Trellis or Pergola, Which Is Right For You?

Trellis or Pergola, Which Is Right For You?

As a homeowner, you take pride in your yard, often improving it one project at a time. If you’re searching for a way to add character, function, and value to your outdoor space, a custom-built pergola or trellis offers a cost-smart solution. At Miles Bradley, we specialize in transforming backyards into beautiful, livable extensions of your home with expertly designed backyard shade structures and garden accents.

What is a Trellis?

A trellis is a simple, elegant structure with an open framework designed to support climbing plants and vines. Far more than just a plant stand, a professionally installed trellis can serve multiple purposes in your landscape.

Benefits of a Garden Trellis

  • Controlled Growth: It provides a dedicated path for plants like tomatoes, grapevines, or climbing roses to grow vertically, keeping them healthy and preventing them from overtaking your garden.
  • Enhanced Beauty: A garden trellis transforms your plants into a living work of art, adding visual interest and curb appeal to your home or garden.
  • Privacy Screening: When covered in foliage, a trellis can create a natural and beautiful privacy screen for your patio or yard.

Our Chicago trellis installers and Michigan team can build a variety of styles to suit your vision, using materials that last.

  • Common Trellis Types: Lattice, Arched, Expanding, Fan
  • Durable Materials: Wood, Low-Maintenance Composite, Metal

What is a Pergola?

A pergola is a stunning outdoor feature consisting of vertical columns that support a grid of beams and rafters. Unlike a solid-roofed gazebo, a pergola’s open-rafter design creates a sense of airy, semi-shaded comfort, defining a space without fully enclosing it. This makes it a perfect structure for patios, decks, and walkways.

As your dedicated pergola builder in Michigan and Chicago, we can craft a design that is either attached to your home or stands alone as a destination in your yard. Modern pergolas can be customized with features that enhance both comfort and style, including:

  • Retractable Shade Canopies
  • Integrated Lighting System
  • Privacy Walls or Screens
  • Built-In Ceiling Fans

Trellis or Pergola: Which is Right for You?

Choosing between these two structures depends entirely on your goals for your outdoor space.

  • Choose a Trellis if: Your primary goal is supporting plant growth, adding a decorative accent to a wall, or creating a small-scale privacy screen. A trellis is a budget-friendly option with a minimal footprint.
  • Choose a Pergola if: You want to define an outdoor room, create a shaded area for dining or relaxing, and make a significant architectural statement. A pergola is a larger investment that adds substantial functional living space and home value.

Our team can help you weigh the purpose, potential size, and maintenance to find the perfect fit.

Why Choose Miles Bradley?

When you partner with Miles Bradley for your pergola installation in Michigan or trellis project in Illinois, you’re choosing a team of trusted local experts. We are committed to a seamless experience from start to finish.

  • Local Expertise: With deep roots in the Metro Detroit and Chicagoland areas, we understand local building codes and climate considerations.
  • Design-to-Install Service: We guide you through every step, from custom design to flawless installation, ensuring your vision comes to life.
  • Premium Materials: We offer a wide selection of high-quality wood and composite materials to match your home’s style and your maintenance preferences.
  • Professional and Clean: Our crews respect your property, manage all permits, and maintain a clean and safe job site throughout the project.
  • Peace of Mind: We stand behind our work with strong warranties and have earned hundreds of 5-star reviews from happy homeowners just like you.

Start Designing Your Dream Backyard Today!

The building season is here, and the Miles Bradley team is ready to help you love your yard again. We offer expert design guidance and quality craftsmanship for all Farmington Hills pergolas and Chicago trellis projects.

Contact us today to schedule your free, no-pressure consultation and quote.