Many homeowners understand that installing something like a pergola in their backyard can beautify and enhance the property. However, it is also practical. There are many things you can do with a pergola, and it will add to your home’s resale value as well.

In some parts of the country, though, you need to watch out for seasonal high winds if you are going to install a pergola. The best pergola for high winds is one that has the features we’ll talk about in the following article.

The Materials

The materials out of which your pergola is made will certainly go a long way in determining how much strong winds moving through your part of the country will affect it. Weights can be added to a pergola to provide some much-needed stability.

Some pergola companies coat their finished products with heavy-gauge virgin aluminum. That makes it considerably more difficult for strong winds to impact it, and it is something you should consider. A stain-resistant resin that’s also durable is another way to go. This combination should make the pergola resistant to anything less than hurricane-force winds.

The Structure

A simple fact about pergolas is that if you build them thicker, they will often last longer and stand up to the wind better. When you’re looking at different pergola options, you should often forego the cheapest ones if you live in a region that sees high winds every year. Cheaper usually means flimsier building materials.

Quality pegs and additional stakes can ground a pergola, even in a virtual wind tunnel like you get in some suburban backyards. Whether you order your pergola online or go to a brick-and-mortar store location to buy one, talk to the manufacturer or a knowledgeable employee.

Ask them whether the pergola can stand up to a storm with winds that exceed 111 mph. That is considered to be a “major storm,” which is to say a Category 3 hurricane. A pergola that won’t blow away or suffer major damage in such a storm is one for which you can feel good about paying a little bit of extra money.

The Location

Once you’ve made sure you’re buying a pergola that’s made of the right materials and has the proper dimensions, the last thing you need to think about is where you will put it. This matters just as much as the building materials and its size.

A pergola that is near a large structure, such as your house, will usually do a lot better when storm-force winds hit it. That means you probably want to avoid erecting your pergola in the middle of the yard, where it has no protection.

Also, if your pergola is directly adjacent to your house, it makes it easier to carry food out to it if you’re having a dinner party or games if you’re hosting an outdoor game night. This is an additional consideration that should make you want to position your pergola as close to your home as possible.