Evenings are the best part
In Fort Lauderdale, the best patio hours start at sunset. The heat breaks. The breeze picks up. A pergola with lighting lets you stay out and enjoy it.
Lights change everything. A dark pergola sits empty after 8 p.m. A lit one becomes the favorite seat in the house. Dinner stretches longer. Talk goes later.
Planning lights from the start is smart. Wiring hides inside the beams. Switches land where you want them. No cords draped over the frame later.
We design the light layout with the pergola, not as an afterthought. The result looks built-in because it is.
Light options that work outside
String lights are the classic pergola look. Warm bulbs on a wire, draped beam to beam. They give a soft glow that flatters everyone.
Recessed beam lights sit flush in the wood or aluminum. They shine straight down on the table. Clean, modern, and out of the way.
Post lights cap the posts with a soft wash of light. They mark the edges of the space and look great from inside the house.
Step and path lights around the base keep footing safe. They guide guests from the door to the seats without harsh floodlights.
Add a fan while you are at it
A ceiling fan under a pergola is pure Florida comfort. It moves air on still nights and keeps mosquitoes from hovering.
We size a beam to carry the fan and run the wiring during the build. Adding the fan later is then a simple job, not a rebuild.
Outdoor-rated fans stand up to humidity and rain. Indoor fans rust fast outside. We only install fans rated for wet or damp locations.
Fan and lights can share a switch or run separate. Separate gives you light without breeze on cool nights. Your call.
How it works
A lighted pergola needs a power plan. We map the circuits before the first post goes in.
- Free visit. We walk the yard, check where power can come from, and talk about how you use the space at night.
- Light plan. You see where each light goes and what it will look like. We pick fixtures that fit your style and budget.
- Written price. One price covers the pergola, wiring, fixtures, and install. A licensed electrician handles the electrical work.
- Permits. The structure and the electrical both need permits. We handle both sets of paperwork.
- Build. Posts and beams go up with wiring hidden inside. Fixtures mount last. We test every light with you at dusk if you like.
Care and bulb notes
LED fixtures last for years and sip power. When a bulb does go, most are simple swaps you can do yourself.
Wipe fixtures down once a year. Salt air films over lenses and dims the light. A damp cloth brings back the glow.
Check the GFCI outlet that feeds the pergola each spring. Press the test button. It should trip and reset. That is your safety check.
Every project is different — contact us for a free written estimate.
See it at night first
Before you decide, picture your yard at 9 p.m. Warm light on the table. Soft glow on the posts. That is the scene we build.
Tell us how you spend evenings outside. Quiet reading needs soft light. Big cookouts need brighter zones. We tune the plan to your nights.
Light it right
A pergola with lighting gets used after dark, which in Fort Lauderdale is half the year-round value. Without lights, the structure goes dark at sunset and everyone moves inside. With them, the patio becomes the evening spot from March through November.
Plan the wiring before the pergola goes up, not after. Running conduit and wire through finished rafters is slow and ugly. When we build the structure and the lighting together, the wire hides inside the beams and the fixtures mount cleanly. It looks built-in because it is.
Think in zones. Bright light over the grill or outdoor kitchen where you work, softer light over the seating area where you relax. A dimmer or separate switches let you set the mood. String lights give a festive feel, while recessed downlights in the rafters look more finished.
Everything outdoors here needs to handle moisture. Fixtures rated for wet locations, sealed connections, and GFCI protection are not optional extras. They are what keep the lighting safe through rain season and working for years instead of months.
Start the lighting plan during the design visit. It is much cheaper to add a circuit now than to retrofit one later.
Call (301) 679-9193 or send the form for a free on-site estimate.