Louvre roof or fixed roof: which pergola should you buy?

What a fixed roof gives you

Permanent cover, the lowest price, nothing to operate and nothing to service. Rain runs off the same way every time. The trade off is light. A solid roof over a north facing deck can make the room behind it noticeably darker in winter, and a hot day under a solid roof with no airflow is still a hot day.

What a louvre roof gives you

Blades that rotate from flat closed, through any angle, to fully open. Closed, they overlap and shed rain into an integrated gutter. Angled, they cut the midday sun while letting light and air through. Open, you have the sky. Motorised versions run off a remote or a wall switch, and rain sensors that close the roof automatically are available.

Where each one wins

• North or west facing deck that bakes in summer: louvre. You will use it far more.
• Deck outside the main living room: louvre, so winter light still reaches the room.
• South facing or already shaded deck: fixed. You want shelter, not sun control.
• Outdoor kitchen or spa area used year round: louvre, for airflow when cooking and cover when it rains.
• Carport, walkway or a purely practical cover: fixed. Pay for the roof, not the moving parts.
• Tight budget, cover is the goal: fixed, and the money saved goes into size.

Things people forget to ask

• Where does the water go? Both need a downpipe. Louvre systems have the gutter built into the beam, but it still needs to connect to something.
• Wind rating. Blades closed in a gale act like a roof. Check the rating suits your site, especially on the coast or a ridge.
• Side screens. Cover from above does not stop rain that comes in sideways. Screens or blinds can be added to either type.
• Lighting. Both can take LED strips. It is far easier to put them in at the start.

Our SleekShade is the fixed roof and SleekLouvre the adjustable one. Both are powder coated aluminium, made to standard sizes or to measure, and installed by us.