Pergolas, Screened Porches, and Pavilions: Which One Fits Your Yard?

If you're outside for sunset drinks and weekend grilling, a pergola sets the scene without overcommitting. If you want to be outside in July without being eaten alive, you need screens. If you want to host 20 people for a Carolina game with the rain coming sideways, you need a roof.

Most homeowners pick the wrong structure because they design for the photo, not for how the family actually uses the yard.

Open beam structure, no solid roof. Defines a space, supports lights and climbing plants, and looks beautiful. Costs $6K–$18K depending on size, material (cedar vs. powder-coated aluminum), and stone or column base.

Best for: dining areas, hot tubs, garden focal points, and small to mid-sized patios that need scale without enclosure.

Roofed, screened on three sides, often attached to the house. The single highest-use outdoor structure we build — homeowners tell us they live in them April through October.

Plan on $28K–$70K depending on size, flooring (composite vs tile), ceiling finish (T&G pine looks incredible), and whether you add a fireplace.

Free-standing or attached roof, open sides. Great for pool areas, outdoor kitchens, and entertaining spaces where airflow matters more than bug control.

$20K–$60K. Add a few ceiling fans, a TV, and a stone fireplace and it becomes the most-used room on your property.