PERGOLAS
A pergola is a timeless open-frame structure that enhances outdoor spaces with architectural elegance. While offering partial shade and gentle sun filtering, it maintains an open-air feel and a clear view of the sky. COVER Timberworks™ crafts two distinct pergola styles—one with ornate rafters and decorative accents, and another with sleek, modern lines—so you can choose the look that fits your vision.
TETON PERGOLA
Standard in design, but not in quality. Our Tenton pergolas include heavy timber throughout, 18″ of overhang on all sides, and your choice from three different knee braces which come standard. Choose from seven rafter tail options and five standard stain colors to customize your pergola to perfectly complement your outdoor living environment.
TETON PERGOLA
Traditional in design, but not in quality. The Teton provides a timeless design suitable for any outdoor space.
ACADIA MODERN PERGOLA
Old-world craftsmanship with modern architecture. The Acadia offers a sleek design with clean lines which will complement today’s more modern swimming pools or outdoor living environments.
OUR PROCESS
Traditional backyard carpentry just cannot compare to COVER Timberworks. From beginning to end, our process is efficient, easy and clean, and it takes less than half the amount of time to produce and complete one of our beautifully designed, high-quality structures.
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EXPLORE DESIGN OPTIONS
In addition, our modular design system offers choices of size, timber, stains, decorative profile and more at menu pricing. The end result is a structure that is unique to each homeowner and one that transforms their backyard into their outdoor dreamscape.BROWSE OUR GALLERY
PERGOLA FAQS
What is a timber frame pergola?
A timber frame pergola is an open-roof outdoor structure built with large posts, beams, rafters, and shade bars. It defines an outdoor living space, adds architectural character, and provides filtered shade while keeping the area open to light, air, and the surrounding landscape.
What makes a timber frame pergola different from a pergola built using more conventional carpentry is the way the structure is proportioned, joined, and finished. Timber framing uses larger structural members, traditional joinery details, and a more substantial construction method than pergolas built primarily from smaller dimensional lumber, nails, screws, or exposed brackets.
Key differences include:
- Heavier posts, beams, and rafters that give the pergola a stronger architectural presence.
- Traditional timber frame joinery such as mortise and tenon connections, oak pegs, and hidden hardware.
- Cleaner finished details with fewer exposed fasteners, plates, or brackets.
- Stronger visual proportions that make the structure feel more permanent and integrated with the surrounding outdoor space.
- Larger structural members that can allow for broader openings and a more substantial overall design than many conventional pergolas.
What is the difference between a pergola and a pavilion?
The main difference is the roof. A pergola has an open frame with rafters and shade bars, so it provides partial shade, airflow, and a more open connection to the outdoors. A pavilion has a solid pitched roof, so it provides more complete sun protection and better shelter from rain.
Choose a pergola when you want architectural shade, a lighter visual profile, plant support, or a structure that feels open and connected to the yard. Choose a pavilion when you want a true outdoor room for deep seating, outdoor kitchens, TVs, fireplaces, or year-round entertaining. Both can create a defined outdoor living space; the right choice depends on how much coverage and enclosure you want.
What are the advantages of a pergola?
A pergola is a strong choice when you want to define an outdoor space without closing it in. Its open-roof design creates filtered shade while preserving views, airflow, and natural light, making the space feel more intentional without the heavier feel of a full roof.
Key advantages of a pergola include:
- Filtered shade without full enclosure
A pergola softens direct sun while keeping the space bright, open, and connected to the surrounding yard or landscape. - A lighter architectural profile
Compared to a pavilion, a pergola typically feels less visually imposing, making it a good fit for patios, pool decks, walkways, garden entries, and outdoor dining areas. - Better flexibility near the home
Pergolas can work well where windows, roof overhangs, sightlines, drainage, or height limits make a roofed pavilion more difficult. - Defined outdoor living space
A pergola helps organize an outdoor area and gives it purpose without fully turning it into a covered outdoor room. - Potentially simpler HOA review
Because pergolas are open-roof structures and often lower in profile than pavilions, they may be easier to work through in some HOA approval situations. - Lower cost than a comparable pavilion
A pergola typically costs less than a similar-sized pavilion because it does not include a full roof system.
If your priority is architectural character, partial shade, and an open-air feel, a timber frame pergola is often the better fit.
What should I consider when choosing a size?
The right pergola size depends on how the space will be used, where it will sit, and how the surrounding area will be finished. A garden accent or walkway pergola may only need a modest footprint, while a poolside seating area, dining space, or outdoor living zone may need more room for furniture and circulation.
The most important sizing considerations include:
- Intended use
Consider whether the pergola will be used for dining, lounging, poolside shade, a garden entry, a walkway, grilling, or a larger entertainment area. - Location in the yard
The structure should fit its setting, whether it is near the home, next to a pool, on an existing concrete pad, within a landscape design, or placed as a freestanding destination space. - Furniture and circulation
The pergola should be sized around tables, chairs, deep seating, grills, walkways, and the way people will move through the space. - Post placement
Post locations need to work with the slab, pool deck, views, furniture layout, and circulation paths. This is especially important when the structure is situated near pools, patios, outdoor kitchens, or existing hardscape. - Span limits
For most residential applications, the maximum free span between posts is commonly around 20 feet, depending on the model, timber package, and structural requirements. - Post footprint versus overall coverage
Most timber structures include overhangs beyond the posts, so the post to post dimensions are not always the same as the total roof, rafter, or shade area. This matters when planning the structure around a slab, pool deck, furniture layout, outdoor kitchen, or walkway. It also matters when comparing sizes from different companies, because one company may describe a structure by its post footprint while another may reference the larger overall coverage area.
Standard pergola overhangs vary by model:
Series | Model | Overhang |
Summit | Bross | 12 inches |
Reserve | Teton | 18 inches |
Reserve | Acadia | None |
What is the difference between your Summit and Reserve Series?
The Reserve Series is Cover Timberworks’ highest quality, most flexible timber frame line. It is designed for customers who want the best version of a timber outdoor structure: more designs, more options, any size, heavier visual proportions, old world joinery, hidden hardware, oak pegs, and a more refined finished appearance. That level of detail and craftsmanship does come at a higher price than more typical carpenter built structures.
The Summit Series was introduced as a bridge between a conventional carpenter built structure and the full Reserve Series. It still carries Cover Timberworks quality, off site CNC fabrication, professional delivery and installation, Douglas Fir timber, and stain options, but with fewer designs, fixed sizes, exposed structural fasteners, smaller timber specifications, and no complex timber frame joinery. In short, Reserve is the premium timber frame line; Summit is the value focused COVER line.
What is the difference between your Standard and Heavy Timber packages?
Cover Timberworks offers two timber size packages: Standard and Heavy. The Heavy package creates a more substantial architectural look, but the right choice depends on the scale of the structure. Smaller structures often look best in Standard because the lighter timber proportions fit the overall size. Mid-size structures can often work well in either package. Larger structures usually benefit from the Heavy package because the larger posts, beams, rafters, and braces better match the roof mass, span, and overall visual weight of the design.
One important difference between Cover Timberworks and many field-built carpenter structures is that the timber scale is maintained throughout the structure. Instead of using a large corner post with much smaller framing everywhere else, the posts, plates, rafters, braces, and shade bars are designed as a complete system.
Component | Summit Standard | Summit Heavy | Reserve Standard | Reserve Heavy |
Post | 6×6 | 8×8 | 6×6 | 8×8 |
Plates, girt, ridge | 3×10 | 4×10 | 6×8 or 6×10 | 8×10 or 8×12 |
Rafters | 3×8 | 3×8 | 4×8 | 4×8 |
Knee braces | 2×6 | 3×6 | 4×6 | 6×6 |
Shade bars | 2×4 | 2×4 | 4×4 | 4×4 |
How much does a timber frame pergola cost in Texas?
Timber frame pergola pricing can vary widely, but starting prices are useful when you are comparing options and deciding what fits your budget. COVER Timberworks publishes model-based starting prices so customers have a clear baseline before making final design selections.
Current pergola starting price examples include:
| Series | Model | Starting at |
| Summit | Bross | $6,995 |
| Reserve | Acadia | $8,495 |
| Reserve | Teton | $9,295 |
These are starting prices, not final project totals. Larger sizes, Heavy Timber packages, custom details, site conditions, special engineering, and other options can change the final price. Cover Timberworks uses menu pricing and a design and price process so customers can move from general budget expectations to a clear written estimate without the uncertainty of a fully open-ended custom bid.
To explore options, visit our online configurator to design and price your own timber frame pergola.
Do you sell predesigned pergola kits or custom solutions?
No, Cover Timberworks does not offer kits in the usual big box or online sense. Many pergola kits are available in only one or a few fixed sizes, have limited options, may be fabricated overseas, use lighter materials, and require the customer to self-install or hire an independent contractor. That is not the Cover Timberworks model.
Cover Timberworks fabricates and stains each structure in its facility using a CNC saw system, then delivers and installs the structure with professional in-house crews. That gives customers the benefits of off-site production and efficient installation without settling for a generic kit. The structures are made to order, available in many designs, options, colors, and sizes, and can be delivered and installed across Texas and beyond.
In select situations, such as certain out-of-state projects, Cover Timberworks may be able to provide a pre-manufactured structure for self-installation. The standard offering, however, is a designed, fabricated, delivered, and installed timber structure. Customers can choose from the COVER lineup for efficiency and value, or pursue a fully custom timber frame solution when the project requires it.
Do you offer both attached and freestanding pergolas?
Cover Timberworks focuses on freestanding pergolas and other freestanding timber outdoor structures. This approach is central to the company’s value: pre-engineered designs, menu pricing, off-site fabrication, cleaner installation, and a more predictable project process.
A freestanding pergola can still be placed very close to the home when the site allows. In some cases, the structure can be positioned near an exterior wall to function like a patio cover while remaining structurally independent. Structures that attach directly to a house are more like remodeling projects because they involve the home’s framing, waterproofing, roofline, and other site specific conditions. If your goal is to create coverage right next to the house, Cover Timberworks can help evaluate whether a freestanding solution near the home is the better fit.
Timber pergola vs aluminum pergola: which is better?
Timber and aluminum pergolas serve different priorities. Aluminum can be a good fit when the main goal is reduced maintenance and a sleek metal appearance. The tradeoff is that aluminum pergolas are often more expensive, more limited in design range, colder in appearance, and less natural in the landscape than timber structures.
For customers who want warmth, natural texture, stronger visual presence, broader design options, and better integration with masonry, landscaping, and outdoor living features, timber framing is usually the better fit.
The advantages of timber include:
- A warmer, more natural appearance
Timber has natural grain, depth, and texture that aluminum cannot fully replicate. It creates an outdoor space that feels more inviting, organic, and connected to the landscape. - A more substantial presence
Heavy timber posts, beams, rafters, and braces give the structure visual weight. A timber pergola feels less like a metal shade system and more like a permanent feature of the outdoor living space. - Better integration with outdoor living materials
Timber pairs especially well with stone columns, masonry walls, outdoor kitchens, fireplaces, pool environments, and natural landscape materials. - Greater design flexibility
Timber framing allows for a wider range of structure types and roof forms, including pergolas, pavilions, single-pitch roofs, gables, half hips, full hips, hybrids, and other custom design combinations. - More finish and color flexibility
Timber can be stained in multiple standard colors or finished with custom color solutions. Many aluminum systems are limited to a narrow factory color range, often only black or a few neutral options. - Better fit for complete outdoor living spaces
Timber structures can be designed around walls, partial enclosures, outdoor kitchens, lighting, ceiling fans, TVs, fireplaces, and other features that make the space feel more complete. - Strong value compared to aluminum
When comparing similar-sized and similarly appointed structures, timber often costs less than aluminum while delivering a warmer, more substantial, and more customized result.
The primary advantage of aluminum is lower maintenance. The tradeoff is higher cost, narrower design flexibility, fewer finish options, and a colder overall appearance. For customers who want natural beauty, scale, warmth, and a structure that fits comfortably into a finished outdoor living environment, timber framing is usually the stronger choice.
What timber is best for pergolas?
COVER Timberworks uses #1 or better Free of Heart Center Coastal Douglas Fir for its timber structures. Douglas Fir is one of the most widely used species in timber frame construction because it offers an excellent combination of strength, density, stability, and appearance.
For structural pergolas and outdoor timber frame structures, Douglas Fir has several advantages:
- Proven structural performance
Douglas Fir is commonly used in timber frame homes, pavilions, and other exposed structural applications because of its strong engineering properties. - Greater density than many common softwoods
Douglas Fir is denser than many alternative species used in outdoor structures. For example, it generally weighs 40 percent or more than cedar, giving it a stronger and more substantial feel. - Strength for larger spans
That added density contributes to higher strength values, helping Douglas Fir perform well in posts, beams, rafters, braces, and larger open-span designs. - Improved stability with Free of Heart Center material
Free of Heart Center timber is cut to exclude the center pith of the tree, which helps reduce the severity of checking, twisting, and movement. Combined with the natural density of Douglas Fir, this creates a more stable timber for exterior structural use. - A preferred species for premium timber framing
Architects, engineers, and timber frame builders often specify Douglas Fir when they want a structural timber that balances strength, appearance, workability, and long-term performance.
Some surface checking is still normal in exterior timber because wood expands and contracts with sun, heat, humidity, and weather. The goal is not to make wood behave like plastic; it is to use a high-quality timber that performs well structurally, finishes beautifully, and has the scale expected in a premium outdoor structure.
Does the pergola come stained?
Yes. Cover Timberworks structures come stained off site before installation. The stain is a deep-penetrating, oil-based stain and sealer applied before the structure arrives, which helps protect the timber and gives the finished pergola a cleaner, more complete appearance on installation day.
Off-site staining is important because it allows the timbers to be finished in a controlled environment, including areas that are harder to reach once the structure is assembled. It also keeps the jobsite cleaner and reduces the amount of finishing work needed at the home or project site. Cover Timberworks offers nine standard stain colors, with custom colors available when the project requires a specific look.
Do I need a permit for a pergola in Texas?
Permit requirements for pergolas vary by city, county, HOA, and project type. In many Texas communities, a small freestanding, open-roof pergola may not require a building permit, especially if it is under a common size threshold such as 200 square feet and does not include electrical, plumbing, gas, or other utility work. However, local rules vary, and some jurisdictions require permits for accessory structures regardless of size.
The biggest permit factors usually include:
- Attachment to the home
Attached structures are more likely to require permits than freestanding pergolas. - Size, height, and footprint
Larger structures, taller structures, or pergolas over certain square-footage thresholds may require review. - Roof type
Open-roof pergolas are often treated differently than solid-roof, louvered-roof, or covered structures. - Utilities and outdoor living features
Electrical, plumbing, gas, fans, lighting, grills, or outdoor kitchens can trigger additional permit requirements. - Location on the property
Setbacks, easements, floodplains, historic districts, HOA rules, and special overlays can affect approval. - Coastal windstorm areas
Projects in Texas coastal windstorm regions may require additional engineering or windstorm review. - Wildland Urban Interface areas
In parts of Austin and other fire-sensitive areas, Wildland Urban Interface Code requirements may affect material, placement, or construction details. - Engineering requirements
Some cities, HOAs, builders, architects, or project conditions may require structural drawings or sealed engineered plans.
COVER Timberworks provides detailed structural drawings with every project, which can help when permits or HOA approvals are required. Sealed engineered plans are available for an additional cost when required by the local jurisdiction, HOA, builder, architect, or project conditions. Because permit rules are local, homeowners should confirm requirements with their city, county, HOA, or permitting authority before construction.
How long does the process and installation take?
Most COVER Timberworks projects take about 3 to 5 weeks after the order and structural drawings are approved. During that time, the structure moves through final detailing, production, sanding, staining, delivery, and installation.
Because most of the work is completed off-site in our shop, the on-site installation is usually fast and clean compared to traditional backyard carpentry. Smaller pergolas can often be assembled in as little as a half day, while larger pergolas, pavilions, hybrids, or more detailed structures may take longer.
The timeline can vary based on project size, current production schedule, special design options, engineering requirements, and site readiness. The best way to keep the project moving is to finalize the size, style, orientation, stain color, timber package, and site conditions before production begins.
How do I maintain a timber pergola?
A timber pergola should be inspected and lightly cleaned once or twice per year. Because pergolas have exposed rafters and shade bars, they receive more direct sun and weather exposure than a roofed pavilion, so finish maintenance is especially important.
Areas with the most sun exposure may need light finish touch-ups every 1 to 2 years. A more complete maintenance coat is commonly needed every 2 to 5 years, depending on sun exposure, finish color, tree coverage, and local weather conditions.
Good maintenance also includes keeping leaves and debris off the structure, checking drainage around the posts, inspecting hardware and anchors, and watching for fading or finish wear. Surface checking is normal in exterior timber and is usually cosmetic, but serious damage, water traps, or finish failure should be addressed.
How is COVER different?
COVER Timberworks is different because it combines true timber frame craftsmanship with a more efficient, controlled, and predictable project process. Instead of building everything from scratch in the field, our structures are designed through a proven system, cut with CNC precision, sanded and stained off-site, then delivered and installed by in-house crews.
Key differences include:
- True timber frame craftsmanship
COVER structures are built with heavier timber, refined joinery, hidden hardware, oak pegs, and a more finished architectural look than typical stick-built carpentry or deck-builder construction. - Off-site fabrication
Most of the work is completed in a controlled shop environment, improving quality control while reducing mess, noise, and disruption at the jobsite. - CNC precision cutting
Our CNC saw system improves fit, finish, efficiency, and repeatability by cutting timbers and joinery with a high level of accuracy. - Clear design and pricing process
Menu pricing and a structured design process help customers understand options, make decisions, and establish a budget earlier in the project. - Professional delivery and installation
Structures are delivered and installed by in-house crews familiar with the product, details, and assembly process. - Strong value without sacrificing appearance
Our system helps control cost and timeline while still delivering the substantial, finished look expected from a premium timber frame structure.
The result is a structure that feels custom, substantial, and carefully built, while avoiding much of the uncertainty, mess, and inconsistency that can come with a fully field-built backyard project.
CONTACT US
Ready to learn about how COVER Timberworks can bring your outdoor living dreams to life? Contact us with the information below or send us a message through our contact form.Explore more from COVER: pergola builders in San Antonio and the best timber for a pergola.
