Retractable Roof Pergolas: Open Sky at a Button
A retractable roof pergola has a roof that opens right back: a fabric that slides along tracks, or louvres that turn and stack. As a kit at about 3 × 4 m, a motorised louvred or retractable roof costs €3,395 to €7,420. The fabric kind gives the most open sky. The louvred kind stands up better to Irish wind.
Two kinds, how each copes with weather, and the wiring.
Free, no obligation. One local company prices it, not five.
- €3,395 to €7,420a motorised kit, about 3 × 4 m
- 2 kindssliding fabric, stacking louvres
- Own circuitfrom a registered electrician
Sliding fabric or stacking louvres
| Sliding fabric roof | Motorised louvres | |
|---|---|---|
| Open | Folds right back: full sky | Louvres turn upright: most of the sky |
| Shut in rain | Dry, with a fall to one side | Dry, draining through the posts |
| In wind | Should be retracted in a gale | Shut louvres stay put, within the rating |
| Looking after it | The fabric is washed, and replaced in time | A wash |
| Sound in rain | Soft | A patter |
Sensors worth having
- Rain sensor: shuts the roof when it starts.
- Wind sensor: opens louvres or draws the fabric back before a gust can damage it.
- Frost setting: stops the motor forcing frozen louvres.
The wiring
A motorised roof needs a mains supply to the frame, on its own circuit with RCD protection, put in and certified by a Safe Electric registered electrician. Plan the cable route before the patio is laid if you can.
What it costs
| Job | Typical cost | What moves the price |
|---|---|---|
| Motorised louvred or retractable roof, about 3 × 4 m | €3,395 to €7,420 | Motor, rain sensor, lights. Needs an electrician |
| Aluminium pergola with built-in lights, 4 × 3 m to 6 × 3.6 m | €3,547 to €5,627 | Size, lights, privacy screens |
| Side screens and blinds, a side | €265 to €489 | Width, fabric or slats, fixed or sliding |
Kit prices are delivered, not fitted. Ask for the base, fixings, electrics and VAT in the written price.
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Aluminium pergolasKits €1,886 to €2,998. Fitted from €2,500.
Pergola kitsWhat's in the box, and what isn't.
Pergola ideasTwelve that suit an Irish back garden.
Pergola pricesFrom a €428 timber kit to a €7,420 motorised roof.Pergolas in every county
- Carlow330 mm of rain, May to September
- Cavan402 mm of rain, May to September
- Clare450 mm of rain, May to September
- Cork384 mm of rain, May to September
- Donegal445 mm of rain, May to September
- Dublin306 mm of rain, May to September
- Galway475 mm of rain, May to September
- Kerry445 mm of rain, May to September
- Kildare345 mm of rain, May to September
- Kilkenny333 mm of rain, May to September
- Laois360 mm of rain, May to September
- Leitrim414 mm of rain, May to September
- Limerick387 mm of rain, May to September
- Longford389 mm of rain, May to September
- Louth333 mm of rain, May to September
- Mayo488 mm of rain, May to September
- Meath347 mm of rain, May to September
- Monaghan374 mm of rain, May to September
- Offaly354 mm of rain, May to September
- Roscommon401 mm of rain, May to September
- Sligo481 mm of rain, May to September
- Tipperary372 mm of rain, May to September
- Waterford374 mm of rain, May to September
- Westmeath357 mm of rain, May to September
- Wexford365 mm of rain, May to September
- Wicklow319 mm of rain, May to September
Pick your pergola
Four taps: the type, where it's going, the size and the help you want. You see our price guide for it. Your number is only asked for at the end, if you want one pergola company that covers your county to ring you.
Questions people ask
Can a retractable roof stay shut all winter?
Louvres, yes, within the wind rating. A fabric roof is better drawn back and covered.
What happens in a power cut?
Most have a manual override. Ask to be shown it.
Is a retractable pergola worth the extra?
If you'd otherwise leave a fixed roof on and miss the sun, yes. If it'll stay shut most of the year, a fixed roof costs less.
Get a price for a pergola in your garden
One pergola company that covers your county. Free, no obligation. Nothing is ordered until you accept a written price.