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Pergola classification map comparing open frame, operable shade and continuous roof
A name is only the start: actual roof behavior, attachment and use determine the next verification path. Original diagram by Pergola Wiki.
Read a detailed text description

The diagram branches from the shared name “pergola” into three overhead conditions: an open frame that lets rain pass, an operable cover whose state changes, and a continuous roof that collects water. Each branch then points readers to verify attachment, enclosure, services, structural actions, drainage and the local approval pathway.

Key takeaways

  • Attachment is a structural interface, not a decorative fixing.
  • Freestanding does not mean foundation-free.
  • Waterproofing at the building connection is critical.

On this page

  1. Attached systems
  2. Freestanding systems
  3. Compare complete load paths
  4. Evidence before drilling

Attached systems

A ledger or bracket connection must engage verified structural material and preserve the wall's drainage plane. Cladding alone is not a structural substrate. Existing eaves, openings and utilities can constrain level and anchor positions.

Freestanding systems

Four or more posts can simplify building-envelope risk, but they increase the importance of foundation layout, frame stability and uplift resistance. Narrow frames and tall posts can be sensitive to lateral movement.

Source tier 1Source-register entry
International Code Council — 2024 International Residential Code — Appendix BF Patio Covers
US model-code provisions for residential patio covers; only applicable where adopted.

Compare complete load paths

An attached frame may use fewer posts, but it sends vertical, lateral and uplift actions into an existing wall or roof edge. A freestanding frame adds posts and foundations but avoids that interface. Compare verified substrate, waterproofing access, foundation feasibility, differential movement and maintenance—not only post count or purchase price.

Evidence before drilling

Before attachment, locate framing and services without assuming that stud spacing, masonry fill or rim-board condition matches drawings. Record the substrate and connector system, edge distances and flashing sequence. If the existing structure cannot be verified, redesigning as freestanding can be more defensible than using larger unknown anchors.

Source tier 2Source-register entry
European Commission Joint Research Centre — Eurocode 1 — Actions on Structures
European framework for actions including self-weight, imposed, snow and wind actions.

Primary sources and scope

Source tier 1Source-register entry
International Code Council — 2024 International Residential Code — Appendix BF Patio Covers
US model-code provisions for residential patio covers; only applicable where adopted.
Source tier 2Source-register entry
European Commission Joint Research Centre — Eurocode 1 — Actions on Structures
European framework for actions including self-weight, imposed, snow and wind actions.
Source tier 2Source-register entry
American Society of Civil Engineers — ASCE/SEI 7-22 — Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria
Official standard hub for US structural actions including wind, snow, rain, seismic and load combinations.

Cite this page

Pergola Wiki Editorial Team. “Attached vs freestanding pergolas.” Pergola Wiki. Reviewed 24 July 2026. https://pergola.wiki/articles/attached-vs-freestanding/

Professional boundary: This article cannot replace a site investigation, project-specific manufacturer documentation, structural calculations or the authority having jurisdiction.
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