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Dark freestanding pergola with columns over an outdoor kitchen by the pool

Freestanding Pergolas in Orange County

A freestanding pergola needs no wall to lean on, so the shade goes wherever your yard needs it. From its Costa Mesa base, Ocean Pacific Patios designs and builds modern aluminum pergolas for homes across Orange County.

4.6Google rating · 39 reviews
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Your project at a glance

Orange County homes

Also serving Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties.

Pergola options

  • Modern black or white frame
  • Slatted roof
  • Privacy screen side
  • Wood grain finish
See all pergolas

Wood grain & extruded

Duralum wood grain4K extruded aluminum

Send a few photos

Call or request a quote and share photos of the space you want to cover.

A freestanding pergola turns any corner into a destination

A freestanding pergola turns any corner into a destination

An attached pergola extends the house. A freestanding pergola gives people a reason to walk out into the yard. Because it rests entirely on its own posts, it can mark a lounge area, sit beside a fire pit, cover a spa or anchor the far end of the lawn.

That freedom is the main reason people choose a detached pergola. You are not tied to a wall, a roof line or the height of your eaves. You pick the spot with the best view, the best breeze or the most privacy, and the frame goes there.

Popular places for a detached pergola
  • Over a lounge set or sectional: a defined outdoor living room away from the back door.
  • Near a fire pit: an open top lets smoke and heat escape, and the beams can hold string lights. Keep the fire well clear of the frame and follow the fire pit maker’s clearance guidance.
  • Over a spa or hot tub: filtered shade at midday and a partial screen from a neighbor’s upstairs window.
  • Beside an outdoor kitchen or bar: a clear spot for the grill and stools, set apart from the main patio.
  • At the back of the lawn: a focal point that pulls your eye, and your guests, across the yard.
The modern look: black or white aluminum

The modern look: black or white aluminum

Modern standalone pergolas in black and white aluminum appear throughout our project photos, many with slatted roofs and a privacy screen on one side. Extruded aluminum from 4K Aluminum gives crisp, square lines, while wood grain embossed aluminum from Duralum Products Inc brings a warmer tone. Some designs combine both, and our aluminum pergola page covers frames, finishes and colors in more depth.

A top made of closely spaced, angled slats casts heavier shade than a few open rafters and gives a modern freestanding pergola a crisp striped look. Our pergola with louvered roof page shows how that slatted style comes together.

Plan your project

Talk to Ocean Pacific Patios

4.6 on Google (39 reviews)

Freestanding vs attached pergola

Freestanding vs attached pergola

FeatureFreestanding pergolaAttached pergola
Where it goesOpen yard space, within your city’s setbacksAgainst a wall of the house
SupportIts own posts carry the whole framePosts on the outer edge, a ledger board on the house
Best forA spa, fire pit or lawn retreatShade right outside the back door
HeightSet by the design, not the houseLimited by eaves, gutters and windows

With no house wall to share the load, post size, footing size and spacing carry more weight in the design. Our own crew pours the footings and can lay pavers or pour a concrete floor under the pergola, so everything is built as one project.

Freestanding pergola with roof or open top?

Freestanding pergola with roof or open top?

Most freestanding patio pergola designs keep an open or slatted top for filtered shade and moving air. That openness is what makes a pergola feel light. If you need steady shade and a dry seat when it rains, a freestanding patio cover usually fits better, with solid or insulated panels over a similar standalone frame.

Not sure which you need? Think about when you will sit there. Evening use by a fire pit suits an open top, while a lunch table in full midday sun leans toward a cover.

Planning yours in Orange County

Planning yours in Orange County

Each Orange County city sets its own rules for setbacks, height and plan review on backyard structures, and many HOAs add design rules of their own. Ask your city and HOA what applies before you lock in a spot, so the design can be sized around those limits and your yard. Every pergola style we build is on the pergolas overview, or you can contact Ocean Pacific Patios to talk through your spot.

Options

Standalone pergola styles we build

Choose the setting first, then the frame and roof that suit it.

Reviews

What homeowners say

See what homeowners say about working with us on our Google Business Profile.

4.6/5

Based on 39 Google reviews

Read our Google reviews

Recent Google reviewsLive from our Google Business Profile

  • Roxana Strohmeier2 months ago★★★★★

    I recently had a new solid insulated patio cover installed. My experience with Ocean Pacific Patios was amazing from start to finish. Charlie the Design Consultant was friendly and knowledgeable! Most importantly he was not pushy at all! He answered all my questions without hesitation. The Construction Manager, John, was wonderful too! He had great suggestions and expertise knowledge! Mario and his crew did an excellent job in the demolition of my old cover and installed the new one with precise skills! I have already recommended this company to three people. I have zero complaints!

    Posted on Google
  • Jon Ifould8 months ago★★★★★

    We did a large front/backyard remodel and pool. John and his team did the Pergolas. Of the three separate contractors we used I would only recommend John. He and his team were professional and the quality was first rate. I really wish I had discovered John before I signed the contract with the main hardscape contractor. John's experience and excellent problem solving skills really saved the project. I highly recommend Ocean Pacific Patios.

    Posted on Google
  • Jay Saffarzadeh8 months ago★★★★★

    I had a great experience with this company. My sales rep was John. He was extremely good and professional. He knew exactly what I needed. His crew were great. They built a cover patio so beautiful and we are grateful to them. I highly recommend this company.

    Posted on Google
  • Jia Hui Deng8 months ago★★★★★

    Charlie and John were super helpful with our new house patio. They were very detailed yet fast pace. Great price on the market! And super thankful that we have them working for the new house!

    Posted on Google
  • Betty Lynn Senes9 months ago★★★★★

    John and Charlie took on our complicated home patio pavers and drainage project this past fall 2025. It was small, so I was worried it would not be a priority for anyone - but they were prompt, fair, and no-nonsense. Their crews were expedient, knowledgeable and exceeded our expectations. They were patient while we selected just the right paver color, and made suggestions such as some small accent lights that have made a huge difference! Charlie is extremely knowledgeable and helped us to achieve a beautiful result that drains properly. They even helped locate and connect a drain line that was buried under some pavers we had placed years ago, leaving the area looking beautiful! I would highly recommend Ocean Pacific Patios, without reservation. They are the best.

    Posted on Google
  • Elnaz Sadaghiana year ago★★★★★

    John is one the best business man who is always available, on time and very knowledgeable, he helped me about lots of different things for my project that I had no clue how to design it, his team are very helpful, kind and friendly, 1 am super happy and truly thankful for the outstanding work and results. I really recommend Ocean Pacific Patios, especially working with John is very fun also appreciated. Thank you

    Posted on Google
  • John Bozajiana year ago★★★★★

    If you’re looking for a beautiful, high quality patio cover at a fair price, this is the company to use. Construction manager John Haynes handled all our design needs in a very professional manner. Tony and the install crew really know their stuff too.
    You couldn’t go wrong using Ocean Pacific Patios.

    Posted on Google
  • Dave Ramos2 years ago★★★★★

    After several bids and proposals with patio cover companies, we decided to go with Ocean Pacific to replace our old dilapidated patio cover. Charlie was informative and fair in presenting his numbers. John, the construction manager, in addition to his expertise in confirming the design details, was very helpful in referring a wood repair man (who did a great job). Demo day went smoothly. The crew was quick and efficient. Installation of the patio cover was spectacular - Hugo and his helper completed the job in one day! They were professional and answered my questions. They cleaned up the back yard after their completion. We are very happy with the patio cover. It turned out beautiful! Thank you, Ocean Pacific.

    Dave & Rose Ramos - Walnut, CA

    Posted on Google
  • Dan Gehrig2 years ago★★★★★

    It was great working with Ocean Pacific Patios. I updated my pool deck and was extremely pleased with the quality of work that was produced. Looking forward to them for more projects in the future.

    Posted on Google
  • Don Spengler2 years ago★★★★★

    My wife and I selected Ocean Pacific Patios after receiving several different bids. From the beginning, Charlie came to our home and listened to what we wanted. During this process, Charlie suggested a different option that we had not thought of. He presented us a bid for our option and the new option he offered. We finally decided to go with Charlie’s option. Charlie and John came out for the final design meeting, at which time John made a production drawing of our new patio cover, which really helped tell us we made the right design decision. During the installation John’s crew was very professional and they left the work site clean, when finished. We are very happy with the new patio cover and glad Charlie suggested this option. I would highly recommend Ocean Pacific Patios. Thanks Charlie and John.

    Posted on Google
  • Jenn Zerling2 years ago★★★★★

    By far the EASIEST process it was by working with Charlie Twitch who sealed the deal and outbid 6 other contractors and John Haynes whose expertise made this sunroom exactly to vision. This company is truly the sunroom experts of Orange County. Please trust me when I tell you, my yard was a complete disaster before this and not only did they demo the existing leaking cover which came with the house, but they helped me design the rest of the yard alongside others and were amazing coordinating and masterminding the final outcome. They are honest and treated me like family the entire time. Look no further. I already did the research for you!

    Posted on Google
  • Chris Kelley2 years ago★★★★★

    We decided to work with John and his team at Ocean Pacific Patio after our due diligence in gathering a number of quotes and design ideas. We do not have a standard patio layout and so it was very important to have the right people who could understand our vision. After meeting with John and going over the details, it was clear to us that he could take us to the finish line with our outdoor patio cover. The build took two days and our space was kept very clean. The craftsmanship and attention to detail is first class. I would definitely recommend Ocean Pacific Patios to anyone who is looking to build their dream patio. Thank you 🙏🏽

    Posted on Google

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Still deciding? Call us and we will talk it through.

Call (949) 525-1267
Can I put a pergola in my backyard?

In most cases, yes. Even a pergola on its own posts has to meet your city's rules on distance from property lines and overall height, plus any HOA design rules. Those rules change from city to city, so ask your building department and HOA before you settle on a spot.

Does a detached pergola need footings?

Yes. With no house to lean on, each post depends on a solid base in the ground, and the design and your city's code set the footing size. Our crew pours those footings, and a new concrete pad can be poured as part of the same job.

Can I get a custom size pergola made?

Yes, and on a freestanding frame it matters even more. The frame is sized to what it covers, whether that is a spa, a sectional or a dining set. Post spacing, height and overhang are chosen so you can walk around the furniture and keep the view you care about.

Is a freestanding pergola the same as a freestanding patio cover?

No, though the frames look alike. A freestanding pergola keeps an open or slatted top for filtered shade. A freestanding patio cover, also called a detached or standalone patio cover, has a solid or insulated roof that gives full shade and keeps rain off.

Is it cheaper to buy or build a pergola?

A boxed kit may ring up lower at the store. Kits only come in set sizes, though, and the footings, assembly and any city review are left to you. A pergola we build is sized to your yard, and our crew pours the footings and sets the frame, so request a quote to compare the two on the same terms.

Can you put a lattice on top of a pergola?

Yes. A lattice grid laid over the rafters softens the sun and spreads the shade more evenly. Over a lounge or spa, it adds shade while keeping the open, airy feel of the frame.

Get started

Pick your spot, we will plan the pergola

Send a photo of the corner you have in mind and how you want to use it. Call (949) 525-1267 or Request a Quote.

  1. Step 1Call or send photos
  2. Step 2Measure and design
  3. Step 3Build and walkthrough
Dark aluminum patio cover over a lounge area with a fire pit, built by Ocean Pacific Patios An Ocean Pacific project
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