Outdoor Living

Pergolas Add to Enjoyment All Year Long

By Peggy Werner

People 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 an outdoor kitchen,” he says.

A pergola is an outdoor structure consisting of columns that support an open roof of beams and rafters. Free-standing or attached to your house, a pergola can cover a patio, deck or any outdoor area and comes in a variety of styles and sizes. There are options like retractable side screens.

A standard pergola allows for partial shade. The open beams let in natural light and provide a perfect setting for stringing outdoor lights. A pergola can support climbing vines to enhance your home’s landscaping. An operable pergola has remote-controlled motorized louvres to give partial or complete shade with the push of a button.

Need ideas for improving your outdoor spaces? Consult experts who can explain the latest innovations. A dry cool pergola is the newest way to cover an outdoor area and extend the time you can spend outdoors all year. The unique structure combines the functionality of a patio cover with the look of a pergola. Insulated center panels help to protect a space from rain, snow and sun and yet this pergola has a traditional open-beam look. Pergolas account for the vast majority of sales today at W.A. Zimmer and the structures can be installed year-round. As long as temperatures stay above freezing, homeowners can adjust louvres, says Lemon. 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 Today’s pergolas can provide partial or total shade with a touch of a button. at 1700 N. Broadway St., Huntington, Ind. ❚

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