Even as new synthetic material has emerged over the years, we have continued to use this high quality fiberglass material. The fiberglass beams offer an elegant and unique aesthetic while having the structural qualities that make it the best option for your pergola system. The Pergola beams can be built using either 4 x 6 or 4 x 8 fiberglass rafters that are finished with a scrolled or square end.
The SPS pergola system has the strength to support additional materials such as lattice, glass panels, canvas, and our fiberglass shutter walls. SPS has approved engineering/architectural plans for commercial purposes. Structural Fiberglass Reinforced Parts (FRP) made by Shakespeare provides the best option for materials made for outdoor structural building product applications. If you combined the advantages of wood, PVC (vinyl), and aluminum into one product, you would have structural FRP. Our structural FRP beams have the warm natural look of milled painted wood without the disadvantage of rot or the continuous maintenance of wood. Our structural FRP beams will not require substantial maintenance like PVC (vinyl) and it has substantially more strength than PVC (approximately 6X the stiffness) and substantially less expansion and contraction with temperature (1/6 the expansion/contraction). Structural FRP also does not lose its strength at high or low temperatures or become brittle as PVC is prone to do. Our structural FRP beams are high strength like aluminum but are not prone to dents and dings like aluminum and are lighter in weight. The FRP beams readily accept coatings unlike aluminum and will better stand the test of time. Structural FRP beams provide the best option for strength and longevity combined with a natural finish. The spanning capapbility of Structural Pergola Systems fiberglass beams is what sets it apart from anything else on the market today. No other synthetic material can compare to the performance of the fiberglass beams that Structual Pergola Systems use for their shade designs. Structural Pergola Systems’ fiberglass beams can outspan PVC and do not have the maintenance issues of metal systems. The structural strength of our material enables our designs to span 24 feet without the use of additional columns making it a perfect choice for raised patios, pool areas, club houses, and resort applications. The material can also support the weight of accessories over these long spans.