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Featured Projects
ACCESSORIES WE CAN INSTALL ON YOUR FOREVER PERGOLA
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Forever Pergola
vs.
StruXure & Other Motorized Louvered Pergolas
Popular Louvered Roof Systems in the Michigan area are: Forever Pergola, Struxure, and Hanso.
We only install our very own "Forever Pergola" Louvered Roof for many reasons. We encourage you to check the facts out for yourself.
Protection from sun, rain, wind, snow at a fair and reasonable price.
COST:
STRUXURE X: Remarkably, the Asian Made Struxure Pergola X can be 15%-40%+ more expensive than the Forever Pergola Motorized Louvered Roof - installed apples to apples. Don't take my word for it, get a quote from both and you will have proof in your hands. (Pricing est. based on comparison to SE. Michigan Struxure dealers and Forever Pergola SE Michigan- Other dealer prices may vary)
THE FOREVER PERGOLA: is Proudly American Made with stronger grade extruded aluminum (6105 vs Struxure's 6063) Forever Pergola has a longer warranty on the marine grade powder coated finish, engineered to withstand up to 160+ MPH winds, Northern Michigan Snow rated 80lbs/sf +, has a 5-1/2" box drain with 3" downspout water management gutter system (virtually identical leak points as Struxure), and uses the same Somfy Smart Control options, but we have a superior design in the dual wall louvers... So WHY IS STRUXURE SO EXPENSIVE??? GOOD QUESTION! Just because something is more expensive doesn't always mean it's better.
MARKUPS: Be sure to ask your Struxure dealer where they get their material from. StruXure first has to ship their extruded parts from ASIA, then to their main dealers, then to their sub-dealers- marking up $$$ on each exchange. Chances are your Michigan Struxure installer is just a sub-dealer purchasing from the main Struxure Ohio Dealer "Altimate Outdoor".
MARKETING & OVERHEAD: Struxure and their dealers also spend Millions a year in advertisement, incur extravagant overhead costs, and pay separate sales people with usually little to no construction background who you will most likely never see again in the installation process. Then they transfer those unnecessary costs to the customer with inflated prices.
SO, it's not that Struxure is better, it's just that more people are making more money off of you.
FOREVER PERGOLA: We are the Manufacturer and Installer. NO MIDDLEMEN. We are focused on producing a HIGH QUALITY, American Made product, not on advertising a chintzy overpriced Asian made product like Struxure.
MASTERS OF A CRAFT: Unlike other sub-dealers who install these systems occasionally between other work like awnings or sunrooms, Forever Pergola specializes in louvered roof installations and accessories ONLY. This makes our internal operational systems, crew training, and performance much more efficient. So we have less call backs due to highly trained staff, and less overhead. The person who sells you this project will also be the crew leader and project manager- your point of contact on site throughout the build. Check out Forever Pergola's Design Process HERE:
Our unique approach to design/build lowers our costs and gives you a better experience and quality build. Plus, our marketing expense is very low, relying on word of mouth and customer referrals for our main source of marketing. We transfer those savings directly to the customer for a more fair and reasonable price.
HANSO PERGOLA or other internet DIY specials are a much cheaper system upfront vs Forever Pergola or Struxure, but the Hanso Pergola only comes in fixed sizes, cannot be customized, and should not be installed onto or close to the house for structural reasons. The Hanso Pergola is not even in the same class in quality of materials or durability, it is made out of material that is almost 1/4 the strength of the Forever Pergola. We call the Hanso Pergola a "Temporary Solution", not a "Forever Pergola" for other reasons I will get into.
MADE IN THE USA?
StruXure websites may boast that their product is "assembled" in the USA, but not "Made". That's because StruXure Aluminum louvers, beams, columns and gutters are NOT "made" in the USA. If a Struxure salesman tells you otherwise, unfortunately they are not telling you the truth or they just didn't realize. Struxure material is extruded overseas in Asia, Shipped and then "assembled" here in your back yard. Tricky word play to try and get you to purchase their overpriced Asian made product.
Hanso and other online specials are also manufactured in Asia. Pretty much any louvered pergola available today was not "made in the USA".... With the PROUD exception of FOREVER PERGOLA!
Forever Pergola proudly Extrudes, Powder coats, and Manufactures our pergola parts right here in Michigan. Come visit the factory anytime! We are right down the road supporting our local economy.
STRUXURE X: Remarkably, the Asian Made Struxure Pergola X can be 15%-40%+ more expensive than the Forever Pergola Motorized Louvered Roof - installed apples to apples. Don't take my word for it, get a quote from both and you will have proof in your hands. (Pricing est. based on comparison to SE. Michigan Struxure dealers and Forever Pergola SE Michigan- Other dealer prices may vary)
THE FOREVER PERGOLA: is Proudly American Made with stronger grade extruded aluminum (6105 vs Struxure's 6063) Forever Pergola has a longer warranty on the marine grade powder coated finish, engineered to withstand up to 160+ MPH winds, Northern Michigan Snow rated 80lbs/sf +, has a 5-1/2" box drain with 3" downspout water management gutter system (virtually identical leak points as Struxure), and uses the same Somfy Smart Control options, but we have a superior design in the dual wall louvers... So WHY IS STRUXURE SO EXPENSIVE??? GOOD QUESTION! Just because something is more expensive doesn't always mean it's better.
MARKUPS: Be sure to ask your Struxure dealer where they get their material from. StruXure first has to ship their extruded parts from ASIA, then to their main dealers, then to their sub-dealers- marking up $$$ on each exchange. Chances are your Michigan Struxure installer is just a sub-dealer purchasing from the main Struxure Ohio Dealer "Altimate Outdoor".
MARKETING & OVERHEAD: Struxure and their dealers also spend Millions a year in advertisement, incur extravagant overhead costs, and pay separate sales people with usually little to no construction background who you will most likely never see again in the installation process. Then they transfer those unnecessary costs to the customer with inflated prices.
SO, it's not that Struxure is better, it's just that more people are making more money off of you.
FOREVER PERGOLA: We are the Manufacturer and Installer. NO MIDDLEMEN. We are focused on producing a HIGH QUALITY, American Made product, not on advertising a chintzy overpriced Asian made product like Struxure.
MASTERS OF A CRAFT: Unlike other sub-dealers who install these systems occasionally between other work like awnings or sunrooms, Forever Pergola specializes in louvered roof installations and accessories ONLY. This makes our internal operational systems, crew training, and performance much more efficient. So we have less call backs due to highly trained staff, and less overhead. The person who sells you this project will also be the crew leader and project manager- your point of contact on site throughout the build. Check out Forever Pergola's Design Process HERE:
Our unique approach to design/build lowers our costs and gives you a better experience and quality build. Plus, our marketing expense is very low, relying on word of mouth and customer referrals for our main source of marketing. We transfer those savings directly to the customer for a more fair and reasonable price.
HANSO PERGOLA or other internet DIY specials are a much cheaper system upfront vs Forever Pergola or Struxure, but the Hanso Pergola only comes in fixed sizes, cannot be customized, and should not be installed onto or close to the house for structural reasons. The Hanso Pergola is not even in the same class in quality of materials or durability, it is made out of material that is almost 1/4 the strength of the Forever Pergola. We call the Hanso Pergola a "Temporary Solution", not a "Forever Pergola" for other reasons I will get into.
MADE IN THE USA?
StruXure websites may boast that their product is "assembled" in the USA, but not "Made". That's because StruXure Aluminum louvers, beams, columns and gutters are NOT "made" in the USA. If a Struxure salesman tells you otherwise, unfortunately they are not telling you the truth or they just didn't realize. Struxure material is extruded overseas in Asia, Shipped and then "assembled" here in your back yard. Tricky word play to try and get you to purchase their overpriced Asian made product.
Hanso and other online specials are also manufactured in Asia. Pretty much any louvered pergola available today was not "made in the USA".... With the PROUD exception of FOREVER PERGOLA!
Forever Pergola proudly Extrudes, Powder coats, and Manufactures our pergola parts right here in Michigan. Come visit the factory anytime! We are right down the road supporting our local economy.
WARRANTY:
-Hanso and other DIY Online pergolas only have a 10 year warranty.
-Struxure Pergolas only offer a 15 year warranty on their structural systems and powder coating, less for their electrical components. (They say "Lifetime" but in the fine print the expected "Lifetime" of their system is only 15 years)
-Forever Pergola warranty is 50 years for the structural members of the aluminum beams, posts, and louvers, But could last 100 years or more! provided proper maintenance is performed and subject to normal wear due to our superior alloy and quality control measure from our state of the art Michigan Manufacturing facility. All pivoting mechanisms and fasteners, including pins and pivot strips, are warranted for 25 years. And these can be easily replaced indefinitely after the warranty expires. The powder coating is covered for 20 years, but tests are still being performed with these new industrial grade powder coats, they could last 30-50 + years. Time will tell. The Somfy motors and receivers carry a 5-year warranty. Terms and Conditions apply- see website for details
LEAKS?
If you take a close look at StruXure and Forever Pergola louvered roofs, They both have virtually the same exact leak potential along the gutters/beams/posts, and the louvers both interlock (not possible to leak from either louver). Both Forever Pergola and StruXure have Solid Rigid gutter corners and we both use the same style caulking at the same leak points, and the same splashing or overfill run off potential exists. However, our 4x8 beams reduces a major leak point by not having to sandwich multiple smaller beams together (very high probability leak point) like Struxure. But either way, the similarities of these systems is almost 99% identical and so are their leak points. It is all about the quality of the build and we specialize in these systems, never cutting corners here at Forever Pergola, guaranteeing a leak free system for the lifetime of the pergola.
-Hanso and other DIY Online pergolas only have a 10 year warranty.
-Struxure Pergolas only offer a 15 year warranty on their structural systems and powder coating, less for their electrical components. (They say "Lifetime" but in the fine print the expected "Lifetime" of their system is only 15 years)
-Forever Pergola warranty is 50 years for the structural members of the aluminum beams, posts, and louvers, But could last 100 years or more! provided proper maintenance is performed and subject to normal wear due to our superior alloy and quality control measure from our state of the art Michigan Manufacturing facility. All pivoting mechanisms and fasteners, including pins and pivot strips, are warranted for 25 years. And these can be easily replaced indefinitely after the warranty expires. The powder coating is covered for 20 years, but tests are still being performed with these new industrial grade powder coats, they could last 30-50 + years. Time will tell. The Somfy motors and receivers carry a 5-year warranty. Terms and Conditions apply- see website for details
LEAKS?
If you take a close look at StruXure and Forever Pergola louvered roofs, They both have virtually the same exact leak potential along the gutters/beams/posts, and the louvers both interlock (not possible to leak from either louver). Both Forever Pergola and StruXure have Solid Rigid gutter corners and we both use the same style caulking at the same leak points, and the same splashing or overfill run off potential exists. However, our 4x8 beams reduces a major leak point by not having to sandwich multiple smaller beams together (very high probability leak point) like Struxure. But either way, the similarities of these systems is almost 99% identical and so are their leak points. It is all about the quality of the build and we specialize in these systems, never cutting corners here at Forever Pergola, guaranteeing a leak free system for the lifetime of the pergola.
STRENGTH:
SNOW LOADS: Buyer beware- some Hanso Pergolas are only rated for 8.2 pounds per square foot snow load. According to your local building department, Mid-Michigan snow load ratings for new construction must be able to withstand 20-30lbs+ per square foot in lower/mid-Michigan (check your local code). 60-70 lbs/sf in northern Michigan. Making the Hanso Pergola NOT suitable for Michigan weather per any building code up here.
- Some Engineers do not approve StruXure pergola for any snow loads over 10lbs/sf because of lack of strength of their single wall louver design on longer spans. Most Struxure dealers will recommend you keep them open for the winter.
-Since Forever Pergola uses the stronger 6105 aluminum alloy vs Struxure's 6063, The Forever Pergola can be built to withstand Northern Michigan snow loads or higher, 80+ lb/sf ! You can be assured Each custom-built louvered roof by Forever Pergola will be engineered to exceed any local snow load requirements, with the louvers open or closed.
WIND: The Hanso pergola and other lower quality systems only have wind ratings of up to 62 MPH, max! One good storm and that "Temporary Solution" is now your neighbor's problem. Struxure has been known to make rattling noises in mild winds.
-The Forever Pergola Louvered Roof system installed by our trained staff can be built to withstand up to 160 MPH+ winds!
SPAN: We can easily span 24'-30' between vertical support columns with our 1/4" thick beams with virtually no deflection. Our standard 4x8 beam is twice as thick as struXure's 2x8 beam and 3x as strong. Struxure's 2x8 has a limited span capability of under 16' on it's own before needing additional beams or vertical support columns. What would you rather have holding up your roof?
SNOW LOADS: Buyer beware- some Hanso Pergolas are only rated for 8.2 pounds per square foot snow load. According to your local building department, Mid-Michigan snow load ratings for new construction must be able to withstand 20-30lbs+ per square foot in lower/mid-Michigan (check your local code). 60-70 lbs/sf in northern Michigan. Making the Hanso Pergola NOT suitable for Michigan weather per any building code up here.
- Some Engineers do not approve StruXure pergola for any snow loads over 10lbs/sf because of lack of strength of their single wall louver design on longer spans. Most Struxure dealers will recommend you keep them open for the winter.
-Since Forever Pergola uses the stronger 6105 aluminum alloy vs Struxure's 6063, The Forever Pergola can be built to withstand Northern Michigan snow loads or higher, 80+ lb/sf ! You can be assured Each custom-built louvered roof by Forever Pergola will be engineered to exceed any local snow load requirements, with the louvers open or closed.
WIND: The Hanso pergola and other lower quality systems only have wind ratings of up to 62 MPH, max! One good storm and that "Temporary Solution" is now your neighbor's problem. Struxure has been known to make rattling noises in mild winds.
-The Forever Pergola Louvered Roof system installed by our trained staff can be built to withstand up to 160 MPH+ winds!
SPAN: We can easily span 24'-30' between vertical support columns with our 1/4" thick beams with virtually no deflection. Our standard 4x8 beam is twice as thick as struXure's 2x8 beam and 3x as strong. Struxure's 2x8 has a limited span capability of under 16' on it's own before needing additional beams or vertical support columns. What would you rather have holding up your roof?
Left: Forever Pergola Beam..... Right: Struxure Beam
NOISE COMPLAINTS: You don't want to invest your money into a system that is more annoying than enjoyable. There are reviews online of noise complaints from Hanso and Struxure pergolas. The cheapness of the Hanso Pergola can make the entire system sway in the wind, creek, and rattle. Personally as a licensed builder, I would not recommend installing the Hanso anywhere near the home.
The over complicated pivot and link bar assembly from struxure, and non aerodynamic "S" shape louver of the Struxure and the loose-fitting pin system for the other options may be the cause of the annoying wind noise and possible rattling of the louvers on mildly windy days.
- With the FOREVER PERGOLA LOUVERED ROOF, The solid commercial grade framing, thicker beams, smooth surface of the heavier dual wall & insulated louvers, along with the simple design of the pivot system solves that noise problem. You will have a whisper quiet operation for years with a Forever Pergola.
The over complicated pivot and link bar assembly from struxure, and non aerodynamic "S" shape louver of the Struxure and the loose-fitting pin system for the other options may be the cause of the annoying wind noise and possible rattling of the louvers on mildly windy days.
- With the FOREVER PERGOLA LOUVERED ROOF, The solid commercial grade framing, thicker beams, smooth surface of the heavier dual wall & insulated louvers, along with the simple design of the pivot system solves that noise problem. You will have a whisper quiet operation for years with a Forever Pergola.
Forever Pergola's unmatched beauty for outdoor living.
AESTHETIC APPEAL: In my opinion the Forever Pergola is currently the best looking system on the planet, We have figured out how to hide the required Tek screws essential for keeping your pergola strong.
HIDDEN TEK SCREWS: Every pergola that is standing has to have fasteners that connect the beams and posts. We have solved one of the ugliest issues in today's aluminum pergola world, the exposed screw head. For most of our builds we are able to put, on average, twice as many fasteners into our structural connection points, making our system more secure and stronger over time. But we are able to hide them!
The pictures above show the difference night and day. This Forever Pergola build has twice the amount of fasteners holding this pergola together, but they are hidden!
DUAL WALL LOUVER VS. SINGLE WALL:
The S shape louvers of the Struxure don't look like any standard ceiling, but rather more like cheep industrial corrugated sheet metal panels, and leaves large gaps for bugs or other things to come in.
- When closed, our smooth wall louvers looks like a finely crafted finished ceiling. When open, the flatter louver blades make it look more like a traditional stylish pergola with less shadow lines and more sunlight let in due to the 9" tall louvers and 9" openings vs 6" Struxure openings and shorter louvers. The Forever Pergola will let in over 33% more sunlight!
Dual wall louver of the FOREVER PERGOLA Louvered Roof provides:
- Additional strength. Less sag to eliminate the "water dump" common with Struxure's system when you open it after a rain. And longer spans to hold snow loads.
-secondary Drip protection lip on every Forever Pergola louver to catch the small amount of residual rain or condensation when opening.
- more temperature control with its insulating factors- thermal break
- less moisture buildup underneath from condensation vs the single wall system from the other competitors.
-FOREVER PERGOLA's smooth surface also allows better airflow through the system vs the non-aerodynamic s shape blades of the competition that can create noise in the wind.
- LOOKS: In my opinion, the Struxure pergola x louvers look almost like an industrial shipping container or cheap corrugated sheet metal when they are shut, not a typical patio ceiling.
HIDDEN TEK SCREWS: Every pergola that is standing has to have fasteners that connect the beams and posts. We have solved one of the ugliest issues in today's aluminum pergola world, the exposed screw head. For most of our builds we are able to put, on average, twice as many fasteners into our structural connection points, making our system more secure and stronger over time. But we are able to hide them!
The pictures above show the difference night and day. This Forever Pergola build has twice the amount of fasteners holding this pergola together, but they are hidden!
DUAL WALL LOUVER VS. SINGLE WALL:
The S shape louvers of the Struxure don't look like any standard ceiling, but rather more like cheep industrial corrugated sheet metal panels, and leaves large gaps for bugs or other things to come in.
- When closed, our smooth wall louvers looks like a finely crafted finished ceiling. When open, the flatter louver blades make it look more like a traditional stylish pergola with less shadow lines and more sunlight let in due to the 9" tall louvers and 9" openings vs 6" Struxure openings and shorter louvers. The Forever Pergola will let in over 33% more sunlight!
Dual wall louver of the FOREVER PERGOLA Louvered Roof provides:
- Additional strength. Less sag to eliminate the "water dump" common with Struxure's system when you open it after a rain. And longer spans to hold snow loads.
-secondary Drip protection lip on every Forever Pergola louver to catch the small amount of residual rain or condensation when opening.
- more temperature control with its insulating factors- thermal break
- less moisture buildup underneath from condensation vs the single wall system from the other competitors.
-FOREVER PERGOLA's smooth surface also allows better airflow through the system vs the non-aerodynamic s shape blades of the competition that can create noise in the wind.
- LOOKS: In my opinion, the Struxure pergola x louvers look almost like an industrial shipping container or cheap corrugated sheet metal when they are shut, not a typical patio ceiling.
STRUXURE LOUVERS (SINGLE WALL)
FOREVER PERGOLA LOUVERS (DUAL WALL)
Keep your family or customers dry when you need it most.
GUTTER SYSTEM: Luckily, both Forever Pergola and Struxure have similar hidden water management systems great for commercial or residential applications. However, the cut off ends of the louver systems on the Hanso and Struxure often drip water back into your patio. They also can potentially pour water onto your furniture or guests when the system is opened too soon after a rainstorm because of the deep gully and week single wall louver design.
But Forever Pergola Louvered Roof has an "edge", literally. The louver end plates from our dual wall louver provides a drip edge for water to drip down and flow effortlessly into the hidden gutters. So when shut, your patio will stay drier.
TECHNOLOGY AND ACCESSORIES:
- Hanso is limited to its accessories and technology packages. - Lighting and fans are also not easily integrated into the Hanso system or other cheaper models; and can look pieced together in my opinion. Not something I would want to put on a nice home. The heaters that they sell are only rated for around 5200 BTU- assuming it performs like the average 1500 watt heater.
-The Infratech 4000-6000 watt Electric heaters installed by Forever Pergola pump out over 13,700-20,500 BTU, meaning you would need around 3-4 Hanso heaters to compete with one of ours. Most commercial or residential pergola installers install the same heaters from Bromic because they are a high quality product.
- Forever Pergola and Struxure both have similar tech packages including Somfy Controls AND SMART WIFI. Both Forever Pergola and Struxure also have the same rain sensors and wind sensors from Somfy, and can easily be designed with lights and fans.
But Forever Pergola Louvered Roof has an "edge", literally. The louver end plates from our dual wall louver provides a drip edge for water to drip down and flow effortlessly into the hidden gutters. So when shut, your patio will stay drier.
TECHNOLOGY AND ACCESSORIES:
- Hanso is limited to its accessories and technology packages. - Lighting and fans are also not easily integrated into the Hanso system or other cheaper models; and can look pieced together in my opinion. Not something I would want to put on a nice home. The heaters that they sell are only rated for around 5200 BTU- assuming it performs like the average 1500 watt heater.
-The Infratech 4000-6000 watt Electric heaters installed by Forever Pergola pump out over 13,700-20,500 BTU, meaning you would need around 3-4 Hanso heaters to compete with one of ours. Most commercial or residential pergola installers install the same heaters from Bromic because they are a high quality product.
- Forever Pergola and Struxure both have similar tech packages including Somfy Controls AND SMART WIFI. Both Forever Pergola and Struxure also have the same rain sensors and wind sensors from Somfy, and can easily be designed with lights and fans.
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