Shade for July Afternoons, Warmth for October Nights.
We design and build pergolas and covered patios across Boise and the Treasure Valley: set against the afternoon sun, engineered for snow, and wired for lights, fans and heaters before the last beam goes up.
PhotoPergola TerraceBoise
- Typical project
- $65k–$130k for an outdoor room with shade; $90k–$175k for a complete backyard
- Permits
- In Boise, for any cover attached to the house and for freestanding pergolas over 200 sq ft. We handle them.
- Wired for
- Lights, ceiling fans, heaters and outlets, switched by the door
Shade Placed for the Hours You're Outside.
We work out where the sun falls on your terrace at the times you use it, then choose between an open pergola and a solid roof, and size it for the room beneath.
Built to Code and to Carry Snow.
These are Boise's. Eagle, Meridian and the other cities set their own, and many HOAs review structures too. We confirm every one for your lot during design.
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Attached
Patio Covers on the House
Any patio cover attached to the house needs a building permit, because its weight bears on the house wall. The city checks its spans, beam and post sizes, footings and wind loads.
City of Boise, Homeowner's Guide -
200 sq ft
Freestanding Pergolas
A stand-alone structure over 200 square feet needs a building permit, and Boise treats a pergola as pole construction, designed by an Idaho-licensed engineer.
City of Boise, Homeowner's Guide -
25 psf
Snow on the Roof
Boise sets a ground snow load of 20 pounds per square foot, and no roof may be designed for less than 25.
City of Boise, currently enforced codes -
24 in
Footings Below the Frost
Boise designs for frost 24 inches deep. Post footings go below it, so the structure can't heave in winter.
City of Boise, currently enforced codes
Checked against the City of Boise's homeowner guide and adopted codes. We confirm them again for every structure we design.
What an Outdoor Room With Shade Invests.
Shade is priced with the room beneath it, so this starts from an outdoor living space with a pergola or covered patio. Put a kitchen underneath or make the terrace larger, and the range follows.
Wood Overhead, Stone Underfoot.
A wood pergola over a new flagstone-pattern terrace in Boise.
From Sun Study to Finished Shade.
The same six steps as every Fine Grade project. A structure adds engineering and a building permit, which fold into steps three and four.
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Step 1 · by phone or video
A Design Consultation
Tell a designer what you're imagining. We'll talk through goals, timing and a comfortable range, and say honestly whether we're the right fit.
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Step 2 · at your home
A Site Visit
A designer walks the property with you, noting where the sun falls at the hours you're outside, the roofline and the views. Afterward you receive a design proposal with a fixed fee.
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Step 3
Design and Engineering
Concept plan, 3D renderings and the structure itself, sized for snow and wind. An Idaho-licensed engineer joins wherever the city calls for one.
A design fee, set after the site visit -
Step 4
Permits and a Fixed Price
Building and electrical permits, HOA review where it applies, and a fixed-price proposal that matches the final design line for line, with Idaho's homeowner disclosure.
No cost to review -
Step 5 · on site
The Build
Footings first, then posts, beams and wiring, then the terrace, lights and planting beneath. One project lead, weekly updates.
The proposal price, paid at milestones -
Step 6 · The first year
Walkthrough & Warranty
We walk the finished landscape with you, hand over a care guide, and check back after the first season.
Included, with a written warranty
About Pergolas and Covered Patios.
Something else on your mind? Ask a Designer
How much does a pergola cost in Boise?
We price shade as part of the outdoor room beneath it. An outdoor living space with a pergola or covered patio typically invests $65,000–$130,000; with an outdoor kitchen under it, $90,000–$190,000; and as part of a complete backyard, $90,000–$175,000, design and build included. A pergola on its own is usually below where our projects begin.
Do I need a permit for a pergola in Boise?
For a cover attached to the house, always; for a freestanding pergola, once it passes 200 square feet. An attached cover bears on the house wall, so the city checks its spans, footings and wind loads. A freestanding structure over 200 square feet needs a permit and an Idaho-licensed engineer's design. Your HOA may review either one. We handle all of it.
Pergola or covered patio: which is better for Boise summers?
A solid roof gives full shade; a pergola gives filtered shade and keeps the sky. Slats set across the afternoon sun cut most of it, and vines or shade cloth can fill the gaps. A solid roof also keeps off rain and snow, but darkens the rooms behind it.
How much snow does a pergola need to carry in Boise?
A solid roof is designed for at least 25 pounds per square foot. That's the city's minimum, above a 20 psf ground snow load. An open pergola holds less snow, but its beams still carry what collects, and we size them for it.
What is a pergola built from?
Wood, steel, or both. Wood is warm and easy to shape, and rot-resistant species such as cedar weather to silver unless they're stained. Black steel brackets and post bases, like those on our pergola terrace, keep its lines crisp. The frame is chosen in design to suit the house.
Can you add lights, fans and heaters?
Yes, wired in during the build. In Boise, line-voltage fans, heaters and outlets need an electrical permit, while low-voltage lighting doesn't. Heaters go where their makers' clearances allow, and the switches sit by the door.
Can a pergola go on my existing patio?
Often, if each post can have a proper footing. Boise designs for frost 24 inches down, so posts need footings below that. We cut through the existing surface for each one, or rebuild the terrace along with the pergola.
Keep Planning
Let's Design Your Shade.
A design consultation, a clear process, and a designer who tells you honestly what's possible within your range.
Rather talk? Call or text (208) 994-9204 Mon–Fri 8am–5pm