Those of you that have a pergola over your spa...

[96SC]

If you have a pergola over your spa does it serve any practicle use or is it just decoration.  My DW wants to put one up but aside from asthetics I don't know if the cost is worth it.

I did a search on pergolas and found a thread that has one with a retractable shade on top, but that too seems like something excessive.

What's your opinion?

[Chas]

Happy Wife, Happy Life.

What cost happiness?

 8-)

[Bonibelle]

96, that's what I would like to do..I want a pergola with a retractable cover. I just haven't thought it all through or worked out the cost..I will by spring though. I would like to be able to cover the top when it rains or the sun is too hot and open the top to view the stars...but it can't be some sort of mechanical Rube Goldberg thing..it has to be simple and look decent. (oh and not cost an arm and a leg!) If it doesn't have the option to have a cover, I think like you said, it is just a decoration.  A nice decoration, but not functional, so not something that I would spend my money on  :-/
Would you share that info? I guess I don't remember it..you said thread, so I assume you found it on here.

Thanks

[drewstar]

96, that's what I would like to do..I want a pergola with a retractable cover. I just haven't thought it all through or worked out the cost..I will by spring though. I would like to be able to cover the top when it rains or the sun is too hot and open the top to view the stars...but it can't be some sort of mechanical Rube Goldberg thing..it has to be simple and look decent. (oh and not cost an arm and a leg!) If it doesn't have the option to have a cover, I think like you said, it is just a decoration.  A nice decoration, but not functional, so not something that I would spend my money on  :-/
Would you share that info? I guess I don't remember it..you said thread, so I assume you found it on here.

Thanks

Just some ideas.....


these folks have pergolas with auto canopies:
http://www.backyardamerica.com/pergola_canopies.htm

Or you could make your own using a sun setter retractable awening and attachting it to you existing pergola.

http://www.sunsetter.com/

[96SC]

Would you share that info? I guess I don't remember it..you said thread, so I assume you found it on here.

Thanks

Glad to Boni

Search the word: pergola in the subject section (no need to search the messages).  Search for the past year.

Scroll down the listings.  You will first come across pictures of a hot tub with some sort of cover on it.  Keep scrolling to the next set of pics, you will see a spa with a pergola.  It mentions the retractable top and I believe prices but don't hold me to the prices part.  

Happy hunting,  we have also considered, if the pergola goes up, to have jasmine grow up the posts and across the top.  Jasmine grows like weeds around here.  If you're from the south, grows like kudzu.

Hope this helps.

[Bonibelle]

Thanks, I was imagining wisteria climbing but then I thought about when the leaves drop. If you are in a warm area, no worries.
I have just begun thinking about  the pergola again..so this has really ignited the fire...
And Drew thanks for the sites, too. The second one looks like something I could consider. The awnings, I believe, specify that they are just for shade, not rain...
96 when you start construction, take plenty of pictures so I can follow along too...
I have $100.00 gift certificate at Lowes..lets see that should buy me a couple of 4X4's and a bag of nails!!

[pruned_hands]

I have a pergola that I installed over the tub complete with pillars and all.  The primary reason for a pergola is looks.  Hot tubs are just giant boxes that when placed on a deck add very little archetectural value to a home (and probably make it look uglier).  A pergola offsets that and does it in a classical and beautiful way.  Historically, pergolas were used to provide some sun protection, albeit very little, and the you could increase this factor by how close you place the beams together.

I was interested initially in hanging giant outdoor "drapes" made out of sunbrella fabric down from the pergola to give some privacy for the hot tubers.  But, it was going to cost over $1K and we never seem to need much privacy with 2 kids and neighbors in the tub all the time.  I did ponder the retractable shades (which look great), but didn't do that because of the cost--just not in the budget.  If you had the money for the retractable awning, then a pergola would be a no brainer.

In any case, they do look very nice and would be good for resale.

just my 2 cents

pruned hands

[Chad]

I have a pergola that I installed over the tub complete with pillars and all.  The primary reason for a pergola is looks.  Hot tubs are just giant boxes that when placed on a deck add very little archetectural value to a home (and probably make it look uglier).  A pergola offsets that and does it in a classical and beautiful way.  Historically, pergolas were used to provide some sun protection, albeit very little, and the you could increase this factor by how close you place the beams together.

I was interested initially in hanging giant outdoor "drapes" made out of sunbrella fabric down from the pergola to give some privacy for the hot tubers.  But, it was going to cost over $1K and we never seem to need much privacy with 2 kids and neighbors in the tub all the time.  I did ponder the retractable shades (which look great), but didn't do that because of the cost--just not in the budget.  If you had the money for the retractable awning, then a pergola would be a no brainer.

In any case, they do look very nice and would be good for resale.

just my 2 cents

pruned hands

Some pics would be greatly apreciated.

[NittanyLion]

I'm thinking about a pergola too, retractable top would be nice but most likely expensive.

I was thinking of attaching a weatherproof fabric to one top rail, in the day when its too sunny you could stretch the other side over top of the pergola and tie onto the other top rail to create a "roof", and at night when I want privacy I can drape it down the side and tie onto the columns to create a privacy screen and allow me to see stars (I only have a visible neighbor on one side).

Maybe tough to visualize based on my description but I think it'll work out well for my situation and will be cheap.  Fabric out in the elements all the time seem to wear out fast, so I think you're better off going cheap and replacing frequently than spending gobs of money only to be disappointed in a year or two.

[pruned_hands]

I haven't added pix in awhile, so the pix may not show, but here goes:

Pix of my tub with pergola:



<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c26/tubix/Newyears2007047.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c26/tubix/Newyears2007047.jpg

[pruned_hands]

Hey it worked!! Miracles never cease!  For those of you in warmer climates, the previous pix was taken yesterday and is an example of the best weather to soak in a tub...nothing like it!  My friends and family rarely want to come over and hot tub in the summer, but I have regular guests in weather like this.  Go figure!

Here is a before photo taken a year ago in the fall--the pergola and decking have since been stained.



Happy Tubbing!!

PH

[Chad]

PH,

Looks great! 8-)
Thanks for fulfilling my request.

Btw, here in MO, it's code that one must put up a railing for all decks 30'' an higher off the ground. I can't tell for sure from the pic but it looks like you are pretty close. What's the code where you live? By no means am I implyimg you didn't follow code.  

Nevermind, I just read your profile. You're a wolverine.
Michigan codes are the same as MO for railings.

[Chad]

[tony]

PH,

Looks great! 8-)
Thanks for fulfilling my request.

Btw, here in MO, it's code that one must put up a railing for all decks 30'' an higher off the ground. I can't tell for sure from the pic but it looks like you are pretty close. What's the code where you live? By no means am I implyimg you didn't follow code.  

In the "new" picture, it looks like there has been some landscaping done aound the perimeter under that snow.  I'm sure the ground levels are now within the 30".

[gcbrowni]

My pergola serves two functions. First, it sets off the space and helps provide a more enclosed feel so we feel we're not just hanging out in the middle of everything. Second, it gives me a frame to hang drapes to allow more privacy.