Louvered pergolas come in three builds. The difference shows up after a few years outside.
All aluminum
Aluminum does not rust. Even where a scratch goes through the powder coat, it only forms a thin gray layer that stops there. That makes all-aluminum pergolas the safe pick near salt air, a pool or sprinklers. They weigh less than steel, so anchoring matters more, and they cost more: in our list mostly $1,500 to $3,000 for 120 to 200 sq ft.
Steel
Galvanized, powder-coated steel is stiff and cheap. Domi's steel models give you 200 to 288 sq ft for around $1,800 to $2,200. The catch: wherever the coating chips, from a ladder, a chair or a hailstone, rust can start. Touch up scratches with matching paint the same day and a steel pergola lasts for years in a dry climate.
Aluminum frame, steel louvers
The middle option. The posts and beams will not rust, the louvers can. Since the louvers are the part you can see from below, rust spots show. Fine for a sheltered patio in a dry state.
Which one to pick
| Where you live | Our pick |
|---|---|
| Coast, pool, humid South | All aluminum |
| Dry West or Southwest | Steel is fine, touch up chips |
| Snowy North | All aluminum, or a model with a published snow rating |
| Tight budget, sheltered patio | Steel or the mixed build |
Our score gives 2 points for all aluminum, 1.5 for the mixed build and 1 for steel, see how we score.
