Bioclimatic pergolas in Malaga made to measure for your terrace

The price of a bioclimatic pergola depends on so many variables that any generic figure, whether per square metre or a ‘from’ price, usually ends up a long way from what you’ll actually pay. That’s why at QUBRE we don’t give guide prices: we’d rather come to your home, measure up and give you a real figure.

What drives the quote most is the area you want to cover, whether the pergola is wall-mounted or freestanding (a freestanding one has four posts plus their anchoring), the type of louvre (adjustable, or retractable as well), the motor and automation, such as wind and rain sensors or LED lighting, and whether you add side enclosures. The type of floor or facade we anchor to and how easy it is to get the materials up, to a penthouse for example, also play a part.

So you can compare at your leisure, the visit, measuring and quote are free and with no obligation. We give it to you in writing, with every item clearly listed and a fixed price: what you sign is what you pay, with no surprises halfway through the installation. Often you’ll have it in under 24 hours.

If your budget is tighter, we’ll show you alternatives such as an aluminium pergola or a retractable roof pergola. You can book your visit using the form or on our contact page.

Yes. With the louvres closed, a bioclimatic pergola forms a continuous roof that keeps the rain off. The louvres interlock and each one works like a small channel: the water runs along them into a perimeter gutter hidden in the structure and down through the inside of the posts to the ground or to whatever drain we’ve planned. That’s why at the visit we look at where the water will come out, so it doesn’t end up flooding your terrace or pouring onto your neighbour’s.

There are two things worth knowing. First, in very heavy rain or when the wind drives the rain sideways, some water can get in through the open sides, just as it would under any porch. If you want a fully sheltered terrace, the answer is to close the sides with a zip screen or a glass enclosure.

Second, many models can take a rain sensor that closes the louvres automatically as soon as the first drops fall, even if you’re not at home. It’s very useful on the Malaga coast, where showers arrive out of nowhere after weeks of sunshine.

To keep the pergola watertight over the years, all you need to do is keep the gutter and downpipes clear of leaves and dust. We’ll show you how on the day we hand it over.

A bioclimatic pergola has a rigid aluminium roof, with no fabric to act as a sail, so it copes with wind far better than an awning. Even so, how well a structure holds up depends above all on how it’s anchored. In the Axarquia and on the Costa del Sol the levante and poniente winds blow hard several times a year, so we size the posts and choose the anchoring according to how exposed your terrace is and the type of facade or floor.

Each manufacturer states the wind resistance of its model with the louvres closed and with them open, and those are the figures we use to recommend one model or another. As a general rule, when the wind is very strong it’s advisable to set the louvres in the position the manufacturer specifies; some models can take a wind sensor that does it for you.

If your terrace is very exposed and you want to be able to sit under it when it’s windy, side enclosures are the perfect addition. A zip screen holds the fabric in the guides all the way down, so it doesn’t flap loose in the gusts, and a windbreak awning with side guides stops the wind without blocking the light.

At the technical visit we’ll tell you honestly which model and which anchoring your space needs. If something isn’t a good idea on your terrace, we’ll tell you before you spend any money.

It depends on three things: your local town hall, the size and type of pergola, and whether you live in a community of owners. A bioclimatic pergola is a fixed structure, so in many municipalities in Malaga and Granada it’s processed as minor works, either with a licence or a «declaración responsable» (a sworn statement to the town hall). Every town hall, from Velez-Malaga to Marbella or Motril, has its own bylaws, and what applies in one doesn’t necessarily apply in the next.

If you live in an apartment building or an urbanisation, the facade, and in many cases the penthouse terrace, involve common elements. The community may need to approve the installation or set a model and colour so every home matches. We explain it in more detail in our guide to awnings and pergolas in communities of owners.

You don’t have to work it out yourself. Before installing, we check which procedure applies to you and, if the project requires it, we handle the paperwork and permits for you, including anything that needs to go before the owners’ meeting.

If you’d like to read up beforehand, our article Do I need permission to install an awning or a pergola? covers the most common cases in Malaga and Granada.

Yes, and it’s one of the reasons a bioclimatic pergola is such good value in Malaga. With the louvred roof closed and the sides covered, you turn your terrace into an outdoor room you can use in winter, on afternoons when the levante blows or when it turns chilly at night. There are three ways to close it in, and they can be combined:

Zip screen. A vertical awning whose fabric is held by a zip inside the side guides, so it stays taut and doesn’t flap loose in the wind. It filters the sun, cuts out the wind and, with a Cherubini motor, you raise and lower it with a remote control. You’ll find everything on our zip screen page.

Windbreak awning with side guides. A very practical option for bar terraces and windy spots, with clear or micro-perforated fabrics. Find out more in windbreak awnings.

Glass enclosure. Aluminium and glass sliding panels that close it in without losing the views or the light. It’s the most sheltered solution and the closest thing to gaining an extra room. We explain it in terrace and porch enclosures.

Ideally, plan the enclosures from the start, even if you install them later, so the structure is ready for them.

The difference is in how it’s supported. A wall-mounted bioclimatic pergola is anchored to the facade of the house on one side and rests on two posts on the other. A freestanding bioclimatic pergola, also called a self-supporting pergola, stands on four posts and doesn’t touch the house.

Wall-mounted is the most common choice for penthouses, flat terraces and porches right off the living room. It extends the home outdoors, needs fewer posts and leaves more free space. To install one, the facade has to be solid enough for secure anchoring, which we check at the visit. If you’re unsure about your wall, our wall-mounted pergolas page explains what we look at.

Freestanding is the best option for gardens, pool areas and patios where you want to create a separate space, or when the facade can’t take fixings, for example because of a delicate cladding or community rules. As it rests only on the ground, anchoring the posts is key, and we work it out according to the type of paving.

Both have the same adjustable louvred roof and the same options for motors, automation and side enclosures. If you’re not sure, send us a photo of your space on WhatsApp and we’ll point you in the right direction before we come to measure.

Very little, and that’s one of its big advantages over a pergola with fabric. Powder-coated aluminium doesn’t rot, doesn’t need varnishing and has no fabric to fade. Even so, on the Malaga and Granada coast salt air and dust build up, and a little care goes a long way towards extending the life of the pergola and keeping it looking good.

We recommend cleaning the louvres with fresh water and a mild soap a couple of times a year, and a bit more often if you live on the seafront. Avoid abrasive products and scourers that could scratch the powder coating. Also check that the gutter and downpipes are clear of leaves, especially before autumn, so rainwater can drain away freely.

Move the louvres from time to time even if you don’t need to, so the mechanism keeps working, and listen out for any odd noises from the motor. That’s why we use stainless fixings and powder-coated aluminium: they’re the materials that best withstand the sea air.

If you ever notice something isn’t right, our after-sales service is there for you. As well as our own installations, we check and repair those fitted by other installers. If you have awnings too, our blog explains how to clean and look after an awning, and when it’s needed we take care of repairs and fabric replacement.

It’s worth separating the overall project time from the installation time at your home. The installation is carried out by our own team and, for a bioclimatic pergola of a typical size for a terrace or porch, it’s usually done in one or two days. Larger projects, with several modules or side enclosures, may need a day or so more.

Before the installation comes the visit and measuring, which we arrange around your availability, and the quote, which we often send you in under 24 hours. Once you accept it, the pergola is made to measure with your dimensions, the frame colour and the extras you’ve chosen. The manufacturing time depends on the model and the manufacturer, and we state it in writing in the quote itself so you can plan ahead.

If your case needs a town hall licence or community approval, that procedure is added to the timeline. We spot it at the visit and handle it so it doesn’t take any longer than necessary.

If you have a date in mind, such as the start of summer or a family celebration, tell us from the outset and we’ll plan everything backwards from it. It’s best not to leave it to the last minute: spring is when most people start thinking about their terrace. Book your visit using the form or see how we work on our about us page.