What does the wall have to carry?
A wall-mounted pergola hands roughly half of its load to the building. That includes the weight of the frame and louvres, snow where it falls, and wind pulling the roof up or pushing it sideways. Side screens catch more wind, so they add load too. The fixings have to reach something structural. A decorative finish on the outside of the wall is not enough.
| Wall | Typical approach | Check with your installer |
|---|---|---|
| Solid concrete or masonry | Ledger fixed with anchors approved for that wall | Wall thickness and condition, edge distances, hollow blocks |
| Timber frame | Ledger fixed into structural members, not just the sheathing | Where the studs, rim joist or beams run; flashing over the ledger |
| Brick veneer, cladding or insulated render | Fix through to the structure behind, or choose freestanding | Whether the finish can be penetrated and sealed; thermal-break fixings |
| Unknown or damaged wall | Freestanding frame next to the wall | Gap to the wall and how water is kept out of it |
Ask for the reaction loads at the wall for your size and location, then have a local installer or structural professional confirm the fixing detail. The wind and snow rating guide explains what those loads depend on.
Wall-mounted vs freestanding: which should you choose?
| Wall-mounted | Freestanding | |
|---|---|---|
| Posts | Usually two, on the open side | Four or more |
| Work on the house | Ledger fixing and flashing on the wall | None — the frame stands on its own footings |
| Footings | Fewer, but the wall must be suitable | One per post |
| Fit against the wall | Closes the gap to the facade | A small gap stays between frame and wall |
| Later changes | Tied to the building | Can be moved or extended more easily |
| Permits | Rules for attached and detached structures differ between countries and cities — check locally before ordering | |
Both use the same profiles, motor and finish on a VORALEVA louvered pergola, so a project can mix the two.
How does the roof drain next to the house?
The louvres shed rain into a perimeter gutter, and the water runs down inside the posts. On a wall-mounted pergola the gutter along the wall needs a flashing above it, so rain running down the facade does not get behind the ledger. Plan where each post discharges. Water should flow to a drain or away from the house foundations, not onto a path or the base of the wall. More detail is in Are louvered pergolas waterproof?
Doors, windows, eaves and height
- Eaves and fascia: measure from the floor to the underside of the eaves. The pergola and its gutter have to fit below them with room to fix the ledger.
- Doors and windows: mark any outward-opening sashes, shutters, awnings and door swings. The beam must not cross them.
- Services on the wall: note downpipes, vents, lights, sockets and meters. They may need moving or a different ledger position.
- Clear height: standard clear height is about 2.5–3.0 m. A taller frame is possible, but it catches more wind.
What to send for a quote
- A photo of the wall and the floor in front of it, with the wall material if you know it.
- Width along the wall, projection from the wall and the height to the eaves.
- The city or region, so the design wind and snow loads can be checked.
- Which sides will get ZIP screens, glass or louvre walls, if any.
FAQ
Can you attach a pergola to a house with siding or cladding?
Usually not to the cladding itself. The fixings have to reach the structure behind it, and each fixing point has to be flashed and sealed. If that is not practical, set a freestanding frame close to the wall.
Do you need a permit for a pergola attached to a house?
It depends on where you are. Many authorities treat an attached roof structure differently from a detached one. Check size, height and boundary rules with your local authority before ordering.
Can a wall-mounted louvered pergola have ZIP screens?
Yes. Screens are usually fitted on the two or three open sides. Tell the supplier at quote stage so the posts, beams and wall fixings are checked with the screens in place. See pergola with ZIP screens.
Plan your layout
For a VORALEVA project, send a photo of the wall, the three measurements above and your location. We return a price and a layout drawing that shows the ledger, post positions and drain outlets.