Fiberglass vs Plastic Pergolas
Both fiberglass and plastic pergolas offer the benefit of a low maintenance outdoor structure. There are two types of plastic pergolas currently available, the first and most common is constucted from vinyl(also known as PVC). The second type of plastic pergola is constructed from a material similar to composite decking(Azek or Palite). These are low maintenance materials, however they differ significantly in terms of quality, lifetime and finish. Below is a detailed comparision of these materials.
Fiberglass
* Maintenance free
* Available in any color
* Structural material with free-spans of up to 20'
* Will not mildew, mold or yellow
* One piece CNC rafter tails
Vinyl
* Low maintenance but will mildew and yellow over time
* Non-structural vinyl tubes
* Pressure treated lumber is inserted into the vinyl and can sag, twist and rot
* Available in a limited number of colors
* Snap-on rafter tails
Azek
* Requires bi-annual painting
* Yellows and mildews over time
* Sheets of Azek are glued to either aluminum or lumber for structural support
* Azek will delaminate and fall of over time
* High cost of ownership
Comparison Chart
| Fiberglass | PVC(Vinyl fencing) | C-PVC(Azek) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maintenance: | Maintenance free. | Maintenance free. Will yellow & mildew. | Requires bi-annual painting. Will yellow & mildew. |
| Finish: | Available in any color | Limited color options | Limited color options |
| Durability: | Hard industrial coatings. Durable cast fiberglass column bases. | Scratches easily. Plastic post bases break easily | Azek delaminates and fall off over time |
| Lifespan: | Designed to last a minimum of 15 years | Minimum of 5 years | Minimum of 5 years |
| Structural Properties: | Structural fiberglass pultrusions will not sag or warp. | Structural pressure treated core. Prone to sagging and warping. | Structural pressure treated core. Prone to sagging and warping. |
Azek Pergola Fail
Mildew
This Azek pergola was poorly constructed. It experienced yellowing, excessive rot and sagging as a result of the manufacturer cutting corners.
Beams
This what the main structural support beam looked like when the Azek fell off and the remainder was removed.
Baldwin to the rescue!
The client's contractor reached out to us and we replaced the existing structure with a fiberglass pergola that will last for years to come.
Testimonials
Tim AurthurThese columns are beautiful. They'd look great in any setting, no matter how splendid. Thank you!
Joe HollandThe Pergola is GREAT! What a difference it makes to the house ... inside and out. The height (for this sized Pergola) seems like it is matched up perfectly. The effect is a room outside the house. Let's see how many 'Wow's' we get Friday night. You should have left some of your business cards. My daughter (Sarah) loved the butterfly joint!
Troy GordonThe guys just left and the pergola looks great! Thanks so much! ... The guys were great and everything looks super!
Molly and Dave Stanley at Stanley Ranch, AZ.And here's how it looked at noon today. Mark said it went together very well, and they enjoyed working with your work. It surely has already made a wonderful difference in the quality of light coming into that entry room, as well as the overall looks on the house. We are very pleased with your good work and are planning a larger square pergola on another house at the ranch about this time next year.
Rachel KiskerThe Baldwin Pergola looked great at the Boston Flower Show- I overheard many wonderful compliments from people in the crowd. I just know that you'll get many orders for it- in red! Thanks for designing such a lovely structure for us.
Tim, Cathy, and Elizabeth.It was such a beautiful day on Sunday I had my coffee under the pergola and Sunday night we ate dinner under it. We never spent any time out on the patio in the past.
Daniel CarmanThe pavers have been laid for the terrace and sidewalks. Almost a year and half has gone into this phase of my yard transformation. Your pergola Fits into the picture just right. Thanks so much for the help! Dan
Calvin and Elizabeth GoodrichChari, Thanks so much for working with us yesterday! My father dropped the chairs off to our home in Ri yesterday, and this morning we sat out there drinking our coffee discussing future home projects. Just wanted to share a photo of the chairs on our porch. While our porch is not quite completed, lattice, some garden work etc, the products we bought make our home that much nicer of a place to be and relax! Thanks again and have a happy Memorial Day!!
Sonja Hansen and Dennis Szabaday in Nashua, NHGreetings! Attached are photos of our Baldwin Pergola which we love. We are very happy. Here are photos showing what it looks like when we hang the colored sheets up for added shade - very festive and inexpensive. Thank you again!
LisaHi Matt I just wanted to tell you how happy we are with the pavilion. The installers you sent today were wonderful. They did a fantastic job. It truly looks amazing! It's exactly what we wanted and we are so impressed with the quality of the structure. Thank you for the attention you gave to our project. It was a pleasure doing business with you. Thank you.
"First, man defines his architecture. Forever after, his architecture defines him."
It's been a tremendous honor to design and build these fantastic structures for our customers. We look forward to upcoming challenges and the beauty they bless us with.
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