Outdoor Living
Pergolas Add to Enjoyment All Year Long By Peggy Werner
P
eople have been spending more time at home, in recent years, and many have concluded that their outdoor spaces could use some improvement. Many have decided that adding a pergola makes a lot of sense. Pergolas add style, beauty, and definition to an outdoor space while also providing privacy, shade and added value to a home, says Ryan Lemon, chief operating officer at W.A. Zimmer, 1700 N. Broadway, Huntington, Ind. “A lot of people are still spending more time at home and they don’t want to feel cooped up. Pergolas make it possible for people to work outdoors without sun glare on the computer screen, and some people use the space just for relaxing or entertaining by adding Need ideas for improving your outdoor spaces? Consult experts who can explain the latest innovations. an outdoor kitchen,” he says. A pergola is an outdoor structure consisting of columns that A dry cool pergola is the newest way to cover an outdoor support an open roof of beams and rafters. Free-standing or atarea and extend the time you can spend outdoors all year. The tached to your house, a pergola can cover a patio, deck or any unique structure combines the functionality of a patio cover with outdoor area and comes in a variety of styles and sizes. There are the look of a pergola. Insulated center panels help to protect a options like retractable side screens. space from rain, snow and sun and yet this pergola has a tradiA standard pergola allows for partial shade. The open beams tional open-beam look. let in natural light and provide a perfect setting for stringing outPergolas account for the vast majority of sales today at W.A. door lights. A pergola can support climbing vines to enhance Zimmer and the structures can be installed year-round. As long your home’s landscaping. An operable pergola has remote-conas temperatures stay above freezing, homeowners can adjust loutrolled motorized louvres to give partial or complete shade with vres, says Lemon. the push of a button. All structures from W.A. Zimmer are custom built and are made from durable extruded aluminum, requiring no maintenance because the material doesn’t fade, rust, warp, mold or need painting or staining. Colors available are white, sandstone (light beige), and bronze, which is a rich dark brown. The family-owned company has been in business for more than 45 years and is owned by Bill and Marcia Zimmer. Their staff designs and builds maintenance-free and high-quality sunrooms, pergolas, patio covers and retractable awnings and screens. They handle the whole project, including getting permits to do the job. The company services only the products they build. W.A. Zimmer plans to open a second location in Elkhart, Ind., this summer. It also maintains a display at Ginger Valley Garden Center in Granger, Ind., near South Bend. Learn more by calling (260) 356-1621 or visit the showroom at 1700 N. Broadway St., Huntington, Ind. ❚ Today’s pergolas can provide partial or total shade with a touch of a button. Tell them you saw it in ...
Smart Living Fort Wayne
August 2022 • I
11
