POLYWOOD Westgrove pergola: the 8×12 fits a bistro set in 5×9 ft between posts

What fits between the posts

The roof extends about a foot past the posts on every side, so your furniture has to fit the smaller space between them.

POLYWOOD's buying guide shows what that means. For the 8×12 it suggests setups like two dining chairs and a bistro table, or two deep-seating loveseats. A dining table for four isn't on the list.

The 12×12 list steps up to four dining chairs and a small dining table, or two chaise lounges and a side table. POLYWOOD also says to leave about three feet of walking space in front of seating.

Which size to buy

POLYWOOD sells the 8×12 for $8,999 and the 12×12 for $9,999. Buy the 12×12 if you have the space: the extra $1,000 gets you about 36 more square feet between the posts, nearly 80% more room.

Select Natural is the only color so far, and POLYWOOD says its pergolas are sold as described, with no customizing.

Against a wood 12×12 with the same room

The closest like-for-like kit we track is Yardistry's 12×12 wood pergola. By our measure from Yardistry's drawing, it also has about 9 feet between its posts, so the two 12×12s give the same room.

Yardistry's is $2,039.99 on sale, down from $2,999.99. With Yardistry's $910 professional assembly added, POLYWOOD's 12×12 still costs about $7,000 more, before POLYWOOD's own installation fee.

What that money buys is a different material and a longer lumber warranty. POLYWOOD makes the Westgrove from plastic (HDPE) lumber that it sells as low maintenance, and says the lumber is covered for 20 years against breaking. Yardistry's is wood, and Yardistry covers its lumber for five years against rot and decay. That is a material premium, not proof of a stronger pergola.

Space, a hard base and a heavy pallet

Plan for more ground than the footprint. POLYWOOD lists a minimum clear area of 11 by 15 feet for the 8×12 and 15 by 15 for the 12×12.

Delivery is free in the contiguous US, but it is a curbside drop. The kit weighs 1,000 pounds (8×12) or 1,200 (12×12), and POLYWOOD doesn't remove the packaging, so plan how you'll get it from the curb to the build site.

POLYWOOD approves the Westgrove on hard, flat surfaces but not on grass or soil. Its manual covers bolting the posts to flat, level concrete or a structurally supported deck, calls for at least two adults, and doesn't include the mounting fasteners. If you don't have a pad, Angi puts a new 100-square-foot concrete slab at around $600, an estimate rather than a POLYWOOD figure.

POLYWOOD says professional installation is "highly recommended" and offers White Glove Delivery, which includes installation and assembly. The fee appears only at checkout, so check it there before you choose between that and building it yourself. The base has to be ready when the crew arrives, POLYWOOD says, or the visit is rescheduled.

Watch out: POLYWOOD's lumber warranty covers breaking, not fading. Hardware is covered for five years, and damage from acts of God such as hurricanes or ice is excluded.

Who the POLYWOOD Westgrove pergola suits, and who should skip it

It suits you if you want low-maintenance plastic lumber, have a flat concrete pad or a structurally sound deck with the clear room, and are fine paying thousands more than a wood kit costs. It also takes swings, hung from the leg joists at 400 pounds per hook, POLYWOOD says.

Skip it if your yard is grass or soil, if you want a roof that keeps rain off (POLYWOOD describes the open roof as creating dappled shade), or if you need a published wind or snow rating. POLYWOOD's product page and manual don't list one.

POLYWOOD says the Westgrove is available online at polywood.com and ships in 10 to 20 business days. It also notes that permanent structures may need a building permit, so check your local rules before you order. Then measure two things before you pick a size: the clear ground, including walking room, and what you want between the posts. If a wood kit would do, our best pergola kits guide is the place to start.

Image credits

• POLYWOOD
• POLYWOOD