Houston Pergola Design and Build, Cedar and Custom
Shade is what makes a Houston yard usable. We design and build pergolas, patio covers, and adjustable louvered structures as architecture — sized, proportioned, and detailed to belong to the house rather than sit next to it.
Why Texan Landscape Group for Pergolas
- 01
The number on this page is the number we work to.
Texan Landscape Group publishes an investment range of $15,000 to $60,000, or roughly $80 to $150 per square foot of covered area for this service before you call, rather than qualifying you on the phone first. Almost no Houston landscape contractor does.
- 02
Fans, lighting, heaters, screens, and outlets are run inside the structure during the build.
Nothing is surface-mounted afterwards, so there is no conduit stapled to a rafter you paid to have look clean.
- 03
Design and build sit inside the same five-person team.
The person who walks your property draws it, and the crew that installs it answers to Chris and Tony Gosselin. There is no sales handoff and no subcontracted install to chase.
- 04
One call afterwards.
No claims portal, no ticket number, and no subcontractor who has moved on.
What a Custom Pergola Build Includes
Every project has the same core scope, adapted to the specific property and program.
- 01
Design & Proportion
Span, height, post spacing, and rafter rhythm set against the elevation of the house and the space it shades.
- 02
Structure & Engineering
Footings, posts, and connections sized for local wind loads, with engineering and permitting handled where the structure requires it.
- 03
Open Pergolas
Timber or steel rafter structures that filter sun and define an outdoor room without closing off the sky.
- 04
Covered Patios
Solid-roof structures — gabled or flat, with finished ceilings — for full sun and rain cover, tied into the roofline of the house.
- 05
Louvered Systems
Adjustable louvered roofs that open for light and close against rain, motorised where the design calls for it.
- 06
Integrated Services
Fans, lighting, heaters, screens, and outlets run inside the structure during the build rather than surface-mounted afterwards.
Our Pergola Design and Build Process in Houston
- 01
Site Walk and Sun Study
We walk the terrace, note where the sun lands through the day and where the shade is actually needed, and measure the elevation of the house the structure will sit against. Span, height, and post spacing come out of that rather than out of a catalogue size.
- 02
Design, Proportion and Engineering
Rafter rhythm, post spacing, and height are set against the house elevation. Footings, posts, and connections are sized for local wind loads, with engineering and permitting handled where the structure requires it.
- 03
Structure Selection
Open timber or steel rafters, a solid-roof covered patio tied into the roofline, or an adjustable louvered system are chosen for how much sun and rain the space should take. Cedar, steel, and powder-coated aluminum each behave differently in Houston humidity and are specified accordingly.
- 04
Build and Integrated Services
Footings are poured, the frame is set, and fans, lighting, heaters, screens, and outlets are run inside the structure while it is open. Retrofitting any of them afterwards means surface conduit, which is why they are decided at design.
- 05
Finish and Handover
The structure is stained, painted, or left in its factory finish, the site is cleared, and we walk it with you. Manufacturer documentation is registered in your name and handed over at closeout.
Everything you see.
Everything you don’t.
What separates pergola design and build that lasts from work that fails in two summers is the part you never look at again once it is finished. On this job that is design & proportion and structure & engineering — decided before anything visible goes in, and impossible to correct afterwards without taking up what sits on top. Houston’s wind load requirements and its summer sun angle are what size a pergola here, and the difference between a structure that is engineered for both and one that is not shows up in the first named storm. What you do see gets held to the same standard: the joint lines, the edges, and how the finished work meets the house.
How Much Does a Pergola Cost in Houston?
The range below is what work of this kind typically runs in Houston, so you can place yourself in it before you call. It is a starting point, not a quote — every project is scoped to the specific property, program, and material selections.
We confirm a clear investment range in the initial consultation and issue a detailed proposal after the design phase.
- Span, height, and how much area is covered
- Structure type — open rafters, solid roof, or adjustable louvers
- Material — timber, steel, or powder-coated aluminium
- Engineering and permitting, where the span or the attachment requires it
- Integrated fans, lighting, heaters, screens, and outlets
$15,000 – $60,000
Most projects of this type
- At the lower end
- An open timber pergola over an existing terrace, on footings sized for a straightforward span.
- At the upper end
- A motorised louvered structure, or a finished-ceiling covered patio tied into the roofline, with fans, lighting, heaters, and screens run inside it.
A range, not a quote. Your figure depends on square footage, materials, how much grading and drainage the site needs, and equipment access.
Pergolas we have built.
Frames from completed projects across Houston. Every photograph is our own work — follow any of them through to the project it came from.
Pergola Design and Build Across Houston and the Surrounding Area
Texan Landscape Group designs and builds pergolas across Memorial, Hunters Creek Village, Piney Point Village, Bunker Hill Village, Hedwig Village, Spring Branch, Tanglewood, River Oaks, West University Place, Bellaire and the Houston Heights, and throughout Harris County. Houston’s wind load requirements and its summer sun angle are what size a pergola here, and the difference between a structure that is engineered for both and one that is not shows up in the first named storm. That is a design decision on every project, not a note added at the end of one.
Structures attached to a dwelling are permitted and inspected through the City of Houston Permitting Center, and we handle the submittal and the inspections where the span or the attachment requires them. Design and construction sit inside one in-house team, which is why the drawing and the finished work match. You can learn more about our crew, or see all of our Houston landscape services for the full scope we design and build.
What Houston Homeowners Say About Our Pergola Design and Build
“Texan Landscape Group did a great job on my recent landscaping project. The owner came out personally to provide the quote and take measurements. He was very professional, knowledgeable, and easy to communicate with thro…”
Hieu Vo7 months ago “Couldn’t be more proud of the work Texan Landscape group for a fine work they did with my field and the turf installation around the fiend. I recommend them to anyone interested in having their landscape done with turf.…”
thiago Reis7 months ago “I had an amazing experience with this company. They turfed and landscaped my entire backyard at my brand new home and built a modern pergola that matches the house perfectly — it looks incredible. They finished everythi…”
Chase Stock7 months ago
Pergola Design and Build FAQs
Why do pergola quotes vary so widely?
Most pergola and covered structure projects run $15,000 to $60,000, or roughly $80 to $150 per square foot of covered area. An open timber pergola over an existing terrace sits at the lower end. A motorised louvered structure, or a finished-ceiling covered patio tied into the roofline with fans, lighting, heaters, and screens, sits at the upper end.
Cedar or aluminum for a Houston pergola?
Cedar reads warmer, costs less up front, and needs staining every few years to hold its colour in this humidity. Powder-coated aluminum gives thinner sections, longer spans, and no upkeep, and it is the only route to an adjustable louvered roof. If you do not want to maintain it, aluminum is the honest answer.
Do I need a permit for a pergola?
Usually yes if it is attached to the house, and often yes freestanding depending on size and jurisdiction. City of Houston and the Memorial villages differ. We check for your address and handle the drawings, submittal, and inspections.
Will a pergola actually give useful shade?
An open rafter pergola filters sun rather than blocking it, which works well for morning and evening but not for midday in July. If you want the space usable at 2pm in August, a solid roof, an insulated panel, or an adjustable louvered system is what does it. We say so at the site walk rather than after.
How long does a pergola build take?
Two to six weeks on site depending on structure type, plus permitting lead time where a permit is required. You get a schedule with the proposal, before anything starts.
Work that goes with this.
Most projects combine several of these, and doing them together costs less than doing them one at a time.
- 12 / Aluminum
Louvered and Aluminum Pergolas for Houston Backyards
Powder-coated aluminum pergolas, including louvered roofs that open for light and close for rain — shade with no rot, no sanding, and no annual stain.
Explore Louvered and Aluminum Pergolas for Houston Backyards - 10 / Covers
Houston Patio Cover Installation, Engineered and Permitted
Solid-roof covers built onto the house — the structure that makes a Houston patio usable in July rain and August sun rather than only in spring.
Explore Houston Patio Cover Installation, Engineered and Permitted - 11 / IRP
IRP Insulated Patio Covers Installed Across Houston
Insulated roof panel covers — an aluminum sandwich panel roof that spans without visible framing, drops the temperature underneath, and never needs painting.
Explore IRP Insulated Patio Covers Installed Across Houston - 15 / Trellis
Cedar Arbors and Diamond Privacy Screens in Houston
Diamond-lattice panels built as privacy screens, fence toppers, and climbing frames — the cheapest way to stop looking at a neighbour or an AC unit.
Explore Cedar Arbors and Diamond Privacy Screens in Houston
Written about this work.
What we have published on it — what it costs, what it is like to live with, and how it is put together.
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