Pergola Ground Preparation GuideUpdated a day ago

Applies to all PergoSTET pergolas: Lite, Lite Neo, Plus, Wall Mounted, Deluxe and Pro

ℹ️ For assembly service and self-assembly customers

Whether you are having your pergola professionally assembled or building it yourself, the ground preparation requirements are the same. Your surface needs to be ready before your pergola arrives.

If you have booked our assembly service, our team cannot start work on an unprepared surface and any return visit will be chargeable. If you are self-assembling, the surface must be ready before you begin as it directly affects whether you can bolt down correctly and keep your warranty valid.

Why the ground matters

Your pergola is designed to be fixed securely to the ground and stay there. The quality of your surface affects how well the fixings grip, how efficiently it drains rainwater and how stable the whole thing feels once it's up.

Getting this right in advance means installation can go ahead without delays or additional costs.

Patio drainage and the 1:80 fall

Most professionally laid patios and decking are built with a slight slope called a fall to direct rainwater away from the building. Your PergoSTET pergola is designed around this standard fall.

1:80 is the ideal fall. A 1cm drop over 80cm. This is exactly what your pergola is designed for. Drainage works perfectly and nothing needs adjusting.
Steeper than 1:80. A significantly steeper slope can affect drainage performance. Packers can often help so get in touch and we'll advise.
Very little or no fall. Your pergola may need packing under certain legs to introduce a fall. Packers are available from us, just ask.

Preparation by surface type

Stone, concrete or block paving

Slabs need to sit on a solid concrete bed so the expansion bolts have something to grip. If your patio is older or you're not sure what's underneath it's worth lifting a slab and checking, or installing concrete pads under each leg for extra peace of mind.

Porcelain tiles

Same requirement, solid concrete bed underneath. Porcelain also needs diamond drill bits rather than standard ones which are not included with your pergola. Take care when drilling near tile edges as positioning too close to the edge isn't always possible.

Timber or composite decking

Decking is fine to bolt into but because timber and composite move naturally with temperature and moisture we recommend adding a 40 x 40 x 40cm concrete pad or a secured joist/noggin under each leg. It gives the structure a much more solid base.

Grass, artificial grass, loose gravel or soil

You'll need to pour 40 x 40 x 40cm concrete pads and embed them at least 40cm into the ground before your pergola arrives. Give the concrete plenty of time to fully cure and don't rush this step.

Bolting down and why it matters

Every PergoSTET pergola must be fixed to the ground. Bolting down is a warranty requirement for all models and is not optional. A properly secured pergola is significantly more stable and resistant to wind movement.

⚠️ An unbolted pergola is a vulnerable pergola

Wind movement in an unbolted structure will damage the frame, louvres and any blinds over time. Any damage caused by a pergola that has not been bolted down will not be covered by your warranty and any visit from our team to rectify these issues will be charged at £250 plus parts.

What's included and what you might need

Expansion anchor bolts are supplied with your pergola and work well on solid concrete or well-laid paving.
Porcelain or stone surfaces need diamond drill bits. Standard bits won't work on these materials. If you are installing the pergola yourself please pick some up before assembly day. If you have paid for our assembly service, we provide the diamond drill bits if you have paid for the porcelain bolt down supplement.
Decking or non-standard surfaces may need alternative fixings. If you're not sure just drop us a message before you start.
Soft surfaces need concrete pads to be in place first. See the surface guide above.

It's not always possible to drill very close to the edge of a tile so leave yourself a little flexibility on exact positioning.

For Wall Mounted pergolas

If you have a Wall Mounted pergola the same ground preparation applies for the front legs. A few things are worth thinking about early:

Check the wall is solid with no loose render, crumbling mortar or structural concerns.
Note where your windows, doors and downpipes sit as these will affect where the pergola can go.
Any decorative surface like paint, render or pebble dashing needs to be firmly adhered.

Your pre-delivery checklist

Work through all of these before your pergola arrives:

Check the actual dimensions of your pergola on the product page as they aren't exactly 3m, 4m etc. Make sure it fits your space.
Choose your position. You may not be able to drill right at the edge of tiles so allow a little flexibility.
Check your surface has a solid concrete base and is suitable for expansion bolts.
If any remedial work is needed such as new concrete, lifted paving or concrete pads, get it done early and allow proper curing time before your delivery date.
Check your patio fall. If it's too steep or too flat order packers now.
If you're fixing to porcelain or stone get diamond drill bits before assembly day.
If you're fixing to decking or a non-standard surface confirm the right fixings in advance.
If you're a leaseholder or tenant get written permission from your landlord before your pergola arrives.
On the day of assembly or installation clear the area completely with no furniture, planters or anything else in the way.

Questions

My patio is a few years old. Do I need to do anything before installing?

Not necessarily. If it's well-constructed on a solid concrete base you're likely fine. If it's on sand or the bond between the slab and the base has weakened over time it's worth lifting and installing concrete pads under each leg before your pergola arrives.

I'm having new paving laid. How long do I need to wait before delivery?

Allow enough time for the concrete to fully cure before booking your delivery. Fresh concrete won't grip expansion bolts effectively. If you're unsure give us a call and we can advise.

What are packers?

Packers are small shims that sit under your pergola legs to fine-tune the level and introduce a drainage fall where needed. If your patio has minimal slope or the slope is uneven packers can make a real difference. They're available from us, just ask.

My garden slopes quite a bit. Is that a problem?

It depends on the degree. Pergolas work well with a standard 1:80 fall and packers can help with slightly steeper or more uneven surfaces. Send us some photos of your space and we'll let you know what we think.

Have any other questions?

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