An outdoor room with a real roof.
Full-roof cedar pavilions — cedar shake, standing-seam metal, or membrane. Sized for ten to twenty at a long table. Built with mortise-and-tenon joinery and frost-line footings, often integrated with a stone patio.
— Why most outdoor ‘rooms’ fail
A roof is a different animal than a pergola.
Adding a real roof to an outdoor structure introduces wind load, water management, and structural calculations that pergolas don’t face. Most landscape contractors aren’t equipped for this.
Roof framing too light.
Pergola-grade rafters carrying actual snow load. They sag, then crack, then fail in a heavy December storm.
Wrong flashing detail.
Roof-to-post and roof-to-house flashing leaks within two seasons. Water in the structure, rot in the framing, mold under the deck below.
Vermont snow load undersized.
Built to a generic roof load instead of zone-specific Vermont snow load (50+ psf in our area). The first heavy winter brings the roof down.
No real ventilation or condensation control.
Hot air rises into the roof cavity, hits cold roofing, condenses, and the framing rots from the inside out.
— Pavilions, by the numbers
— What’s included
A pavilion built like a building.
Pavilions are real buildings. Every one we build follows residential construction standards even though it’s outdoors.
Engineering review
Structural engineer reviews and stamps the pavilion design — wind load, snow load, seismic if relevant.
Frost-line concrete footings
48″ deep concrete piers with stainless stand-off bases. Sized for actual structural load.
Milled cedar posts + beams
8×8 or 10×10 milled cedar posts. Engineered beam sizing. Mortise-and-tenon joinery throughout.
Engineered roof framing
Rafter sizing per snow load, ridge beam where required, structural sheathing or open framing per design.
Roofing of choice
Cedar shake (most traditional), standing-seam metal (most durable), or membrane (most contemporary).
Proper flashing + drainage
Stainless or copper flashing at all roof-to-structure connections. Gutters and integrated downspouts where needed.
Optional integrated systems
Lighting (low-voltage), ceiling fans, electrical pre-wire, integrated screening, fireplace integration.
— How a pavilion gets built
Four steps. Eight to twenty weeks.
Pavilions take longer than pergolas because of engineering, permits, roofing trade coordination, and integrated systems. Total: 8–20 weeks.
Site visit
Two-hour walk with the architect. We listen, you talk. We measure light, slope, drainage, and existing material. No PowerPoint.
Design
Hand-drawn schematic, then full construction documents. Material specs, sections, footing detail. Two reviews built in.
Quote
Fixed-price proposal, line-itemed by trade. You see the math. Change orders signed before any change happens.
Build
Our in-house crew, on site every working day. Weekly progress photos. Architect at every milestone. We don’t leave until punch list is empty.
— Recent pavilions
Three recent cedar structures.
Lakefront master plan, 2½ acres.
Three terraced rooms stepping down to Lake Champlain. 240 ft of dry-laid stone wall, cedar pavilion, native pollinator beds.
Read project →
Seven-terrace hilltop garden.
Re-grading a north-facing slope into seven dry-stone-walled terraces of perennials, fruit trees, and a 60-foot meditation walk.
Read project →
1,400 sq ft contemporary courtyard.
Bluestone paving, cedar slat screening, a small reflecting pool, and three Japanese maples for autumn color.
Read project →12×16 to 16×20, single-pitch roof
$45K–$95Kcomplete build
Standard residential pavilions with cedar framing, simple gable or shed roof, and basic electrical pre-wire.
20×24+, complex roof, full integration
$95K–$240Kcomplete scope
Larger pavilions with hipped or pyramid roofs, fireplace integration, screened side panels, integrated lighting, and surrounding hardscape.
— Pavilion questions
What clients ask.
Do I need a building permit?
Yes. Any structure with a roof requires a building permit in every Chittenden County town. We handle the permit application as part of the design fee.
How long until we can use it?
From first site visit to final cleanup typically 4–6 months. Engineering and permits take 6–10 weeks; foundation through completion is 4–8 weeks of construction.
Cedar shake or metal roof?
Cedar shake is more traditional, integrates with the structure visually, and lasts 25–30 years in Vermont. Standing-seam metal is more durable (40+ years), more efficient, and visually quieter. Most pavilions look great with either; the choice is design language.
Can it be heated?
Limited options for outdoor pavilions. Radiant heaters mounted to the ceiling work for shoulder seasons. Full enclosure with operable screens or panels can extend the use season substantially. We’ve integrated wood-burning fireplaces into some pavilions for true winter use.
Will it work as a gazebo for events?
Yes. We’ve built pavilions specifically as wedding or event spaces — sized for 30–100 guests with appropriate floor finish and electrical capacity. Discuss event-use during the site visit.