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Carolina Pergola Works

How our warranty works

Our workmanship warranty terms are being finalized. The written quote states the warranty that applies to that job. A workmanship warranty covers the way a thing was built: the frame and the connections we put together. Here is what that means for a pergola, a pavilion or a privacy wall, in plain words.

What a workmanship warranty covers

The frame and the connections we built

It covers a problem that comes from how we built the structure. For example:

  • A post base or an anchor we set that works loose.
  • A joint we made between a post, a beam, a rafter or a brace that opens or pulls apart.
  • A ledger board we bolted that comes away from the house frame.
  • Hardware we put in that backs out because of how we put it in.
  • A slat wall we built that comes loose from its posts.

Aluminum: the manufacturer's warranty

An aluminum pergola is a manufacturer's system. Its powder-coat finish and its parts follow the manufacturer's warranty, not ours. Our part is how the frame was put together and anchored to the slab or to the footings. If you think a part is faulty, tell us and we help you reach the manufacturer.

What it does not cover

Normal checking of wood

New pressure-treated wood is wet. As it dries it shrinks and shows small cracks along the grain, called checks. That is normal and not a defect.

Color change

Wood changes color in sun and rain. Cedar turns silver gray unless it is sealed.

Storms and trees

Damage from a storm, a fallen tree or a fallen limb. That is a new repair, and we quote it like any other.

Grills

Scorching or other damage from a grill set too close to the frame.

Changes made by others

Anything added, cut, moved or repaired by someone else after our work.

Upkeep that stays with you

Stain or sealer over the years. Wood needs it, and keeping it up is the owner's job. Aluminum does not need it.

Upkeep that makes a wood pergola last

Water hurts wood most at the end grain: the bottom of a post and the top of a beam or a rafter. A post base that holds the wood off the concrete, and a cap or a slope on top, make a pergola last.

New pressure-treated wood should dry before stain or sealer goes on. That can take weeks to a few months, depending on the weather. After that, wood needs stain or sealer again over the years. The written quote says if a first coat is included.

Aluminum does not rot or warp, and it needs no stain. Its color is baked on.

Want to know more before you choose? Read wood or aluminum in the Carolina climate.

1231The bottom of the postwater sits where the postmeets the ground2The top of the beamrain lies on the flat top3The ends of the raftersopen end grain takes in waterA post baseholds the wood offthe concrete, so theend of the postcan dry.

Swipe the drawing sideways to see all of it.

Where water gets into a wood pergola: the bottom of a post, the top of a beam and the ends of the rafters.

How to ask for warranty service

Send us a photo of the problem and the date of the job on the photo quote page. We look at the photo and tell you if it is a warranty item or a new repair.

Send a photo

Common questions

What does the warranty cover?
Our workmanship: the frame and the connections we built. Our workmanship warranty terms are being finalized. The written quote states the warranty that applies to that job.
What is not covered?
Normal checking and color change of wood, damage from storms, trees or a grill, changes made by someone else after our work, and the stain or sealer upkeep that stays with the owner. On an aluminum pergola, the finish and the parts follow the manufacturer's warranty.
Is a crack in a new wood post a defect?
Usually not. New pressure-treated wood is wet. As it dries it shrinks and shows small cracks along the grain, called checks. That is normal for the wood and it is not a defect.
Who stands behind an aluminum pergola?
Two parties. The powder-coat finish and the parts follow the manufacturer's warranty. How the frame was put together and anchored is our workmanship.
Do I have to stain or seal a wood pergola?
Wood needs stain or sealer over the years, and that upkeep is yours. New pressure-treated wood should dry first, which can take weeks to a few months depending on the weather. The written quote says if a first coat is included.
How do I ask for warranty service?
Send a photo of the problem and the date of the job on our photo quote page. We look at it and tell you if it is a warranty item or a new repair.

Start with a few photos of your patio or yard

Send us photos of the space and its rough width and depth, and we send you a free written quote. If your project needs a visit before we can price it, we'll tell you up front, before anyone drives out. We answer during business hours, usually the same day.

Send photos for a quote Start in 3 taps
  • Free written quote
  • A drawing with sizes before the build
  • English and Spanish

Not sure what to photograph? See our 1-page photo guide.