Evolution 8 ft. x 12 ft. Black Modern Heavy Duty Steel Pergola Kit

This Pergola Kit is of very high quality. Weighing over 500 pounds it required a fork lift with extended forks to get it off the truck. We then reloaded it in a 6'x10' trailer to transport to the site to where it will be installed. The steel pergola parts are very well constructed and powder coated black. Fortress is a good name for this brand based on the quality of the materials. Enclosed paperwork refers you to their website to download the manual for construction. Directions are very well done for step by step installation. We were unable to install the footings at this time due to the frozen ground and will not be able to complete the installation until the weather warms up. Would recommend this high quality pergola for commercial or residential use.

I have been looking for a quality pergola for years now to go in my backyard. This Fortress Evolution 8’ x 12’ is the perfect size for my concrete patio. The modern sleek look matches perfectly with my chocolate wicker deep seated furniture and adds that extra dimension I have been lacking. Love that it gives shade while providing protection. I am also exploring all the enhancements that I have been seeing others do for privacy….the options are endless. This is a quality steel product, just be mindful that the instructions require more than one person in some steps, even as much as 3! Directions are pretty straight forward so have some tools available as well as help ready when assembling. This product is no joke- when delivered it weighed over 620 lbs and came on its own metal palette. If you are looking for a pergola that is quality and will last for many years to come then don’t hesitate to purchase this one-you won’t be disappointed.

This pergola is made out of heavy steel. The matte black finish gives it a clean modern look. The simple design of it also adds to the modern feel. It took around 4 hours total to build. We had three guys to put it together but could have done it with two but it would have taken longer. The directions were online but very simple. Especially since every piece was neatly labeled. The labels also removed nicely when we were finished. It was nice that the holes were pre drilled while also having self tapping screws to help it go through those pre drilled holes. Everything thing lined up well structurally too. The one issue we had was that the end caps that are purely for finishing, but holes didn’t line up. You can see this in the photos below. It wasn’t a big deal as the type of screws that it came with didn’t really need the holes. Overall it looks great and was straight forward to build. Easy to square up. We are excited to move it to the area in our backyard where we will use it. It’s heavy but once built with a couple guys you can carry it around pretty easily.

The parts of this heavy duty Fortress steel pergola kit were some of the heaviest I've lifted. It is definitely meant to last a long time. It came delivered within a welded metal caged pallet. The black matte powder coated steel is a good look for any patio or backyard setting. The eight by twelve feet size is perfect for an outdoor dining set or seating area. A roof covering such as fabric sun shade can be used to block out the sun or any number of rigid or more permanent coverings. All of the metal parts are predrilled with all hardware included. With a couple of strong men, this can be erected in an afternoon. Most likely will not need any maintanence for years.

The name of the company describes the quality of this Pergola. Indeed it is built like a fortress. My experience with patio covers is that they are generally lightweight with thin metal. Not so with this Fortress Evolution Pergola. It is heavy duty and it is solid steel. It is heavy enough that you will be worn out after installation. It took about 8 hours to put it together. You will need at least another person who is handy with tools to make this project go smooth. My friend is a custom carpenter which helped to make sure the leg mounts were measured precisely. The instructions are comprehensive and if you follow them it will go well. All of the hardware was included but the concrete anchors and washers, otherwise you have everything you need. The self tapping screws made it easy although it takes a little exertion to get them in the pre-drilled holes. Before mounting it to the concrete, we put the whole pergola together and then used a floor jack and 4x4 to lift it onto the post mounts. Once it is put together it is heavy so it takes a lot of finagling to move it. Some people might find it easier to mount the posts then go from there. Once set in place this Pergola looks great. I added a polycarbonate roof on mine which looks amazing. I added wood in the center between the roof joists to give added support for the roof. All of the upper beams and joists have drain holes to allow condensation to drop instead of pool inside the metal. A tip for hanging the joists and beams. Get at least 4 quick tighten C-clamps and clamp from the top and bottom tightened to the bracket. Then install the first screw to each bracket. Remove the clamps, then install the other screws. Also, install the bracing bars on each corner, before tightening the bars with screws, make sure your pergola is square. Once you know it is square, then secure the braces with screws. I could not be happier with this Fortress Pergola. I am writing this review while sitting under this beautiful patio cover. This is not a cheap pergola but it is worth every penny. I would highly recommend.

Was difficult to assemble as the self-drilling screws took a lot of manpower (and drill power) to screw in, but this pergola is beautiful and incredibly sturdy.

This thing is awesome. Very heavy and it will take several people to get it installed. The assembly took quite some time, but went very smoothly. If you don't have an existing patio to sit it on then get some 12 x 12 x 8 inch patio blocks from Home Depot to sit it on. Those blocks are very heavy and will certainly do the job. This is a high end pergola that will last a life time.