The Outdoor Lifestyle Blog

In the heart of sunny San Jose, California, where the weather beckons you to spend more time outdoors, having a well-designed outdoor kitchen pergola is a game-changer. The team at Unlimited Outdoor Kitchen understands that creating a perfect backyard requires careful consideration of all the ways one can get shade.

Keep in mind, you can always use umbrellas as a great and decorative way to get shade. These are just some of the permanent structures we can build to really enhance your backyard. Let's dive into the world of pergolas and some alternative builds, each with its own set of benefits and drawbacks.

There's nothing more frustrating than planning a backyard barbecue in your outdoor kitchen only to have it rained out. Either you end up taking the party inside or cancelling it completely. Both scenarios are less than ideal because no venue can really compare to an outdoor kitchen.

So, if you want to ensure that the rain never hinders your plans for hosting a party in your outdoor kitchen, you should consider designing an outdoor kitchen that's weatherproof and protects your guests from the rain. 

So you’ve decided that your backyard just won’t be complete without a custom pergola. Perhaps you’re most interested in the comfortable shade it can provide as you cook and entertain outdoors, or you love the visual interest it will provide for your landscape.

You’ve also decided that a pre-fabricated model just isn’t for you, and that you want something customized for your yard—or integrated into a new outdoor kitchen. Maybe you’re planning to do a full DIY job, or maybe you’d like to get a professional to help you design, build, and/or install it.

In a previous post, we discussed the materials for building a pergola, and the pros and cons of each. In most cases, wooden pergolas will give you the most flexibility for creating your own design.

Here are a few ideas for where you might go from here:

A backyard pergola can be a great addition to your backyard, beautifying your landscape and creating a small oasis for relaxing that’s protected from the sun and rain.

If you’re still brainstorming about the kind of pergola that will be perfect for your yard, one of the decisions you’ll have to make early on is the material it will be constructed out of.

The most common building materials for pergolas are wood, metal (such as steel or aluminum), or an artificial substance such as vinyl or fiberglass.

If you’re still undecided on which route to take, consider the following aspects of each:

If you're in the process of planning a backyard upgrade, we suggest you consider adding a custom pergola to your list of must-haves!

Pergolas are great because they can be built as stand alone structures or as additions to your deck or patio, and they can be outfitted to fit nearly any function you can dream up. Aside from their versatility, here are 3 other benefits of having a custom pergola in your backyard: