LT PERGOLAThe right pergola size starts with the activities underneath it. An outdoor table needs space for chairs to move; a lounge needs a comfortable route around the seating. Measuring only the empty patio can produce a layout that fits on paper but feels cramped in use.
This checklist helps you prepare a project brief for an LT Pergola aluminum louvered pergola. It is a planning guide, not a foundation or installation drawing. Confirm structural, fixing and electrical requirements for the selected model and your site before work begins.
1. Draw the space you actually use
Make a simple plan showing walls, doors, windows, steps, garden boundaries and existing furniture. Record the available length and width. Then draw the table or seating arrangement in the position you want to use, including space for people to stand up and walk past.
For a practical check, mark the intended footprint on the ground with removable tape or string. Move chairs out as if people were leaving the table. Walk from the house to the garden and check that posts would not block that route. Do not treat the outer roof dimensions as guaranteed clear space between posts: ask for the dimensioned layout of the proposed configuration.
2. Measure height and overhead obstacles
Photograph the site from several angles and record the height of doors, eaves and other nearby features. Consider both the structure and the roof movement. A louvered roof needs the clearances specified for its mechanism, and the final layout should not interfere with a door, window or overhanging element.
If you want a wall-mounted pergola, identify the wall construction and discuss the connection with the installer. If that information is not available yet, include clear photographs in the enquiry and flag it as something to confirm. The suitability of the supporting wall cannot be established from the desired roof size alone.
3. Record the ground and base conditions
Note whether the proposed location is a slab, paving, decking or another surface, and whether it slopes. A finished surface does not by itself establish that the base below it can support the structure. Ask for the foundation and anchoring requirements for the selected configuration, then have the site assessed by the appropriate installer or professional.
For an existing deck, provide any available information about its construction. For a new patio, coordinate the pergola layout before the surface is finished so that post locations, services and drainage can be considered together.
4. Plan power and drainage early
A manual roof does not need electrical power for its movement. A motorized roof does, and additional powered accessories may have their own requirements. Identify the proposed supply location and agree the electrical work with a qualified installer. Our manual vs motorized comparison can help you decide which operating approach fits your plans.
Also consider where roof water will go after it leaves the pergola. Show nearby drains and any areas where water already collects. Keep drainage routes in mind when positioning furniture and planning the base. Final drainage details should follow the chosen product and site design.
5. Check delivery access and project requirements
Describe access from the unloading point to the installation area. Include narrow gates, steps or other restrictions. Before ordering, check any local approvals or property requirements that apply to your project with the relevant authority or adviser. Do not assume that the same arrangement is suitable for every location.
Your quotation checklist
- Project location and intended use: dining, lounging, hospitality or another purpose.
- Available length, width and height, with units clearly marked.
- Photographs of the site, surrounding walls and access route.
- Preferred manual or motorized roof operation.
- Freestanding or wall-mounted preference, subject to model and site suitability.
- Base condition, power availability and drainage information.
- Desired finish, privacy options and lighting, with compatibility to be confirmed.
Use the pergola buying guide to review the options, then send your project details. If a measurement or site condition is uncertain, label it clearly. A useful first enquiry does not need to be a finished design; it needs enough accurate information to start the right conversation.