Integration. The panel pergola builds the side frame and the bracing into the structure from the outset — the side panels are structural elements of the main frame, not additions bolted on afterwards. The result is a more coherent structure where sides and top are built as one piece rather than assembled in stages.

The panels provide solid side screening — not a slatted or partial barrier but a continuous panel on each side. Standing inside the structure, the sides are screened; the overhead is open. The level of privacy is comparable to a garden room with open top.

Yes, at the point of order. Roof kits in clear, opal or bronze polycarbonate with white or brown glazing bars. When a roof is added the space beneath becomes substantially more enclosed — a consideration for ventilation and light.

Yes, more so than an open pergola. The closed side panels increase wind loading on the structure, which means secure post fixing is important regardless of surface type. Bolt-down feet on hard surfaces, concreted in on soft ground.

The corner brace option is chosen at the point of order — the available option affects price and changes the diagonal pattern within the side panel frame. Both options use the same pressure-treated redwood as the main structure.