Why I Chose Southwest Patio for My Pergola Remodel (And Why You Should Consider Them Too)
When the previous homeowner installed our pergola over 20 years ago, the slats were installed east-to-west, which meant the shade wasn't as effective as it could have been (especially since the house faces east and west).
I spoke to four different companies about modifying the existing pergola, but most of them told me the same thing: it couldn't be fixed. They felt the entire structure would need to be rebuilt. The quotes were significant in cost, and frankly, we didn't want to spend that much.
My husband suggested to each company: why not add additional slats between the existing ones to make the pergola's coverage closer to full? After all, this would increase the shade without having to tear everything down and start from square one.
The other companies didn't think there'd be enough space between the slats to make it work and were hesitant to even try. None of them bothered to measure the spacing between the slats to check if the idea would be feasible. It seemed like no one was really interested in listening to our needs or even exploring a simple, cost-effective solution.
I reached out to Aric at Southwest Patio, and right from the start, he was different. He listened to our concerns and assured us that adding slats between the existing ones would not only work, but it would save us a ton of money compared to rebuilding the entire pergola. He didn't just take our word for it--he had his boss, Todd, come out to double-check everything. After taking a good look at the space, Todd agreed that our plan would work and that it would be a great solution.
What really impressed me was how committed they were to making sure everything was done right. They ordered the materials and scheduled the job. There was a small hiccup along the way when they were short a few pieces of material, but Aric kept me in the loop with constant updates and was very apologetic with the schedule changes. This level of communication was something I really appreciated, especially since we didn't have a tight deadline.
Although the project took a few extra days (thanks to waiting for the new materials), we couldn't be happier with the final result. Our pergola now provides much better shade, and the additional slats really made a difference. What's more, the cost was far less than the alternative of tearing down and rebuilding the whole structure.
In fact, we were so impressed with the outcome that we decided to extend the pergola over the back of the house as well. I asked if they could reconfigure the slats to be closer together for even more shade, and they were more than happy to make that adjustment--even after they were halfway through the job! Again, the final result exceeded our expectations
Southwest Patio is a small company, but they offer big service. Their focus on customer satisfaction, attention to detail, and willingness to go the extra mile made this experience one to remember. If you're on the West side and are looking for patio solutions, I highly recommend giving them the opportunity to bid on your project. They made what could have been a stressful and expensive remodel into a simple, affordable solution that I'm thrilled with.
Whether you're looking to improve your existing structure or build something new, Southwest Patio really knows how to take care of their customers. I couldn't be happier with how things turned out! read more
