SPON SOR ED C ON TEN T
INDUSTRY EXPERT Q&A
INSIDE THE MIND OF DESIGN with Jitendra Ragunath Q Tell us how the product works. A
The Vergola louver system bridges the gap between a lattice roof and a fixed cover. The louvers are adjustable, and when you rotate them, they interlock and close to form a water-tight roof. The old marketing slogan used to be, ‘It’s not a veranda and not a pergola — it’s a Vergola.’
Q How do you customize to fit each customer’s needs? A
Each vergola is custom designed and-built. There is no standard size — each one is made for its own particular home, designed for its new owners’ particular purposes, be it energy efficiency, ventilation, shade or rain protection. Similarly, a lot of the structure is pre-fabricated at Vergola’s manufacturing facilities in Gardena CA. This minimizes the amount of work carried out on site reducing installation time to reduce disruption to the customer.
Jitendra Ragunath
Managing Director at VERGOLA®
Q How do you work behind the scenes to make the process seamless for customers? A It was 1984 when VERGOLA® launched its first product in warm and sunny Australia. Jitendra Ragunath recalls how Vergola offered a unique product that combined the best features of the pergola and the veranda. While one filtered sunlight and the other offered shelter from rain, neither could provide both. The founders of Vergola designed the world’s first adjustable louver roof system with slats that could be opened to filter in sunlight and ventilation, and closed to afford shade and shelter. Thirtysix years later, Vergola is still a singleproduct company, expertly executing each manufacture and installation project from start to finish.
Q What do you enjoy most about what you do? A
52 Ora nge C o ast • August 2021
I’m delighted when I see the joy on people’s faces when the product is in action. Not one customer has come back to say they’re not happy with it. And it is an amazing product, if I may say so myself.
Q Where can customers try Vergola for themselves? A
13800 Crenshaw Boulevard Hawthorne 90249 855-WHY-VERGOLA (855-949-8374) Vergola.com/us
We obtain all the necessary permits for on the customer’s behalf. It’s a fairly detailed process from design to execution, and most delays are due to the city’s permit approval process, and not anything to do with us. Consequently, customers see very little of this expended effort, so the process for them is stress-free — We provide a service rather than a product.
We encourage visits to our California showroom. The remote-controlled system is easy to navigate; the slats open and close at the push of a button, as well as automatically during and after rainfall. Until you play with it, you won’t know what you’re missing.
