The Structural Pergola Systems design team has been using structural fiberglass on their shade designs for 20 years. The fiberglass beams offer an elegant and unique aesthetic while having the structural qualities that make it the best option for your pergola system.
The Pergola beams can be built using either 4 x 6 or 4 x 8 fiberglass rafters that are finished with a scrolled or squared end. The SPS pergola system has the strength to support additional materials such as lattice, glass panels, canvas, and our fiberglass shutter walls. SPS has approved engineering/architectural plans for commercial purposes.
Structural Fiberglass Reinforced Parts (FRP) made by Shakespeare provides the best option for materials made for outdoor structural building product applications. If you combined the advantages of wood, PVC (vinyl), and aluminum into one product, you would have structural FRP. Our reinforced structural fiberglass beams have the warm natural look of milled painted wood without the disadvantage of rot or the continuous maintenance of wood.
Our structural FRP beams do not require maintenance like PVC (vinyl). Meanwhile having more strength than PVC (approximately 6X the stiffness) less expansion and contraction with extreme temperatures (1/6 the expansion/contraction).
Our FRP beams are structural in strength and are not prone to dents and diminishing effects compared to materials such as aluminum. They accept standard/custom coatings and will stand the test of time.
