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New clear redwood pergola with infrared heaters over a backyard patio in Rancho Palos Verdes

Residential

Pergolas and Patio Covers, Built and Wired

Custom redwood and steel pergolas and patio covers, with footings, engineering, and permits handled, and heaters, fans, and lighting wired in during the build.

Why pergolas & patio covers

The outdoor room starts overhead

A pergola turns a patio into a room. The one in the photos is a current job in Rancho Palos Verdes: clear redwood over the full rear patio, with infrared heaters mounted to the beams. It shades lunch, holds the heaters that keep the evening going, and gives the lighting somewhere to hang. It's also a structure. It needs footings sized for the soil, connections that hold up to wind, and, if it attaches to the house, a ledger that won't let water into the wall.

We build pergolas and patio covers as part of the whole yard: posts set where the hardscape expects them, wiring run before the frame closes, drainage worked out with the patio below. The heaters, fans, and lights are designed into the structure from the start.

Built for salt air

Anywhere near the coast, cheap hardware is what fails first. Plain steel fasteners rust-stain redwood within a season or two. We use galvanized or stainless hardware, seal end grain, and choose finishes that can be renewed without stripping the whole structure.

See how a pergola fits into a full backyard on our outdoor living page.

What you get

Everything we deliver.

  • 01

    Clear redwood & cedar pergolas

    Clear-grade redwood or cedar, sized to span without sagging and finished to weather well in salt air.

  • 02

    Steel & aluminum structures

    Powder-coated steel or aluminum frames for a modern look or a longer span. On coastal lots we specify galvanized or stainless fasteners so they don't rust-stain.

  • 03

    Solid & louvered patio covers

    Solid roofs that drain properly and tie into the house without leaks, or adjustable louvers you can open to the sun or close against the rain.

  • 04

    Heaters, fans & lighting

    Infrared heaters, ceiling fans, and dimmable lighting on dedicated circuits. The wiring runs inside the frame, so there are no extension cords across the patio.

  • 05

    Footings, engineering & permits

    Engineered footings and connections, plans for plan check, and inspections, coordinated with the hardscape so posts land where the patio is designed to take them.

From the field

A Rancho Palos Verdes redwood pergola, and more.

Recent photos from current DECOMA jobs — in progress and finished, not stock.

  • Wide view of a new clear redwood pergola spanning a backyard patio beside the lawn
    Rancho Palos Verdes: clear redwood pergola spanning the full rear patio.
  • Redwood pergola with infrared heaters shading an outdoor dining and lounge patio
    Infrared heaters mounted to the beams warm the dining area after dark.
  • Close view of redwood pergola rafters and an infrared heater above a lounge
    Rafter spacing chosen for filtered shade without blocking the view.
  • Expansive timber pergola sheltering a potting workspace and gravel patio with brick inlay
    Redondo Beach: timber pergola over a garden workspace.
  • Lattice pergola walkway with potted ferns lining a gravel garden path
    Redondo Beach: lattice pergola walkway.
  • Covered outdoor patio with dining table and overhead heaters overlooking the pool and lawn
    Palos Verdes Estates: covered dining patio with overhead heaters.

How we run it

Scope to sign-off.

  1. 01

    Site & sun

    We look at where the shade needs to fall and when, what the cover attaches to, and what sits underneath it: footings, slab, or soil.

  2. 02

    Design & engineering

    We set the material, spans, post locations, and connection details. Covers attached to the house get a ledger design that won't leak or overload the wall.

  3. 03

    Permit

    Plans go to plan check for anything that needs a permit. In most South Bay cities, that's an attached patio cover or a larger freestanding structure.

  4. 04

    Build & wire

    Footings, frame, cover, then electrical for heaters, fans, and lights, finished and inspected before we hand it over.

Why DECOMA

One license, three disciplines, forty years.

Family-run South Bay general contractor since 1978. We design, build, and manage — under one license — so the team you start with is the team that hands you keys and the team that answers the phone when something needs fixing in year ten.

Years building
48+
Projects delivered
3,000+
Repeat clients
300+
CSLB Class
A/B

FAQ

Common questions.

Do I need a permit for a pergola or patio cover?
Usually. Most South Bay cities require a permit for patio covers attached to the house and for larger freestanding pergolas, and any electrical for heaters, fans, or lights needs its own permit. Small detached structures may be exempt, depending on the city and the setbacks. We check your lot before design.
Redwood, cedar, or steel?
Clear redwood and cedar resist rot and insects naturally and look warm, but they need a finish refreshed every few years. Steel and aluminum span farther with thinner members and need less upkeep. Near the ocean, the hardware matters as much as the frame, so we use galvanized or stainless fasteners.
Can you add heaters to an existing pergola?
Often, yes. Infrared heaters usually need their own 240-volt circuits, so we check your panel's capacity first. If the panel is full, a subpanel or panel upgrade may come first.
How long does a pergola take to build?
Once permits are issued, a typical wood pergola takes one to three weeks on site, including footings and electrical. Larger or louvered covers take longer. Permit time varies by city.
Will a patio cover make my house darker inside?
It can, if it's designed carelessly. We set the rafter spacing, height, and projection based on how the sun moves across your yard, so the patio is shaded while the rooms behind it still get light.

Service areas

Pergolas & patio covers across the South Bay.

Born in Harbor City, working across LA County since 1978. Same crew, same license number, same shop at 25941 Frampton Ave, Harbor City.

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One business day for a scope, timeline, and budget range. CSLB #375508 A/B.

Request consultation(310) 418-0258