Engineered for 175 mph.
Finished for every evening
in between.

Yes. Inside the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone a pergola needs signed and sealed structural engineering calculating uplift, lateral and shear at every post, beam and rafter connection, built to the design wind speed for your specific site and exposure category — which can reach 175 mph or more.

In Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach, a permanent pergola on footings is a permitted structure. Requirements vary by jurisdiction, and adding electrical or attaching to the house expands the scope. We confirm what your address requires before design is fixed.

Aluminium, in almost every case here. It does not feed termites, does not corrode in salt air, and needs little more than rinsing. Wood costs less upfront but needs restaining every couple of years and typically a rebuild within ten to fifteen. Timber-look aluminium finishes give the warmth without the upkeep.

The louvres rotate: closed to shed rain, open for sun and airflow. It makes the space usable across far more of the year. It also adds electrical scope, moving parts and a meaningfully higher price, so it is worth it if you would otherwise stop using the space for half the summer.

Often, yes — but it transfers load into the wall or tie beam, so the existing structure has to be assessed and the connection engineered. Where the house cannot take it, a freestanding structure set just off the elevation achieves the same thing.

A properly engineered, correctly installed pergola is designed to the same wind standard as other permitted structures on your property. The risk sits with unpermitted structures and generic kit hardware that was never tested to the standard being claimed.

A Notice of Acceptance is Miami-Dade product approval — evidence a connector, fastener or complete framing system was actually tested to the wind-load standard. It is how the county confirms the hardware in the ground matches the engineering on the drawings.

That is set by your zoning district’s setbacks and any easements on the parcel, which is why a current survey comes before design. Corner lots and waterfront parcels frequently carry extra restrictions.

Yes, and it is a common request. Pool barrier requirements and the existing deck construction both factor into where posts can land, so those get walked during the site review.

Powder-coated aluminium needs rinsing and an occasional check of fasteners. Motorised louvre systems need their moving parts and controls checked periodically. Wood needs restaining on a cycle.