always offered a variety of benefits, including providing shade, expanding people’s outdoor living spaces, and adding aesthetic appeal to properties. With their latest features and advancements, they take those advantages to entirely new levels. Take a look at five commonly asked questions about some of the new technological options for pergolas to better understand their potential benefits.

1) How Do Smart Louvers Work?

Traditionally, pergolas had roofs with fixed louvers. Eventually, manually adjustable louvers were invented. Both of those options are still available, but they’re not the only solutions at homeowners’ disposal. Today, there’s also the option of motorized pergola louvers.

With a smart pergola, the louvers can be opened and closed via a remote or smartphone app. They don’t have to be completely opened or closed, either. Users can adjust their angles as they see fit for a perfect balance of light, shade, and rain deflection. They can even be programmed to adjust automatically at specific times or in certain lighting conditions. They can be programmed to close on their own when it rains too.

2) Are Shades a Good Addition for a Pergola?

Homeowners often ask whether shades are good additions to their pergolas as well. Shades have long been used to control the amount of light and heat coming in through the sides of pergolas. Again, though, today’s possibilities are far more advanced than those of the past. As is the case with louvers, shades can be motorized and even automated. They can be programmed to close depending on how much sunlight is coming in and open at night along with other customizations. With all that being the case, shades, especially smart ones, are definitely a fantastic addition to a pergola.

3) Can Pergolas Be Equipped With Smart Lighting?

Many people are also interested in smart lighting for their pergolas. Smart lights are becoming more common in homes and businesses, and they extend well beyond interior applications. They’re appearing in all types of outdoor living spaces, including pergolas. They allow their users to adjust lighting to their unique needs. They also enable homeowners to enjoy their pergolas at night. They can save energy as well by being programmed to come on and turn off at specific times or being equipped with motion detectors among other possibilities.

4) What Other Smart Features Are Available for Pergolas?

Automated louvers, shades, and lighting are some of the most common smart features for pergolas at this point, but that barely scratches the surface. Any number of other features can be added to a pergola. Homeowners can incorporate smart fans and infrared heaters for year-round comfort. They can have smart entertainment systems installed in their pergolas. People who use plants for added shade, privacy, and aesthetic appeal can have smart irrigation systems installed to keep those plants healthy. Those are only a few of the possibilities.

5) Is a Smart Pergola a Smart Investment?

Many homeowners also ask whether smart pergolas are truly worth their cost. It’s true that incorporating smart features ramps up the price of a pergola, and the more technology a homeowner adds to the mix, the higher the cost may be. Still, those features can make pergolas more comfortable, functional, and convenient. As such, smart pergolas are bound to generate nice ROIs. That certainly makes them smart investments.

Taking Pergolas Into the Future

Pergolas have been around for centuries, and they’ve evolved a great deal over time. At this point, smart technology is helping homeowners to get the most possible use out of their pergolas. Numerous smart features can be incorporated into modern pergolas to make them more comfortable and enjoyable regardless of the weather or other factors.

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