Licensed carpenter · Sydney
Pergola builders in Sydney
Timber pergolas and Colorbond pergola roofs for decks and patios, attached to the house or freestanding, built and repaired by a licensed carpenter.
- Google reviews
- 5.0 from 33
- NSW licence
- 276621C · Carpenter
- Quotes
- Free, on site
- Licensed
- Since 2014
About pergolas
A pergola gives a deck or patio shade and shelter, and changes how much of the year you use it.
We build timber pergolas with open rafters or a roof, and fit Colorbond roofs to new and existing frames. In Lane Cove West we built a timber pergola with translucent roofing over a merbau deck. We have also replaced a storm-damaged pergola roof with Colorbond on a reinforced frame.
The roof decides a lot. Open rafters give filtered shade and let the rain through. Translucent sheets keep the rain off and let light in. A Colorbond roof gives full shade and shelter, but makes the space darker and needs a gutter. We talk through what you want from the space before we choose.
Most pergolas attach to the house on one side. That means checking what they fix to, whether a wall, a beam or the roof framing, and how the new roof meets the old one. A freestanding pergola avoids that but needs posts and footings at every corner.
Pergola types
- 01
Timber pergolas
Treated pine or hardwood posts, beams and rafters, painted, stained or oiled.
- 02
Colorbond roofs
Steel roof sheeting in a range of colours on a timber frame, for full shade and rain cover.
- 03
Translucent roofing
Roof sheets that keep the rain off and let light through, as on our Lane Cove West pergola.
- 04
Roof replacements and repairs
New roofing on a sound or strengthened frame, including pergolas damaged in storms.
- 05
Aluminium pergolas
A factory-made system. Its page explains the options and when timber or Colorbond might suit you better.
Roof chooser
Choose your roof
The roof decides how the space under a pergola feels. Pick one, then switch between sun and rain to see what it does.
Your pergola roofTranslucent sheets
Before we price it
What changes a pergola job
Approval
Whether a pergola is exempt or needs approval depends on its size, height and where it sits on the lot. We check this at the first visit.
Attaching to the house
The wall or roof framing has to be able to carry the pergola. Sometimes the better answer is a beam on its own posts beside the house.
Roof fall and water
A roofed pergola needs enough fall to drain, plus a gutter and downpipe. Where the downpipe joins the stormwater, a licensed plumber does that connection.
Wind
A roofed pergola catches wind. Posts, beams, footings and tie-downs are sized for the roof it carries.
What customers say on Google
Google rating
5.0
From 33 reviews on Google
“From the first conversation, Hamzeh and his team were honest and straightforward about what the job would involve and what it would cost - no surprises along the way.”
How a job runs
How a pergola job runs
Step 01
Tell us about the space
Photos of the deck or patio, the back of the house and roughly where you want shade help us plan the visit.
Step 02
Measure and plan
We measure, look at what the pergola will fix to, and talk through roof types, timbers and finishes.
Step 03
Quote and approval
You get a written quote for the frame, roof and finish, and we tell you whether the pergola is exempt or needs approval.
Step 04
Build
Footings and posts go in first, then beams, rafters and roofing, with flashing where the pergola meets the house.
Step 05
Finish
Timber is oiled, stained or painted as agreed, and the site is cleaned up before we leave.
Approval check
Does my pergola need council approval?
Many pergolas in NSW are exempt development. Answer ten questions to see where yours is likely to stand.
- 01Will it sit behind the front of the house?It has to be behind the building line of any road frontage.
- 02Will it be 3 m or less high at its highest point?Measured from the existing ground level.
- 03Will the floor be 1 m or less above the ground at every point?Answer yes if it stands on the ground or a patio.
- 04Will any wall enclosing it be 1.4 m high or less?Answer yes if it is open on every side.
- 05If it is roofed and attached to the house, will it stay below the house’s gutter line?Answer yes if it is freestanding or has no roof.
- 06Will it be at least 900 mm from the side and rear boundaries?The distance for most suburban blocks.
- 07Is the block outside the rural and R5 large-lot residential zones?In those zones it has to be 5 m from the boundaries. Your council’s planning certificate shows the zone.
- 08Will it be 25 m² or smaller?For example, 5 m by 5 m.
- 09Counting any decks, patios and pergolas already there, will the total stay within the limit?On a block over 300 m², 15% of the house’s ground floor area. On a block of 300 m² or less, 25 m².
- 10Is the property free of heritage listing and bush fire mapping?Your council’s planning certificate shows both.
Based on the NSW Government fact sheet on exempt development for decks and pergolas (2022). A guide only, not legal advice. Read the fact sheet
Should the roof be open, translucent or Colorbond?
They do different jobs. Open rafters give dappled shade and let the rain through. Colorbond keeps rain and sun off completely but darkens the space. Translucent sheets sit between the two. A good test is whether you want to sit out there when it rains.
Can you replace an old pergola roof?
Yes. We have replaced a storm-damaged roof with Colorbond on a reinforced frame. We check the posts, beams and rafters first, because a new roof is only as good as the frame holding it.
Can a pergola go over an existing deck?
Usually. The pergola posts need their own footings rather than sitting on the deck boards, so we work out where they land before we start.
Regions we work in
We build across these parts of Sydney. Open your region to find your suburb.
Northern Beaches38 suburbs
Sydney City20 suburbs
Eastern Suburbs40 suburbs
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Related services
Planning a pergola? Tell us about it
A few details and a photo or two of the area are enough to start. We'll be in touch to talk it through.