Brentwood, CA · East Contra Costa
Louvered Pergolas in Brentwood, CA
A louvered pergola has a roof of aluminum blades that rotate: open for sky, angled for shade, closed for rain. It's the most flexible cover you can put over a patio, and the most expensive. Here is how the systems work, manual vs motorized, and what drives the price.
Cited cost ranges · No obligation
Why people choose a louvered roof
Shade in July, sun in January
Open the blades on a winter afternoon, close them when it's over 100°F. A fixed roof can't do both.
Rain cover without a dark room
Closed blades shed rain into a built-in gutter; open, they let light back into the house.
The pool or outdoor kitchen
Freestanding louvered pergolas are a common pick beside a pool or over an outdoor kitchen, often with screens and heaters.
You want it to feel finished
Integrated lights, fans, heaters and drop screens are designed in, not bolted on.
How a louvered roof works
The roof is a row of extruded aluminum blades, each on a pivot. A crank or a motor turns them together. Open, they stand vertical and let the sky through. Angled, they block direct sun while letting air move. Closed, they overlap and channel rain into a gutter built into the frame, which drains down a post. That last part is what separates a real louvered roof from a pergola with slats.
Manual, motorized or smart
- Manual. A crank or lever. The lowest price, no wiring. Fine for a small span you'll adjust a few times a day.
- Motorized. A motor and a remote or wall switch. Needs a circuit run to the pergola, which an electrician usually handles as a separate line on the bid.
- Smart. Motorized plus rain and wind sensors that close or open the blades on their own, and app control. Worth it if you'll leave the house with the blades open.
Attached vs freestanding
Attached louvered roofs mount a beam to the house wall and run out over the patio; freestanding systems sit on four or more posts, often beside a pool. Both need engineered footings: a louvered roof is heavier than a lattice cover and has to handle wind on a closed roof. That engineering, the electrical run and the city plan check are a bigger share of the job than on a simple aluminum cover.
Brand names are a category, not a recommendation
You'll see StruXure, Equinox and other branded systems in local search results and on retail sites. They're examples of the same idea from different manufacturers, sold through dealers. This site isn't affiliated with any of them. When comparing bids, compare the blade profile, the gutter and drainage design, the motor and its warranty, and who services it, not just the name.
What it usually costs
HomeGuide (October 2024) lists louvered pergola roofs at about $45–$110 per square foot manual, $55–$125 motorized and $75–$175 for smart systems. Angi (July 2026) puts motorized pergolas at an average of about $13,700, from $3,900 to over $50,000, and about $6,000–$18,000 for a 10×10.
National ranges, not a quote; Bay Area jobs often land in the upper half. Full breakdown: patio cover and pergola cost in Brentwood.
Add-ons that change the price
- Drop screens on one or more sides, for sun, wind and bugs. Angi lists curtains from about $50–$200; motorized screens cost far more.
- Integrated LED lighting (Angi: about $50–$500 per fixture).
- Heaters (about $300–$2,000) and ceiling fans (about $70–$4,000 depending on the fan).
- Rain and wind sensors (about $125–$200 each).
- An outdoor outlet (about $150–$260) and the circuit to the motor.
Check any contractor, including one you find here
- Ask for the contractor's CSLB license number and look it up at cslb.ca.gov. The CSLB site also explains when a California contractor license is required.
- Get the quote in writing, naming the size, the product line and roof type, the footings, who pulls the permit, and the warranty terms.
- Be wary of large deposits or cash-only terms. Ask who pulls the permit, and what happens if the city or the HOA asks for changes.
- Ask whether engineering and plans are included, and get HOA approval in writing before you sign a start date.
This site is an independent referral service, not a contractor. Your request goes to an independent local patio cover contractor, who gives the quote and does the work. How this works
Common questions
How much does a louvered pergola cost?
Angi (July 2026) puts motorized louvered pergolas at an average of about $13,700, with a 10×10 at roughly $6,000–$18,000. HomeGuide (2024) lists louvered roofs at $45–$110 per square foot manual and $55–$125 motorized. See the cost guide.
Are louvered pergolas waterproof?
When the blades are closed, a properly designed system sheds rain into a built-in gutter that drains through a post. It's water-resistant, not a sealed roof: wind-driven rain can still blow in at the sides.
Do louvered pergolas need a permit in Brentwood?
Yes. Brentwood requires a building permit for any accessory structure with a roof or cover, regardless of size. Motorized systems also need electrical work. See permits.
Is motorized worth it over manual?
If you'll adjust the blades often, or want them to close when it rains, yes. If it's a small span you'll set once a day, manual saves money and wiring.
Related decisions
Aluminum patio covers
Solid, lattice and insulated aluminum covers, attached or freestanding. Low upkeep, the most common choice in East County.
Pergolas
Open-beam wood or aluminum pergolas, attached or freestanding. Partial shade, a defined outdoor room, room to add a cover later.
Choosing a contractor
The bid checklist, questions to ask, red flags, and how to check a California contractor's license.
Talk to a local patio cover pro
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