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PHOENIX
ARIZONA PERGOLAS,
RAMADAS & GAZEBOS
 Phoenix,
Arizona is known for its extreme summer
temperatures & outdoor entertaining. So, in
order for both to exist side by side, Arizonans
are constantly looking for ways to beat the
heat! With swimming pools being the number one
investment for those looking to cool off when it
hits 100 degrees, you can bet creating shade
follows a close second. For the average Phoenix
backyard, you can almost expect a covered shade
patio. Most of us know that the “builder patio”
is always very small, and can barely fit a table
& chairs. The newest Phoenix fad is getting out
into the backyard, and creating your own shade.
Unique Landscapes has many different ways of
creating a covered patio to assist in managing
the Arizona sun. As licensed general contractors
in Phoenix, we are one of the only landscape &
pool companies that can legally build one of the
structures with one of our custom Phoenix
landscape & pool projects. We have many
different types of structures available, but the
most popular are the Phoenix pergola or a
Phoenix Ramada / gazebo.
Terminology 101
Many of our clients have different terms used
for these outside structures – here are Unique’s
definitions, and how they correlate with the
dictionary definitions:
 Ramada – [ra•ma•da]
Dictionary: An open or semi enclosed shelter
roofed with brush or branches, designed
especially to provide shade. B. An open porch or
breezeway.
Unique’s Terminology: A Phoenix outdoor shade
structure with a covered fully-enclosed roof,
generally matching the architecture & materials
used in existing house structure. A Phoenix
ramada generally has 4 supporting columns or
posts, with open sides.
 Pergola - [pur-guh-luh]
Dictionary: An arbor formed of horizontal
trelliswork supported on columns or posts, over
which vines or other plants are trained.
Unique’s Terminology: A Phoenix outdoor shade
structure with an open trellis or wood ceiling,
generally constructed of wood, with large wood
beams & wood rafters for the ceiling. An Arizona
pergola generally has 4 supporting columns or
posts, with open sides.
Gazebo - [guh-zey-boh, -zee-]
 Dictionary: 1. a structure, as an open
or latticework pavilion or summerhouse, built on
a site that provides an attractive view. 2. A
small roofed structure that is screened on all
sides, used for outdoor entertaining and dining.
Unique’s Terminology: An Arizona outdoor shade
structure with a covered, vaulted ceiling,
generally constructed of wood, with 5 or more
sides. A Phoenix gazebo is usually hexagonal,
and may match the architecture of the house.
Unique generally builds Phoenix ramadas to match
the house, not gazebos.
 Palapa - [puh-lah-puh]
Dictionary: 1. An open-sided dwelling with a
thatched roof made of dried palm leaves. 2. A
structure, such as a bar or restaurant in a
tropical resort, that is open-sided and thatched
with palm leaves.
Unique’s Terminology: A tropical shade structure
or “umbrella” that is built with pine-peeled
posts and palm leaves. This structure can be an
umbrella with a single post, or constructed with
multiple support posts for a larger palapa.
The basics:
Unique’s basic outdoor shade structures are our
Phoenix pergola structures. These are the least
expensive structures because they are made
almost entirely of wood, and can be built in a
few days. Ranging from 100 s.f. to over 600 s.f.,
Phoenix pergolas can accommodate almost any look
by just changing the support posts. An Italian
pergola may have Corinthian stone columns, where
a southwestern pergola could have wood or round
peeled posts.
The upgrades:
For the most shade one can buy, a Phoenix ramada
is the best bet! These structures have a
completely sealed roof, with tile & more.
Outdoor lighting, ceiling fans, and speakers can
finish one of our upgraded ramadas in Arizona.
An upgraded pergola may contain some built-in
landscape lighting, some shade cloth (for more
shade), or one of our featured “double-post”
setups.
The “enthusiast”:
Backyard living begins in your covered patio
areas, and Unique is known for building some of
Phoenix’s finest ramadas, pergolas and gazebos!
Our “enthusiast” for backyard shade will demand
a covered ramada by the pool, most likely sunken
to water level – creating a swim-up bar! Belly
up in the pool, mix a drink from the bartender’s
area, you name it! Sunken Ramadas are our number
one specialty. Add a custom fireplace in one of
the corners, and you’ve got Phoenix backyard
living at its finest!
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 Create a space out in the yard, where you can
sit and look back at the house. This will
encourage you & guests to venture out in the
yard. A pergola provides plenty of shade, even
with an open roof – remember the sun is never
directly over the rafters. Make sure you run
your rafters North & South – this provides the
most shade, 12 months a year!
Make sure your custom Phoenix Ramada or Gazebo
matches the architecture of your home! In fact,
most HOA’s require it. When building your
Arizona shade structure, don’t skimp on
electrical wiring – you’ve got only one chance
to make sure that you’ve got ample lighting,
ceiling fans or you are pre-wired for future
outdoor speakers.
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QUALITY DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION
All of our Phoenix backyard structures are
custom built to fit our clients design needs.
Unique is licensed to build these structures,
and we also handle all aspects of the design and
engineering required for city permits. Unique
handles the HOA submittal requirements, secures
the necessary city permits, and deals with each
city inspection. Typically any structure over
150 s.f. will require some sort of city or
county inspection – and Unique Landscapes
designers are trained to handle these tedious
submittals for our clients.
Upon receipt of permits and construction
documents, Unique Landscapes begins with a solid
footing / foundation on all of our Phoenix
Ramadas & Pergolas. After footing, the structure
is generally framed with lumber, or columns are
built with CMU block. Our clients love our
“vaulted” ceilings, which create an open
atmosphere outdoors. Our framers are highly
trained in making sure the exposed lumber is cut
to perfection, and Unique’s painters provide a
coat of paint or stain to preserve the wood.
The “UNIQUE” difference – After many years of
perfecting our products, we have come up with
the best possible way to construct many of our
popular items. Here is how we differ from our
competition:
 • Footers - Oversized footers provide a
lifetime of support for all of our structures.
• Engineering & City Inspections – All of
our structures have been professionally
engineered and submitted to all cities prior to
construction for approval. During this approval
process, each city’s engineer reviews our plans
to provide a second opinion to our construction
techniques. All of our structures are built with
this strict guideline & city inspections.
• Gas & Electric – As licensed pool &
general contractors, we are one of the only
landscape companies that can “legally” perform
these services for our clients. Don’t let an
unlicensed landscape contractor touch something
as dangerous as gas, propane, or electric on
your property!
 • Framing, Lathe & Stucco – Our
structures will identically match the
architecture & construction methods of your
existing home. As Phoenix general contractors,
we are highly experienced in all construction
techniques – so, matching the existing details
of your home is never an issue. In fact, we
guarantee it! Also, since Phoenix pergolas &
ramadas are part of most of our projects, we
have a full time crew that specialized in each
construction aspect (framing, stucco, roofing,
etc…) With these crews available immediately,
our structures get built in days, not months!
• Oversized lumber – By taking one look
at our structures, compared to other companies –
one will see that we use larger, more durable
rough sawn douglas fir lumber. Douglas Fir has
become the industry standard for outdoor exposed
lumber, and it’s required in all of Unique’s
projects – which helps us warranty our
structures integrity for life!
Click here to view
our landscape portfolio »
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