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Pergolas & Outdoor Structures

Sturdy, pressure-treated timber pergolas and seating structures, built to frame your patio and extend the evenings outside.

A well-built pergola does two jobs: it defines the space, and it gives you a reason to sit out later into the evening. We build from pressure-treated timber with proper post footings, and can integrate lighting, slatted screening and fitted benches to match.

What's included in your pergola quote

  • Pressure-treated structural timber, concreted post footings
  • Slatted privacy screening built to match the pergola
  • Integrated warm-white LED lighting on request
  • Fitted timber benches and seating on rendered plinths
  • Sized and positioned to suit sun, shade and sightlines

How your pergola project runs

  1. Layout & sun-check

    We plan the structure around how sun moves across your garden through the day.

  2. Footings & frame

    Posts are set in concrete footings and the main frame is built and levelled.

  3. Screening & lighting

    Slatted panels, benches and any lighting are fitted and wired in.

  4. Treat & finish

    Timber is finished and the structure is checked for stability before handover.

What to expect during pergola work

A free visit talks through positioning, sun and shade before anything is priced, since a pergola in the wrong spot rarely gets used as much as one that's planned properly. Post positions and footing depths are agreed before any digging starts. Timber is left to a proper finish, and the area is cleared of offcuts and packaging before the job is called done.

Why choose Eastside Construction for Pergolas & Outdoor Structures

Concreted Footings, Not Just Post Spikes

Every post sits in a proper concrete footing sized for the structure, not a driven-in spike that works loose over a windy winter.

Positioned Around Your Actual Sun

The structure is planned around how sunlight actually moves across your specific garden, not just placed in the most convenient spot to build.

Built to Take Real Weight

Structural, pressure-treated timber is used throughout, sized to carry climbing planting, lighting and screening without flexing.

Pergolas & Outdoor Structures questions, answered

Do I need planning permission for a pergola?

Most garden pergolas fall under permitted development, particularly if attached to a single-storey rear extension or built within normal height and coverage limits. Larger structures, or gardens with existing extensions eating into permitted development allowances, are worth checking with the local council before work starts.

Can a pergola be attached to the house?

Yes, pergolas are commonly built running off the rear wall of the house, which also gives a strong fixing point for one side of the structure. The wall fixing is checked to make sure it can genuinely take the load before anything is attached.

How much shade does a pergola actually provide?

An open slatted pergola on its own gives dappled, partial shade rather than full cover, since light passes between the beams. Adding a retractable canopy, integrated louvres, or planting trained across the top increases the shade significantly if fuller cover is the goal.

Can lighting be added to a pergola after it's built?

It's more straightforward to wire lighting in while the structure is being built, since cables can be run cleanly through the timber before it's finished. Lighting can still be retrofitted afterwards, but the cable runs are usually more visible as a result.

Will a pergola need any maintenance?

Pressure-treated timber holds up well with minimal attention, though a re-stain or re-oil every couple of years keeps the colour looking fresh rather than silvering with age. Concreted footings and structural joints don't need any ongoing maintenance at all.

How do I choose the right pergola builder?

Ask specifically whether posts are set in concrete footings and to what depth, since this is what determines whether the structure stays solid through winter winds or starts to lean. Evidence of similar builds, and a willingness to talk through positioning relative to your actual garden rather than a generic layout, are both good signs.
Pergolas & Outdoor Structures project photo
A pergola and bench build shown mid-project, ahead of final staining and planting.

Book a free pergola site visit

Tell us a little about the project and we'll come back with honest timings and a clear price, no obligation.

Request a quote Call 07895 675130
Timeframe4 to 8 days
MaterialsPressure-treated timber
Areas coveredColchester, Clacton, Ipswich
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Let's plan your next project properly.

Free, no-obligation quotes across Colchester, Clacton-on-Sea, Walton-on-the-Naze and Ipswich.

Request a free quote Call 07895 675130