Pergolas and trellises
Custom Pergolas and Trellises
Cedar pergolas, privacy screens and trellises designed for your yard, built in our Aurora shop and installed by our team.
The short answer
Cedar Wood Structures designs and builds custom pergolas and trellises in cedar for homes in Aurora, Newmarket, York Region and across the GTA. We build freestanding and attached pergolas with slatted, louvred or canopy tops, plus privacy screens and trellises for climbing plants, and we prepare permit drawings when they are needed.
On this page
Pergolas built to suit your yard
A pergola gives you shade from the summer sun and support for climbing plants, without closing in the space. Each of our pergolas is custom designed and built to match your yard, your house and how you want to use the area under it.
Pergolas can form a shaded walkway of posts and cross-beams with a sturdy open lattice for vines to grow on. They can extend the house over a terrace, cover a patio or deck, or link two structures such as a cabana and a pavilion. We design and build them from our shop in Aurora for homes in Newmarket, York Region, Toronto and across the GTA.
Why Cedar Wood Structures
- 28 years designing and building in Aurora
- Owner Val Dumitriu holds a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering
- Parts built in our shop, then installed on site
- Plans and permit drawings prepared by our team
- Free design consultation at your home
Freestanding or attached
| Freestanding pergola | Attached pergola | |
|---|---|---|
| Support | Stands on its own posts on all sides | Fixed to the house wall on one side, posts on the other |
| Where it goes | Anywhere in the yard: over a patio, a hot tub, a garden path or a seating area | Off a back door or along the house, over a deck or terrace |
| Things to check | Footings or anchors for each post | The wall it attaches to, flashing, and local permit rules for attached structures |
Shade options
An open pergola gives filtered shade. How much depends on how the top is built.
Slats and rafters
Classic look
Rafters with cross slats on top. Closer spacing gives more shade. The direction of the slats relative to the sun matters too.
Louvres
Adjustable
Angled louvres let in light in the morning and block the harsh afternoon sun. They also make the pergola look more modern.
Canopy
Most shade
A fabric or retractable canopy over the rafters for full shade and some shelter from light rain.
Climbing plants
Living shade
Wisteria, clematis, grapes or climbing roses grow over the top and fill in the shade over a few seasons.
For more ideas on finishes, lighting and planting, read our post on pergola ideas. If you want a solid roof that keeps off rain, a gazebo or pavilion may suit you better. Our guide to gazebo vs pergola vs pavilion explains the difference.
Custom designed trellises and privacy screens
Our trellises are custom built, usually from interwoven pieces of wood, and designed to support climbing plants. A trellis can stand on its own in the garden or attach to the walls or roof of a house.
We often combine pergolas with privacy panels and screens. A slatted cedar screen on one or two sides hides the neighbour’s window or an air conditioner, blocks low evening sun and gives plants something to climb. Our designers can suggest a range of styles.
Talk to us about your project
We visit your yard, talk through options and design a structure that fits how you will use it.
Planning a pergola or trellis?
Book a free design consultation. We’ll look at the space, check where the sun falls and suggest a size, style and shade option that fits.
Choosing the wood
Cedar is our main material for pergolas and trellises. It contains natural oils that help it resist rot and insects, it is light for its strength, and it takes stain well. Left unstained, cedar weathers to a silver grey. A stain keeps the warm colour longer and should be renewed every few years.
Pressure-treated wood costs less but is heavier and usually needs staining to look good.
Pergolas with decks and cabanas
A pergola works well over a deck, where it adds shade without blocking the view. We build pergolas as part of our custom decks, and as an extension of custom pool cabanas to shade a bar or seating area beside the building.
Permits for pergolas
Whether a pergola needs a permit depends on your town and on the design. In Toronto, an accessory building attached to the house needs a building permit at any size, and one over 10 m² (107 sq ft) needs a permit. Zoning rules on setbacks, height and lot coverage apply even when no permit is needed. Other towns have their own by-laws, so check with your town or ask us.
If your pergola needs a permit, our team prepares the plans and permit drawings and helps with the application.
How a pergola project works
Design
A free consultation at your home to measure the space and plan the size, style and shade.
Drawings and permits
Drawings for your approval and, if needed, permit drawings for your town.
Shop build
Posts, beams, rafters and slats are cut and shaped in our Aurora shop.
Install
We set footings or anchor to your patio or deck, assemble the pergola and clean up.
Pergolas we’ve built
“Excellent communication about the job, options, pricing, no surprises.”
Google review
See more in our portfolio.
We are based in Aurora and build custom pergolas and trellises across York Region, Toronto and the GTA.
- Newmarket
- Aurora
- Richmond Hill
- King City
- Markham
- Vaughan
- Toronto
- Oakville
Frequently asked questions
Do you build custom pergolas in Newmarket?
Yes. We are based in Aurora, next to Newmarket, and build custom pergolas and trellises across York Region, Toronto and the GTA. Each one is designed for the space and built in our shop before installation.
Does a pergola keep off rain?
An open pergola gives shade, not shelter from rain. A canopy or tight louvres help with light rain. If you need a dry space, a gazebo or pavilion with a solid roof is a better fit.
Should my pergola be freestanding or attached to the house?
A freestanding pergola can go anywhere in the yard and creates a separate outdoor room. An attached pergola extends the house over a deck or terrace. Attached structures can have different permit rules, so check with your town or ask us.
What is the best wood for a pergola?
We mostly build in cedar. Its natural oils help it resist rot and insects, it is light for its strength and it takes stain well. Pressure-treated wood costs less but is heavier and usually needs staining.
Do you build custom designed trellises?
Yes. We build custom trellises from interwoven cedar pieces to support climbing plants. They can stand alone in the garden or attach to a house wall or roof, and can double as privacy screens.
Can you add a pergola to my deck or patio?
Yes. We can anchor a pergola to a patio or build it into a deck. On a deck, the frame below has to carry the posts, so it is best planned with the deck. See our custom decks.
Related services and guides
Ready to plan your pergola?
Book a free design consultation. We’ll look at your yard, talk about shade and privacy, and design a pergola or trellis to suit it.
Permit information on this page is general guidance based on City of Toronto rules as of October 2026. Always confirm the requirements with your own municipality before you build.