Both fiberglass and plastic pergolas offer the benefit of a low maintenance outdoor structure. There are two types of plastic pergolas currently available, the first and most common is constucted from vinyl(also known as PVC). The second type of plastic pergola is constructed from a material similar to composite decking(Azek or Palite). These are low maintenance materials, however they differ significantly in terms of quality, lifetime and finish. Below is a detailed comparision of these materials.
* Maintenance free
* Available in any color
* Structural material with free-spans of up to 20'
* Will not mildew, mold or yellow
* One piece CNC rafter tails
* Low maintenance but will mildew and yellow over time
* Non-structural vinyl tubes
* Pressure treated lumber is inserted into the vinyl and can sag, twist and rot
* Available in a limited number of colors
* Snap-on rafter tails
* Requires bi-annual painting
* Yellows and mildews over time
* Sheets of Azek are glued to either aluminum or lumber for structural support
* Azek will delaminate and fall of over time
* High cost of ownership
| Fiberglass | PVC(Vinyl fencing) | C-PVC(Azek) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maintenance: | Maintenance free. | Maintenance free. Will yellow & mildew. | Requires bi-annual painting. Will yellow & mildew. |
| Finish: | Available in any color | Limited color options | Limited color options |
| Durability: | Hard industrial coatings. Durable cast fiberglass column bases. | Scratches easily. Plastic post bases break easily | Azek delaminates and fall off over time |
| Lifespan: | Designed to last a minimum of 15 years | Minimum of 5 years | Minimum of 5 years |
| Structural Properties: | Structural fiberglass pultrusions will not sag or warp. | Structural pressure treated core. Prone to sagging and warping. | Structural pressure treated core. Prone to sagging and warping. |
This Azek pergola was poorly constructed. It experienced yellowing, excessive rot and sagging as a result of the manufacturer cutting corners.
This what the main structural support beam looked like when the Azek fell off and the remainder was removed.
The client's contractor reached out to us and we replaced the existing structure with a fiberglass pergola that will last for years to come.
Found on Yelp.comhere is nowhere to buy wooden outdoor furniture of the same quality and for the same price. Nowhere! I own at least 8 pieces of Baldwin lawn furniture: two picnic tables with benches, a loveseat, two gorgeous adirondack chairs and a couple of other misc. tables and chairs by the pool. This furniture is so sturdy and dependable - and the design is fabulous! Check out their website, or sit in the furniture in person at North Cove Outfitters in Old Saybrook or at Baldwin in Middletown. You will be 100% sold. Our pieces have weathered wonderfully, and we leave them out year round. In the spring we pull them into the driveway one day and give them a good wash and put a quick restain on them. This is MINIMAL work, I assure you. And the furniture receives compliments from our guests year after year. This is a great family company with a great product. GREAT!
Jon & BethanyUploaded the final pictures. Came out great! My neighbor is now pricing out a patio so he can have a Baldwin Pergola on his property. Thanks again guys - very impressed with the quality and service of your company. The fit and finish is impeccable and we couldn't be happier. I'll be sure to recommend Baldwin in the future!
Steve and RheaMax and crew, Rhea and I both want to thank you for a great job and lots of hard work. We are extremely pleased with the pergola, the quality of work and your own personal effort. Architecturally it brings a new dimension to the scale of the existing farmhouse by balancing the composition. Functionally it will bring years and years of enjoyment.
Carla AvilaHi Max- everyone loves the pergola - its really great--thank you. And the chairs are so comfortable.
Missy SiennaI thought I would share with you some of the photos I took tonight of the grape arbor! It looks beautiful--I almost hate to cover it with grapes!
Tom PetitMatt, I just wanted to let you know how pleased I am with the new pergola. As a woodworker I appreciate the precision and thoroughness of the kit. I installed the cement pads the previous weekend and did the entire remaining installation in about 6 hours the following weekend with one helper. Very nice looking and I know I am going to enjoy the long term benefits of using a fiberglass products. I will send you a photo as soon as I finish the 10' dining table and benches that I am building to complete the pergola/dining area.
Joe HollandThe Pergola is GREAT! What a difference it makes to the house ... inside and out. The height (for this sized Pergola) seems like it is matched up perfectly. The effect is a room outside the house. Let's see how many 'Wow's' we get Friday night. You should have left some of your business cards. My daughter (Sarah) loved the butterfly joint!
Jeff VeasmanThank you my friend, we just got done with the big pergola, it took longer to run the wires than it did to put the pergola together. It is freakin sweet Max, oh and by the way Deana Martin, Dean's daughter lives next door we did a three story add on for them but she said it looks spectacular. Thanks again Max, I'll be sending some pics.
Mara CruzWe love it! Your assistance and patience during our installation was greatly appreciated.
Christine Bullard DBA Complete Building ServicesMax wrote: I thank you for all the hard work coordinating this complex project. The devil is in the details and together we worked it all out!
Christine Wrote: I feel the same way. The owners are very pleased & it went together like butter. I will get a you a good set of pictures. It was great working with you!
We realize that we cannot build every pergola in the world, so we've decided that we'll be the company that builds all the really nice pergolas in the world.
