What used to be called a patio roof is now commonly called a pergola – it provides protection from sun, rain and wind while extending your home’s living space. A large architectural structure, pergolas consist of rafters, beams and posts and can be attached or detached to a house. While opinions vary as to what distinguishes it from a gazebo, typically a gazebo is freestanding and has a gable roof, while the roof of a pergola is flat. The terms arbor and pergola are often used interchangeably, but an arbor is more of a structure used to support vines or to direct foot traffic in a garden.
