Timber overhead. Built for South Australia.
Flat roof, gabled, louvred, angled battens. We build pergolas in hardwood, sized and detailed for your site. Most of the ones we put up end up being the spot the family uses most.
We work across Adelaide's southern suburbs, the foothills and the Fleurieu. Everything south of Anzac Highway through to Victor Harbor. Hot summers, wet winters, salt air closer to the coast. The structure has to handle all of it, and the timber choice and detailing matter.
Scotty's on every job. One crew, one standard, no subbies on the bits that matter.
The kinds of pergola we build
Which pergola suits you comes down to how much shade you want, the way the sun tracks across the yard, and how it needs to sit with the house. The ones we build most:
Flat-roof pergola
Clean and low-profile, with battens or sheeting overhead. The most versatile, and it works with most modern homes.
Gable pergola
A pitched roof that lifts the space and sheds rain well. Good over an outdoor kitchen or dining area where you want height and a bit of presence.
Skillion or angled roof
A single sloping roof that runs the water off one side. Simple, modern, and easy to tuck under an existing eave.
Louvred or opening roof
Angled or opening blades that let you dial the light and shade through the day and close up when the weather turns. Costs more than a fixed roof, and worth it over a spot you use year round.
Attached or freestanding
Attached to the house it feels like an extra room and ties into the roofline. Freestanding, it can sit out over a pool or a corner of the garden wherever the light is best.
Want a fully weatherproof roof rather than an open structure? That's usually a verandah. Our pergola versus verandah guide lays out the difference.
The hardwoods we build with
A pergola in Adelaide cops long dry summers, hard UV, wet winters, and salt air near the coast. Softwood kits grey off and move. We build in hardwood, chosen for how it holds up here.
Spotted gum
Dense, tough and beautifully grained, with colour movement through the board. A favourite for structure and for anything on show.
Blackbutt
Straight, pale to golden, and reliably stable. A clean look that takes an oil finish well.
Merbau
Rich red-brown, hard-wearing and good value. Long a go-to for outdoor timber in Australia because it just lasts.
Jarrah and others
Deep red and full of character where the look calls for it. We also work with iron ash, silver top ash, Victorian ash and cypress pine where they suit the job.
Which one we use depends on the block, the look you're after, and how exposed the site is. Near the water we adjust the species and the fixings for salt. The same thinking runs through our decking timber guide.
Do pergolas need approval in SA?
Some pergolas need development approval and some don't. It comes down to size, height, roof type and how close the structure sits to a boundary, and the rules vary between councils across the south, from the City of Onkaparinga to Mitcham, Marion and Mount Barker.
We build to the rules and sort out what your site needs before we start, so you're not left guessing. There's a fuller rundown in our guide to council approval for decks and pergolas in SA.
What changes the price of a pergola
We don't put a headline price on a pergola, because the figure only means something once we've seen the site. What moves it:
Size and span. Bigger spans need heavier timber and more support, which changes the whole build.
Roof type. A fixed batten roof is one thing, a louvred or opening roof is another.
Timber species. Different hardwoods sit at different price points.
The site. Footings, access, slope and how it ties into the house all add up.
Detailing. Posts, brackets and finish are where a build either looks considered or looks cheap.
We'll come out, measure up and put real numbers against your build, itemised so you can see where it goes. More in our guide to what outdoor builds cost in Adelaide.
Pergola builders across Adelaide's south
We're based in Seaford and cover the southern suburbs, the foothills and the Fleurieu. If you're after a pergola builder in Willunga, McLaren Vale, Aldinga or down the coast at Victor Harbor, that's our patch. We also build through Aldgate, Stirling, Blackwood, Noarlunga, Sellicks, Strathalbyn, Goolwa and Mount Barker.
A small team, doing it properly
Family-Owned
Independent, local, accountable. You'll deal with the same people from quote to handover.
Owner-Operator
Scotty is on every job. No site managers, no middlemen. Direct communication, full responsibility.
Real Timber
Hardwood throughout. Selected for the site, the structure and the way it'll weather over time.
Built for SA Conditions
Detailed for hot dry summers, wet winters and the coastal exposure of the southern suburbs.
From enquiry to finished build
Enquiry
Send through the form or give us a ring. Tell us roughly what you're after.
On-Site Visit & Quote
We come out, look at the site, talk it through, then send back a clear itemised quote.
Design & Schedule
We finalise materials, detailing and a build schedule that works for you.
Build
We get stuck in. Tidy site, regular updates, finished properly.
Pergolas, answered honestly
How much does a pergola cost in Adelaide?
It varies. Size, roof type, post detail, footings and finish all change the number. Rather than throw out a figure that won't mean anything for your site, we'd rather come out, look at it, and quote it properly. Request a quote and we'll put real numbers against your build.
How long does it take to build a pergola?
A typical pergola build runs two to six weeks once we're on site, depending on size and complexity. Add design and scheduling lead time before that. We'll give you a clear timeline in your quote.
What materials do you use?
Hardwood timber, primarily. We choose the species after seeing your site, talking through how the space will be used, and accounting for sun, exposure and existing materials.
Do I need council approval?
It depends on size, height, location and your council. Some structures need a development application, others don't. We can advise during the quote visit and confirm what's required for your build. There's more in our SA council approval guide.
What's the difference between a pergola and a verandah?
A verandah has a solid, weatherproof roof and is usually attached to the house, so it keeps the rain off and works year round. A pergola is more open, built for shade and to frame the space, and it can be attached or freestanding. If you want to use the area in all weather, a verandah suits. For shade and a lighter feel, a pergola. We break it down in our pergola versus verandah guide.
Do you build louvred or opening-roof pergolas?
Yes. Louvred and opening-roof pergolas let you control light and shade through the day and close up when the weather turns. They cost more than a fixed roof, but over a spot you use year round the flexibility earns its keep.
How long will a timber pergola last?
Built properly in hardwood, with sound footings and the right fixings, a timber pergola lasts decades. A coat of oil every year or two keeps the colour up. The species and the detailing matter more than anything, which is why we pick both for your site.
Can you attach a pergola to the house?
Yes, and it's a common way to go. Attached, a pergola ties into the roofline and feels like an extra room off the back. We flash and fix it to the house properly so water goes where it should.
Tell us about your pergola
Drop in a few details and we'll be in touch within 24 hours to organise a site visit.