Types
Aluminium or timber pergola?
Upkeep, lifespan, cost and what comes in the kit, for aluminium and timber pergolas in a UK garden.
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Timber is cheaper to buy and easy to alter. Aluminium costs more and asks less of you each year. Most louvred and fixed-roof pergolas are aluminium. Most open pergolas sold in kit form are timber.
Timber
- Cost. The cheapest pergola kits are timber. On 13 November 2026, a Rowlinson Traditional 2.4 × 2.4 m was £487 at Homebase and £499 at B&Q. Forest Garden listed its Ultima 3.6 × 3.6 m at an RRP of £764.49.
- Upkeep. Pressure-treated softwood still moves, splits and greys. Plan to re-treat it. See timber pergola maintenance.
- Lifespan. Depends on treatment, ground contact and upkeep. Forest Garden states a 15-year anti-rot guarantee on its Ultima pergolas. Read the guarantee terms for what it covers.
- Fixing. Posts can go into the ground, into concrete, or onto post spikes or bolt-down shoes, depending on the maker. Rowlinson's B&Q listing says posts can be sunk or used with metal spikes or shoes.
- Roof. Usually open, for plants or a shade sail. Some kits add a canopy.
Aluminium
- Cost. More per square metre. Fixed and louvred roofs push it further. Listed louvred prices are in louvred pergola cost.
- Upkeep. Powder-coated aluminium does not rot. Wash it, keep the gutters clear, and check fixings.
- Lifespan and warranty. Makers state structural warranties, often longer than those on moving parts and motors. One page we read separated the structure, the materials and the electrical parts. Read the split.
- Fixing. Normally bolted down to a slab or concrete pads with the maker's anchors. Not usually sunk into soil.
- Roof. Fixed, retractable or louvred, so it can keep rain off.
Which suits you
| You want | Lean towards |
|---|---|
| Shade and climbing plants on a budget | Timber, open roof |
| Shelter from rain with little upkeep | Aluminium, fixed or louvred roof |
| To change the design later | Timber |
| Something to sit near a boundary at 2.5 m | Either. Check the overall height on the drawing |
Kit explainers
We haven't tested this. Figures are as the maker states them (checked 13 November 2026).
Forest Garden 2 × 2 m modular wooden pergola. A small timber kit sold on Amazon UK as a modular pergola with two roof panels and side panels. Useful as a framed seating corner rather than a dining space: a 2 × 2 m frame will not hold a dining set with chairs pulled out. Check the listing's dimensions and contents.
View the Forest Garden modular pergola on Amazon UK
Rowlinson pergola. A Rowlinson timber pergola listed on Amazon UK. Rowlinson's Traditional pergola sold through B&Q and Homebase is 2.4 × 2.4 m and 2.76 m high, which is over 2.5 m. Within 2 m of a boundary that matters for planning. Check which model the listing is and its height before you buy.
View the Rowlinson pergola on Amazon UK
Sunjoy 3 × 3 m aluminium pergola with louvred roof. Listed on Amazon UK as an aluminium louvred pergola with an adjustable roof, integrated drainage and solar LED lights. The listing did not give us a wind or snow figure we could check against a maker page. Ask the seller for the maker's stated ratings and fixing instructions before buying.
View the Sunjoy louvred pergola on Amazon UK
Does an aluminium pergola get hot?
Metal in full sun warms up, and dark colours more so. The roof type matters more than the posts for comfort underneath.
Can I paint a timber pergola?
Yes, with a product meant for exterior timber, after the treatment has weathered as the maker recommends. Check the guarantee: some are conditional on regular re-treatment.