Bioclimatic pergolas in Cádiz

As a guide, a bioclimatic pergola costs between €350 and €500/m² with manual louvres, between €450 and €750/m² motorised, and between €700 and €1,100/m² with sensors, LED lighting and side enclosures, with installation included. A motorised pergola measuring 3 x 4 m comes to between €5,400 and €9,000. The exact price depends on the measurements, on whether it is attached or freestanding, and on the extras; the site visit, measuring and quote are free. You'll find more detail in our guide prices.

Yes. By enclosing the sides with frameless glass curtains, the bioclimatic pergola becomes a space sheltered from wind and rain, and on sunny days you simply open the louvres to let in light and warmth. It is the combination that comes closest to gaining an extra room. If one side faces west, a screen awning blocks the low afternoon sun.

In strong wind, the advice is to leave the louvres open, as manufacturers recommend, so that the air passes between them and the structure is under less strain; with a wind sensor, the pergola does this by itself. To stop the levante coming in at the sides, the most effective solution is to close off the exposed sides with glass curtains or with screens running in side tracks. We explain this in our guide to protecting your terrace from the levante.

A bioclimatic pergola controls the sun by tilting its aluminium louvres, which are opaque, and lets hot air escape between them. The retractable roof slides open or closed along tracks and its roofing is usually polycarbonate or glass, so it lets light through even when it is closed. If you want shade and ventilation, the bioclimatic pergola is the better fit; if you want natural light with the terrace covered, go for the retractable roof.

Very little: clear leaves and dust from the louvres and gutters a couple of times a year, rinse off the salt with water more often if the house is right on the seafront, and have the motor checked from time to time. Powder-coated aluminium does not corrode; over the years, the parts that need most attention are the motor and the electronics, which can be serviced or replaced.

You usually need at least a notification or a declaración responsable (a self-declaration) to the town hall and, in some municipalities, a minor works licence (licencia de obra menor). If the pergola is going on a building, on a penthouse for example, you also need the approval of the residents' association. We advise you on the procedure in your municipality and give you the technical description that councils usually ask for. More information in our guide to permission for enclosing a terrace in Andalusia.

Once you accept the quote, it is usually installed within 2 to 4 weeks, depending on the model and finishes. Made-to-measure manufacturing takes up most of that time; fitting at your home takes just a few days and, when we finish, we show you how to use and look after it.