The yard out the back of most Illawarra homes cops it. Baking in the sun one minute, getting belted by a southerly the next, and plenty of days you get both. A pergola or patio sorts it out — a roof over your head, some shade, room for the table and the barbie, and no more wind tunnel funnelling past the back door every arvo.
I'm Dave. I build these right across the Gong and the wider Illawarra — Helensburgh down to Nowra, Shoalhaven included. Licensed, insured, and you deal with me start to finish. No call centre.
Attached, freestanding, and what suits your block
First thing we work out is whether it ties onto the house or stands on its own.
An attached patio or verandah runs off your existing roofline, so you step straight out under cover. Feels like part of the house and you barely lose any yard. The catch is the connection — it's got to flash into your roof and gutter properly or you'll cop leaks down the track. On the older fibro and brick post-war places around here the existing roof framing isn't always sitting where you'd want it, so there's a bit of working around that.
A freestanding pergola goes wherever you like. Over a deck, out by the back fence, around the pool. Your roof stays untouched and the approval side's usually easier. It's a good shout if your block slopes, which a fair few do around here — on a slope we step the footings and set the posts to suit, so you end up dead level on uneven ground instead of something that looks like it's sliding down the hill.
Either way, the footings matter more than people reckon. We dig proper holes and concrete the posts or stirrups in. No skimping there — that's what holds the lot together when a big blow comes through off the escarpment.
Roofing, posts and timber
The roof's the call that decides how the space actually feels:
- Colorbond — fully waterproof, keeps the rain and the worst of the sun off, the go for an outdoor room you'll use year round. Comes in flyover or attached styles.
- Polycarbonate — lets light through so you don't darken the rooms behind it, handy on the south side. Get a decent grade or it goes brittle in our UV.
- Open battens — timber or aluminium slats for that pergola look, dappled shade, great over a deck. Not waterproof on its own, but you can run a vine over it or add a retractable down the track.
For the structure I use treated pine on painted jobs, and merbau or spotted gum where you want the timber on show. Both handle the salt air closer to the coast, though anything timber near the beach wants oiling now and then to keep it looking sharp. Posts get galvanised brackets and proper fixings — not whatever's cheapest on the Bunnings shelf. After a composite or low-maintenance finish to match a newer deck? Can do that too.
Approvals — the honest version
This is the bit that trips people up. A modest freestanding pergola under the height and floor-area limits can often go through as exempt development, which means no approval at all. Step over those limits, attach it to the house, or build close to a boundary, and you're into a CDC (Complying Development Certificate) or a full DA through Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama or Shoalhaven council, depending where you are. Every council reads the rules a bit differently, and the coastal and bushfire overlays change things again.
I'll have a look at your spot, your block and what you're chasing, and tell you straight which way it has to go before you spend a cent. No sense designing something that won't get signed off.
On price — a simple pergola might land a few grand, a big Colorbond verandah with the lot runs well into five figures. Comes down to size, roof, and what's underneath. You'll get a clear quote with nothing buried in it.
Got a tired old yard, or a back door that opens onto a whole lot of nothing? Give me a bell on 0414 007 351 or send through the details for a free quote. Happy to come have a look and talk through what'll actually work for your place.
Common questions
- Do I need council approval for a pergola or patio?
- Often a freestanding pergola under the size and height limits can go through as exempt development with no approval needed. Bigger structures, anything attached to the house, or jobs near a boundary usually need a CDC or a DA through your council. I'll tell you honestly which bucket yours falls into before we start.
- Attached to the house or freestanding — which is better?
- Attached gives you cover straight off the back door and usually feels like part of the house, but it ties into your roof and gutters so the flashing has to be right. Freestanding sits anywhere in the yard and keeps the approval simpler. It comes down to your block, your roofline and where the sun and wind hit.
- How long does a pergola or patio take to build?
- Most jobs run three to five days on site once the footings have cured, longer for a big verandah or a tricky sloping block. The wait beforehand is usually approval and getting materials in. I'll give you a real timeframe when I quote, not a guess.