Pergola dimensions and base preparation

Model drawings

Which measurements do you need for your pergola?

Start with the drawing for the model and nominal size you are considering. The frame, footplates and clear space between posts are different dimensions. A 3×4m product name helps you browse; it does not give you a setting-out plan for a nominal three-by-four-metre slab.

The selector below brings together LuxSol’s current technical-page measurements and the corresponding base-preparation PDF. Check that the document matches the product being supplied before using it for site work. The PDF provides the supporting views and details that a summary table cannot show.

The footplate footprint describes the outer envelope of the feet, not a complete foundation design or a recommendation to finish paving exactly against it. Allow for the surrounding installation access and practical use of the patio. For a furniture-led layout, use the pergola size and measuring guide alongside these dimensions.

On the 8×4m Tora, the clear opening is measured by bay. It is not one uninterrupted eight-metre opening. Check the six-post arrangement and the individual openings when choosing furniture, screens and the support positions.

Below the surface

What makes a suitable pergola base?

The visible finish is only one part of the base. Fixings need the appropriate supporting material beneath each foot, with the construction assessed against the model’s guide and the actual site. A neat paving slab or deck board does not establish that support by itself.

LuxSol’s base guidance calls for a flat, level base with no more than 10mm fall in one direction. This is a total fall described in the guide, not 10mm per metre. Unevenness in multiple directions can affect frame alignment, screen operation and the stacking of slatted wall sections. Resolve the support levels and surrounding drainage with the installer before the surface is finished.

Use the selected PDF for the required support beneath each foot. Do not substitute compacted hardcore for the solid fixing support specified by the guide. A general internet foundation recipe also cannot settle the depth, layout or fixings for every soil, slab and pergola configuration.

If you have an existing patio, gather any information about its construction and repairs. Ask the installer what needs to be checked at the proposed fixing positions, rather than assuming a stable-looking surface can take the installation without further assessment.

Surface choices

Can a pergola go on paving, concrete or decking?

Each can be an option when the support and fixing arrangement are suitable. The important question is how the chosen surface and the construction beneath it work together at the pergola feet. Select the finish for the garden, then confirm the structural preparation for the model.

Porcelain needs particular planning because drilling the finish is a different task from establishing the support below it. The LuxSol base guide specifies diamond drilling and an additional fitting charge for porcelain or granite. Tell the installer about the material when obtaining the quotation so the method, equipment and cost are agreed beforehand.

For decking, the guide calls for solid timber joists beneath the foot positions. The existing deck still needs assessment: the presence of a board where a post is drawn does not establish the condition, capacity or arrangement of the supporting structure. Discuss access beneath the deck and any changes required before ordering materials.

Fixing positions

How should you plan posts, footplates and drainage?

Mark the feet from the correct model drawing rather than measuring only the outside of the roof. Include the whole footplate envelope and any diagonal checks shown in that document. The compact models have four posts; the 8×4m Tora has six. Every required post needs its own correctly prepared support position.

LuxSol’s current base guides say footplates must remain above paving level to allow for drainage. If paving will be added after installation, agree the finished levels beforehand. Do not bury the feet or obstruct the discharge route simply to hide the fixing details.

Keep access for tools and fixings around the structure. A footprint placed tightly against a wall or boundary may be difficult to install or maintain even if its outer dimensions fit. Record drains, covers, pipes and concealed services in the proposed area, and discuss them with the installer before drilling or excavating.

Roof drainage and patio surface drainage are related but separate parts of the project. Check where water will go once it leaves the pergola and how the surrounding paving handles rain. Our louvred pergola rain guide explains the distinction between overhead shelter and a completely enclosed space.

Roof and site levels

What height and overhead clearance should you allow?

Use the overall height and roof-movement information in the selected drawing. Clear height beneath the frame is not the total height of the structure. Similarly, the closed-roof height may not be the highest point reached during louvre movement.

For example, the Como 3×4m PDF lists 2,503mm with the roof closed and a maximum of 2,567.1mm during opening. This matters near eaves, gutters or branches and when discussing the proposal with the planning authority. Do not rely on a rounded “2.5m” description where a few millimetres matter.

Include the intended base level and the surrounding ground in that discussion. Our pergola planning-permission guide explains the questions to resolve before the site work is committed. A freestanding pergola keeps all of its posts when positioned beside a house; it should not be adapted by removing a post or assuming the house can carry the frame.

Prepare in order

What should happen before the installation team arrives?

A clear sequence helps avoid changes after the paving has been completed. Settle the model, size and proposed position first. Then check planning requirements, support construction and the practical installation arrangements. Share the same drawing with everyone involved so the base contractor and pergola installer are working from one specification.

1. Choose the model and size, and download its current base-preparation guide.
2. Test the furniture layout and confirm boundaries, access and overhead space.
3. Resolve planning and any other relevant consents for the complete proposal.
4. Have the support, levels and fixing positions assessed and prepared.
5. Agree the route and responsibility for electrical work where required.
6. Confirm delivery access, assembly space and the fitting scope.
7. Keep the drawing, site photographs and agreed details available for installation.

Electrical requirements depend on the selected roof controls and accessories. The Aura manual pergola does not need power to operate its roof, while the Como electric pergola and Tora electric pergola require appropriate electrical planning. Powered screens and heating are additional considerations. Coordinate the work with a suitable electrician before the relevant routes are covered.

Read the pergola delivery and installation information to understand the separate delivery and fitting stages. The pergola cost guide helps you keep groundwork, fitting and electrical work visible in the budget rather than treating them as included in the product price.

Check before committing

What if the drawing or existing base is unclear?

Contact LuxSol with the model, nominal size, proposed location and the document you are using. Include photographs of the area and explain which measurement or support detail needs clarification. This is especially useful if you have an older pergola, an earlier drawing or a base prepared for a different model.

Do not combine measurements from different versions to create a setting-out plan. If two documents differ, ask which applies to the product being supplied. Keep the confirmed information with the order and pass it to the installer before work begins.

Ask LuxSol about your pergola base or book a consultation to discuss the shortlist and site information. Product guidance can help define the requirements; assessment of the actual ground and support remains part of preparing your particular installation.

Compare DIY and professional pergola installation to agree the fitting route and responsibilities before work starts.