Pergolas and Shade Structures in Gilbert and the East Valley
Engineered for Arizona sun and monsoon winds, permitted.
You've got a beautiful backyard you can't use from June to September. By 10 a.m. the patio is too hot to sit on, and the only shade is inside the house. A good shade structure changes that. Morning coffee outside in August. The game on the TV under the patio cover with the fan running. A heater on in January for a late dinner outside. It turns your patio into a room you actually live in.
Fernweh Outdoor designs and builds pergolas and patio covers across Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, Queen Creek and the rest of the East Valley, engineered for Arizona sun and monsoon winds and designed as part of your whole backyard.
What we build
We primarily build with Alumawood®, an aluminum product with a wood-grain finish. It looks like wood without the rot, warping, termites or constant repainting that wood structures need in the desert.
- Open lattice pergolas. Filtered shade and airflow, a good fit over seating areas and walkways.
- Solid roof covers. Full shade and protection from the sun.
- Insulated solid roofs. Solid roof panels with insulation that blocks more heat, keeping the space under them noticeably cooler.
Each one can be built freestanding, attached to your home, or cantilevered for an open look with posts on one side only.
Engineered for every install
Monsoon winds are real, and a shade structure is essentially a large sail on posts. We don't use a one-size-fits-all footing. Foundations and wind loads are engineered for each install, based on the size and type of structure and how it's anchored, and we pull permits for the work.
Make it a room, not just a roof
Shade is the start. Add the options that make the space usable morning to night:
- Ceiling fans. to keep air moving in summer.
- Heaters. for cool winter evenings.
- Lighting. for dinners and evenings outside.
- Power outlets. for a TV, music or outdoor appliances.
We plan the electrical into the design so wiring is clean and concealed, not added later with exposed conduit. All electrical work is installed by a licensed electrician.
Built by our own crews
Aluminum pergola patio cover — built by our own crews, right here in the East Valley.
Designed with the whole backyard
A shade structure works best when it's designed with the space around it. We often pair shade with an outdoor kitchen, a paver or travertine patio, and landscape lighting, all designed together in 3D so you see where the shade falls and how the space flows before we build.
The shortcuts we don't take
- Skipping permits. An unpermitted structure can be flagged by the city or your HOA, and in the worst case has to come down. It can also cause problems when you sell. We pull permits.
- Skipping engineering. A structure that isn't engineered when it needs to be can rack, sag or fail in a monsoon. Ours are engineered for each install.
- Bolting posts to whatever's there. A thin patio slab isn't always a footing. We anchor posts to what the engineering calls for.
- Wiring as an afterthought. Fans and lights added after the fact usually mean exposed conduit and extension cords. We plan power from the start.
Our warranty
Every shade structure we build carries a 3-year workmanship warranty, in addition to the manufacturer's warranty on Alumawood materials.
Details that hold up
Gazebo shade structure artificial turf — built by our own crews, right here in the East Valley.
What affects the cost
Shade structures are quoted after a site visit. The main factors are size, open lattice versus solid or insulated roof, freestanding, attached or cantilevered design, engineering and footing requirements, permit fees, and the electrical options you add.
Start with a free consultation
The best part of living in Arizona is being outside, and the right shade gives you back the months the sun takes away.
We'll look at where the sun hits your yard through the day and design shade that covers the spaces you'll actually use.
Recently built by our crews
Start with a free consultation
Free on-site consultation. Your 3D design ($279) comes after, credited toward your project.
Schedule a Consultation