Louvred Roofs vs Glass Roofs – the Honest Trade Off

If you’re considering installing a pergola for entertainment, relaxation or summer dining, you will want to carefully consider the type of roof to suit your needs.

This is because different roof types can have a big impact on how you use your pergola and get the most out of it.

Louvred roofs

Louvred roofs are essentially made up of aluminium slats you can open and close either manually or automatically.

Therefore, you can control the amount of fresh air, sunlight and shade that can enter the pergola by tilting them or closing them completely when it rains or the solar glare is too strong.

Bioclimatic louvres

These are motorised louvres fitted with weather sensors which send a signal to the control system to open, close or tilt the louvres to provide protection from the sun and the rain.

So, when it starts raining, the louvres will automatically close to make the pergola watertight. In the same way, if the sunlight becomes too intense, the louvres will tilt or shut fully to block the sun.

Some pergolas even have a wind sensor on the louvres to open or close the louvres to the safest position to prevent storm damage to furniture and to the structure itself.

Wide open space of glass roofs

Glass roofs provide a wonderful openness to the sky during the day and night, as well as looking extremely chic, adding to the aesthetic of a home and garden.

They remain watertight when it rains and allow lots of natural light to flood into the pergola, so you can use it all year round without the need for artificial light.

However, while glass roofs give you more of a feeling of being outside in the open than louvre roofs, you can’t control the solar glare unless you use shading options such as external blinds.

External blinds are the most effective way of blocking out sunlight and keeping the temperature cooler on glass roofs.

They can be controlled by common apps and sensors to raise and lower and their special open weave still allows light to come in and for occupants to enjoy the sky views.

The darkness dilemma

Even when louvres on the roof are open they will cast strips of shadow inside and when closed, you won’t get any natural light in the pergola.

LED lighting systems can go some way to compensate for the darkness when the louvres are closed during rainy weather and can add to a cosy atmosphere at night.

Glass louvres as a compromise

If you prefer the aesthetic of louvres but hanker after a sense of openness, then you may consider fitting the pergola with glass blades, which can cover the whole area or be fitted into specific areas to add light.

However, glass louvres are far more expensive than aluminium louvres because they need to be made of safety glass and are heavier, which means the installation needs to be specialised.

Leaky roofs

While louvred roofed pergolas are marketed as being watertight, they don’t claim to be 100 per cent waterproof.

This is especially the case during extreme weather, and there have been some reports of leaky roofs due to the design of the louvres.

They are also more prone to leaks if they are not maintained properly, so any debris needs to be cleared from the roof as well as from the internal drainage system.

Not one size fits all

If you love the feeling of an open sky during the day with lots of natural light then glass roofs are a better option, especially if you’re planning to use the space as an extra kitchen or a workspace.

In the same way, night owls will love the openness a glass roof provides, allowing you to watch the stars.

If you’re looking to control the environment in a freestanding pergola, then a louvred roof may be more suitable because it’s more adaptable to the weather - unless you have your glass roof pergola fitted with external blinds.

We can help you choose

If you’d like to talk to our experts about your needs, our experts will be more than happy to advise you and work with you on your individual design.

You can contact us for more information about how a glass-roofed Calista pergola can help you make the most of your home and garden.