Arbor Designs

Deceptively Simple

Arbors belong to the class of structural shades that include pergolas, trellises and gazebos. The simplest arbor is just two vertical beams that support a horizontal beam. More complicated arbor designs exist. For example, the vertical supports may be a lattice-like structure that is more like a wall than a beam. The horizontals can be a thick arch, made in the same lattice design. These are sometimes called arches rather than arbors.

The beam arbors need to be supplemented with shade cloth to function as outdoor shades, whereas other designs inherently have greater shading capacity. Because the construction is rather straightforward, many stores will carry kits which ship all the materials to the customer in disassembled form. The structure is large enough to warrant digging 2 or 4 holes for the posts. The beam types require only two holes in the ground, whereas the lattice types consist of two picket walls which require two holes for each wall. Putting arbors and gardens together is a popular choice for homeowners.

Arbor Designs Are Similar To Pergolas

As with many of these home exterior furnishings, there's some overlap in the definitions of what constitutes a pergola and what constitutes an arbor. When an arbor design is provided with sufficient depth, so that it's no longer just a doorway, it can acquire characteristics of a pergola. Similarly, if a pergola is squashed in one dimension so that it becomes more like a doorway or arch, then it can take on qualities of an arbor. The consumer is advised to look into both types of structures so as not to miss out on opportunities or products.

Material

Because of its durability and light weight, vinyl has become a very popular material in recent years. In addition, because vinyl is a petromchemical polymer, it's very resistant to weather elements like moisture, rain, and heat. This means your outdoor shade won't rot, crack or warp as quickly as it would were it made of wood. The disadvantages of vinyl is that you become more limited in the styles that are possible. Some people prefer the natural look of wood, whereas others don't mind the picket-white that vinyl can mimic well. Steel and wooden frames are two other possibilities.

Blending Into The Rest Of The Home Exterior

Where do you usually put this kind of shade? Because it looks like a doorway, it's a bit too small to accomodate any serious furniture underneath for people to sit. Most people put it at the entrance to their garden, defined informally by just a path leading from the driveway or a home entry door.

More Ideas For Arbor Designs

The arbor would simply define a doorway, although it'd be quite simple for anyone to walk around it! To make it seem more part of the home, many people incorporate vines or other climbing plants into arbor designs, especially if its a picket-style or lattice-style. Moreover, some people opt for building a fence or railing of the same material, forming a bonafide wall that can only be accessed through the garden arbor.