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Pergolas in wind and snow
How to read a maker's wind and snow rating, why the conditions matter, opening louvres, anchoring, and exposed UK gardens.
A wind or snow rating is a maker's claim about their structure, built and fixed their way, in conditions they define. We do not test ratings and we do not invent them. This page is about reading them.
What makers state, and the small print
We haven't tested this. Figures are as the maker states them (checked 13 November 2026).
| Product | Wind, as stated | Snow, as stated | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunnier Pergola Essential (manual) | 110 km/h, depending on configuration | 65 to 120 kg/m² by size | sunnier.co.uk |
| Sunnier Pergola Classic (motorised) | 110 km/h | 320 kg/m² for 3 m widths, 200 for 3.5 m, 160 for 4 m | sunnier.co.uk |
| Pergolux Pergola 4 (manual) | 118 km/h+ in the spec table; 132 km/h in the description | up to 170 kg/m², depending on configuration | pergolux.co.uk |
| Pergolux Pergola 4 Pro (motorised) | up to 118 km/h, depending on configuration | up to 320 kg/m², depending on configuration | pergolux.co.uk |
| Outdoor Living 3 × 3 m louvred | Class 6 (up to Beaufort 9) | not stated | outdoorlivinghottubs.co.uk |
| Outsunny 3 × 4 m retractable (B&Q) | level 5–6 with ground stakes, 6–7 with expansion screws | not stated | diy.com |
Three things stand out:
- "Depending on configuration". Size, louvre position, screens and fixing all change the real figure. Ask which configuration the headline number applies to.
- Pages can contradict themselves. One page gave two different wind figures. Ask the maker which one applies, in writing.
- Fixing changes the rating. The Outsunny listing gives a lower wind level on ground stakes than on expansion screws. A rating assumes the maker's base and anchors.
Harbour Lifestyle's PergoSTET page gives no wind rating, but advises rolling up the blinds and opening the louvres in strong winds.
Wind: practical steps
- Anchor as specified. Uplift pulls the posts up. Bolts, pads and edge distances come from the maker. See base and fixings.
- Screens are sails. Lowered side screens catch wind. Roll them up when strong wind is forecast, unless the maker says otherwise.
- Retract fabric. Retractable canopies and shade sails should be retracted or taken down in high wind, as the maker says.
- Exposed gardens. Hilltops, coasts and open countryside see stronger gusts than a sheltered town garden. Choose a structure whose stated rating and conditions suit the site, and ask a structural engineer if you are unsure.
Snow: practical steps
- Read the louvre instructions. Makers say how the louvres should be set when snow is expected. Some want them open so snow falls through; others say otherwise. Do what your manual says, not what a forum says.
- Snow load is not ice load. Heavy wet snow and drifting against a wall add load. Clear heavy snow if the maker advises it, safely, from the ground.
- Fabric roofs. Remove or retract canopies for winter if the maker says so.
What is 110 km/h in everyday terms?
About 68 mph. It is a rating for the structure as the maker built and tested it, not a promise for every garden or every configuration.
Does insurance cover a pergola in a storm?
Ask your insurer. Policies differ on garden structures and often depend on it being fixed down as the maker specified.