Pergola vs. Pavilion: Which One Is Right for Your Backyard?
The Question We Get Asked Most
This is the question we get asked more than any other: pergola or pavilion? A pergola is traditionally an open structure, with a flat, slatted or gently sloped roof. We also build them closed in — a solid roof, a finished ceiling, electrical and post and beam trim — and it is still a pergola. A pavilion can have a flat or shed roof too, but its options expand to gable, hip and other pitched forms; it can be open-sided or partially enclosed, and it is generally larger. A gazebo sits closer to a pergola in scale, but with more decorative forms like a domed roof. A pergola is also the less expensive of the three, which is why most of our clients choose one. The first thing we ask is how you want to use the space.
This guide compares the two side by side, covers what each one costs in the Charleston area, and explains which structures need a permit. If you already know which one you want, go straight to our pergola page or pavilion page.
Pergola vs. Pavilion: What's the Difference?
Pergola
A pergola is traditionally an open structure supported by columns or posts, with a flat, slatted or gently sloped roof. Left open, light filters through the rafters, climbing plants can grow across the top, and fabric shade panels or a retractable canopy can be added.
We also build them closed in — a solid roof, a finished ceiling, electrical and post and beam trim — and it is still a pergola. Pergolas are the least expensive of the three and work well with a patio, a fire pit area or an outdoor dining setup.
Pavilion
A pavilion can carry a flat or shed roof like a pergola, but its options expand to gable, hip and other pitched forms, typically finished with shingles, metal roofing or standing seam panels. It can be open-sided or partially enclosed, and it is generally the larger of the two.
That extra scale and height is what makes room for a true outdoor room: an outdoor kitchen under cover, a bathroom and storage at the back, speakers and lighting. Our pool pavilion guide covers pavilions built around a pool specifically.
Gazebo
A gazebo sits closer to a pergola in scale — a smaller garden structure — but with more decorative forms, most recognisably a domed roof, and often octagonal or hexagonal with railing or screening on the sides. Gazebos are less common in what we build than pergolas and pavilions, but they suit certain garden and formal landscape settings.
Pergola and Pavilion Materials: What Works in Charleston
The Lowcountry climate is demanding on outdoor structures. The combination of salt air (especially within a few miles of the coast), high humidity, heavy summer rainfall, and UV exposure is hard on wood, metal hardware, and finishes. Material selection matters significantly for long-term performance.
Pressure-Treated Pine
Pressure-treated pine is the most common structural material for pergolas and pavilions in the Charleston area. Modern pressure treatment with ACQ (alkaline copper quaternary) or similar preservatives provides strong rot and insect resistance — the two biggest threats to structural wood in the Lowcountry. Pressure-treated pine takes paint and stain well, is widely available, and is cost-effective for the structural framing of both pergolas and pavilions.
For visible decorative elements — post details, corbels, rafter tails — cedar or pine trim pieces are often added over the structural framing for a cleaner finish.
Cedar
Western red cedar is the premium wood option for pergolas. It is naturally rot-resistant, dimensionally stable, and has a tight grain that takes stain beautifully. Cedar weathers to an attractive silver-gray if left unstained, and with periodic staining and sealing, a cedar pergola looks excellent for decades.
Cedar costs more than pressure-treated pine but is worth the premium for pergolas where the wood finish is a significant aesthetic consideration. For a fully exposed garden pergola with natural wood as the design statement, cedar is the right material.
Steel and Aluminum
Metal-framed pergolas — particularly powder-coated aluminum — have become popular for their clean, modern aesthetic and minimal maintenance requirements. Aluminum does not rust, holds a powder coat finish well, and is lightweight enough to handle without heavy equipment. Steel frames are an option for larger structures or more industrial aesthetics.
Metal pergola systems are available in kit form with prefabricated components or as fully custom fabricated structures. We can build with either approach depending on the design and budget.
Pergola and Pavilion Styles for Charleston Homes
Classic White Painted Pergola
The most requested pergola aesthetic in Charleston is a traditional design with white-painted posts and beams, detailed rafter tails, and decorative corbels at the post-beam connection. This style suits the architecture of most Charleston-area homes — from traditional colonial and craftsman styles to newer coastal builds — and ages well with periodic repainting.
Natural Cedar Garden Pergola
A stained cedar pergola with a warm, natural finish is ideal for garden settings, backyard seating areas, and properties where the structure is meant to blend into the landscape rather than anchor hardscape. Jasmine grows beautifully across a cedar pergola.
Modern Low-Profile Pergola
Clean horizontal lines, minimal detailing, and a low-pitch or flat top profile suit contemporary and transitional home styles. Modern pergolas often use powder-coated aluminum or dark-stained composite materials. Cable wire tensioned across the top instead of traditional rafter patterns is a popular detail in this style.
Covered Pavilion with Metal Roof
A standing seam metal roof on a substantial post-and-beam pavilion is one of the most popular outdoor living structures we build in Charleston. Metal roofing handles the Lowcountry's rainfall and UV exposure better than shingles over the long term, and the sound of rain on a metal roof over an outdoor dining area is a genuinely pleasant experience. A well-designed metal roof pavilion can anchor an entire outdoor living design.
Pergola and Pavilion Costs in Charleston
What a Pergola Costs
Most pergolas we build fall between $6,000 and $30,000 installed. A simple attached or freestanding pergola over an existing patio sits at the low end. What moves a project up the range is footprint, material, and detail: a larger span needs heavier framing, cedar and composite cost more than pressure-treated pine, and integrated lighting, a ceiling fan or decorative rafter tails all add to the total.
What a Pavilion Costs
Pavilions run $30,000 to $90,000 and up. A pavilion carries a real roof, so the posts, footings and framing are all heavier, and the roof itself is a significant part of the cost. The top of that range is a pavilion built as a full outdoor room, with an outdoor kitchen underneath, finished ceilings, fans and lighting.
These are installed costs, including materials, labour and the building permit. If a pavilion needs an engineer’s drawing, or you want 3D renderings, those are quoted separately. A structure going onto an existing paver or concrete surface is straightforward to price. If a new patio is part of the same job, that hardscape is quoted with it.
Permitting in Charleston
Both pergolas and pavilions typically require a building permit in Charleston County and incorporated municipalities. Permit requirements vary slightly by jurisdiction — Charleston city, North Charleston, Mount Pleasant, and unincorporated Charleston County each have their own process.
We handle permitting as part of every structural installation. The permit timeline for a typical pergola or pavilion in the Charleston area is about four to six weeks from submission to approval, and that sits ahead of the build in the project schedule.
HOA communities may have their own architectural review requirements independent of the county permit. We work with homeowners to prepare whatever documentation the HOA needs.
What to Consider Before You Build
Orientation and sun path. A pergola that faces west will be hit with full afternoon sun. If the goal is afternoon shade, the design needs to account for the sun angle with appropriate rafter spacing, shade panels, or canopy coverage. We evaluate sun orientation during the design consultation.
Proximity to the house. Attached pergolas connect directly to the home's exterior wall and typically require a ledger board bolted to the house framing. This affects the structural approach and requires careful waterproofing at the attachment point. Freestanding structures have their own footings and don't introduce attachment concerns.
Foundation and footing requirements. All structural posts need proper concrete footings sized for the structure. In Charleston's sandy coastal soils, footing depth and diameter matter for long-term stability.
Electrical. A pavilion or pergola with ceiling fans, landscape lighting, string lights, and outdoor audio needs an electrical rough-in as part of the installation. Gas, electrical and plumbing are handled by our own team, along with the permits.
Pergola & Pavilion FAQ
What is the difference between a pergola and a pavilion?
A pergola is traditionally an open structure with a flat, slatted or gently sloped roof. A pavilion can have a flat or shed roof as well, but its options expand to gable, hip and other pitched forms, it can be open-sided or partially enclosed, and it is generally larger. A gazebo sits closer to a pergola in scale, a smaller garden structure, but with more decorative forms such as a domed roof. Most of our clients choose a pergola because it costs less.
Do pergolas have roofs?
Traditionally, yes — a pergola is an open structure, and its roof is flat, slatted or gently sloped. We also build them closed in, with a solid roof, a finished ceiling, electrical and post and beam trim, like the pergola kitchen in Summerville. Once you want a pitched roof form such as a gable or a hip, you are into pavilion territory.
Do pergolas provide shade?
An open pergola gives partial shade: the rafters break up direct sun without closing the space in, and how much you get depends on how closely they are spaced and which way the structure faces. Climbing plants or shade panels add more. If you want full shade and rain cover, we build the pergola with a solid roof and a finished ceiling instead.
How much does a pergola cost?
Most pergolas we build run between $6,000 and $30,000 installed. At $6,000 it is a simple pergola with no post and beam trim, no ceiling and maybe no roof. At $30,000 you get post and beam trim, a ceiling, a roof, electrical and possibly a kitchen underneath. A pavilion runs $30,000 to $90,000 and up.
Do I need a permit for a pergola?
In the Charleston area, usually yes. Almost every structure needs a building permit, and each jurisdiction runs its own process, though a few towns exempt smaller structures under a certain square footage — Isle of Palms is one. We handle the permitting as part of every structural build. Allow about four to six weeks for approval before the build starts.
What is the difference between a pergola and a gazebo?
A gazebo sits closer to a pergola in scale — a smaller garden structure — but with more decorative forms, most recognisably a domed roof. A pergola is traditionally open, with a flat, slatted or gently sloped roof, and is more often attached to a house or set over a patio. We build far more pergolas and pavilions than gazebos.
How long does a pergola installation take?
A pergola takes one to three weeks, depending on size and complexity. A pavilion is a bigger build at six to eight weeks. Allow about four to six weeks for permitting before either one starts.
Do pergolas add value to a home in Charleston?
Yes. Well-built outdoor structures consistently add value in the Charleston market, where buyers place significant emphasis on outdoor living space. A quality pergola or pavilion is typically viewed as a value-add feature by home appraisers and buyers.
Can a pergola be attached to a screened porch or existing structure?
Yes, in most configurations. The structural approach depends on the existing structure and the attachment method. We assess the connection point during the consultation to confirm the approach.
What is the best wood for a pergola in coastal South Carolina?
For pure performance in the coastal environment, cedar and composite materials have the best long-term outcomes. Pressure-treated pine is the most cost-effective option and performs well with proper finishing and periodic maintenance. We do not recommend untreated pine or standard dimensional lumber for any exterior structural application in the Lowcountry.
Can I add a pergola to an existing patio?
Yes. Pergolas are commonly added to existing concrete or paver patios as a second phase of an outdoor living project. The post footings are installed through the existing surface and into the ground below.
Decided Which One You Want?
Read more about how we design and build each one: custom pergolas and backyard and pool pavilions. For a pavilion built around a pool, see our pool pavilion guide.
Ready to Start?
Contact Cramers Landscaping for a design consultation. We'll walk your property, discuss your goals, and put together a design and quote. Call (843) 614-9773.
What the Code Says About Roofed Structures
2021 IRC R301.2.1 · Wind design, as South Carolina rewrote it
A roofed structure has to be designed for wind. South Carolina replaced the standard wind section with its own: buildings are designed to the wind maps published by the SC Building Codes Council, and the local building official sets the wind design category for their jurisdiction.1 On the coast that is a real design load, and it is what decides how a roof is tied down and what the footings have to resist.
That is also why a roofed pergola or pavilion needs a permit and an inspection, where an open arbor often does not.
South Carolina approved the 2024 International Residential Code on August 26, 2025, and it is enforced from January 1, 2027.2 A structure permitted after that date is reviewed under the new edition.
References are to the 2021 edition South Carolina enforces today; the 2024 edition takes effect statewide on January 1, 2027. Your local building department decides how any of it applies to a particular property.
Sources
See It Built
Projects where we put this into practice.
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