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Custom Pergola & Cabana Builder in Charleston, SC

Beautifully designed shade structures and covered outdoor spaces — built to complement your pool, patio, and lifestyle.

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Shade, Style, and Structure — Built for the Lowcountry

A great backyard is more than a pool. It’s the shade you need on a hot July afternoon. It’s the covered spot where your family gathers after a swim. It’s the structure that turns your outdoor space from a yard into a destination.

At Low Country Lagoons, we design and build custom pergolas and cabanas throughout Charleston, SC and the surrounding Lowcountry communities. Every structure we build is designed to complement your existing pool or patio layout, match the architecture of your home, and hold up against South Carolina’s coastal weather conditions year after year.

Whether you’re looking for an open-air pergola that defines your pool deck, a fully covered cabana with seating and shade, or a combination of both — our team handles the full design and installation process from start to finish.

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Services

Outdoor Structures We Design & Build

We offer a range of custom outdoor structures tailored to your yard size, budget, and vision:

LowcountryLagoons

Pergola Installation in Charleston, SC

A pergola is an open overhead structure that adds definition and shade to your outdoor space without fully enclosing it. They work beautifully as poolside features, garden anchors, or standalone entertaining areas.

Our pergola designs are built using durable materials suited for coastal conditions — including treated wood, aluminum, and vinyl systems that resist moisture, salt air, and UV exposure over the long term.

Popular pergola options we build:

  • Attached pergolas (connected to your home or existing structure)
  • Freestanding pergolas positioned poolside or over a patio
  • Louvered pergolas with adjustable shade control
  • Pergolas with integrated lighting and fan mounts
  • Climbing plant-ready pergola frames for natural shade coverage
LowcountryLagoons

Cabana Builder in Charleston, SC

A cabana offers full overhead coverage, creating a dedicated sheltered space for seating, lounging, and poolside dining. They provide more weather protection than an open pergola while still keeping the outdoor feel and airflow you want.

We build cabanas in a variety of layouts — from simple shed-roof designs to full architectural structures with finished ceilings, built-in seating, storage, and lighting.

Cabana features we can include:

  • Full roofed structures with open or partial side walls
  • Built-in bench seating and shade curtain mounts
  • Electrical rough-in for lighting, fans, and outdoor TV
  • Storage for pool equipment, towels, and accessories
  • Custom sizing to fit pool deck footprints of any shape
LowcountryLagoons

Covered Patio Structures

For homeowners who want a covered transition between their indoor and outdoor space, we also design and build covered patio additions. These structures attach directly to your home and extend your usable living area into the backyard.

  • Solid roof patio covers and shade structures
  • Screen enclosure frames for privacy and bug protection
  • Combination patio cover and pergola hybrid designs

Pool Materials

Built for South Carolina's Coastal Environment

Charleston’s climate puts real demands on outdoor structures. High humidity, salt air, intense summer heat, and occasional storm systems mean that material selection matters as much as design. Every structure we build is specified for this environment — not just aesthetically, but structurally.

Materials We Use

  • Pressure-treated and rot-resistant wood framing
  • Powder-coated aluminum systems (rust and fade resistant)
  • High-density vinyl for low-maintenance builds
  • Stainless steel and galvanized hardware throughout
  • UV-stable roofing panels and shade fabric

Design Considerations

  • Wind load engineering for coastal exposure
  • Proper post footings for sandy and variable soil
  • Pitch and drainage built into every roof design
  • Integration with existing pool decking and grading
  • Proportions matched to your home's roofline and scale

How the Process Works

Our outdoor structure projects follow the same structured process as our pool builds — clear phases, defined timelines, and no surprises:

Consultation

We discuss your goals, yard layout, and how you plan to use the space. We review the existing pool, patio, or landscape to understand the full picture.

Design

We develop a custom structure design — sized, proportioned, and positioned to complement your backyard. You’ll see the layout before anything is built.

Permitting

Many outdoor structures in the Charleston area require permits. We determine what’s needed and manage the process on your behalf.

Construction

Our crew builds your structure to the approved plan. Most pergola and cabana projects are completed within 1–3 weeks depending on complexity.

Final Review

We walk through the completed structure with you, confirm all details, and make sure everything is exactly as designed before we close out the project.

Why Choose Low Country Lagoons for Your Outdoor Structure

There are a lot of general contractors in Charleston who can throw up a pergola. Here’s why homeowners working with Low Country Lagoons get a different result:

  • Your pergola or cabana is designed to work with your pool, patio, and landscape — not just dropped into the yard independently.We design around the full picture. 
  • When we’re building both your pool and your outdoor structure, you get one coordinated team, one contract, and one timeline — which means fewer scheduling conflicts and a more cohesive finished result.One company, full project. 
  • We don’t spec materials that look good on a showroom floor but fail in coastal conditions. Every component is chosen for Charleston’s humidity, salt air, and sun exposure.Materials selected for this climate. 
  • Depending on your location and structure type, permits may be required. We know the process across all Charleston-area municipalities and handle it for you.We handle permits when required. 
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Serving These Charleston-Area Communities

We design and build pergolas, cabanas, and outdoor shade structures throughout the Greater Charleston area:

  • Charleston, SC
  • Isle of Palms, SC
  • Kiawah Island, SC
  • Mount Pleasant, SC
  • Sullivan's Island, SC
  • North Charleston, SC
  • Daniel Island, SC
  • Johns Island, SC
  • And surrounding areas

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions homeowners ask about pergola and cabana installations in Charleston:

Pergola costs in the Charleston area typically range from $8,000 to $25,000+ depending on size, materials, and design complexity. Aluminum and vinyl systems tend to be more affordable and lower maintenance. Custom wood pergolas with additional features like lighting or louvered panels are priced higher. We provide detailed, transparent pricing after your consultation.

 It depends on the size and location of the structure. Many larger structures — and all attached additions — require permits in the Greater Charleston area. Each municipality (Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Isle of Palms, etc.) has its own rules. Low Country Lagoons assesses permit requirements for your specific project and handles the application process.

 Absolutely — and we recommend it. When both are planned together from the start, the structure is properly positioned relative to the pool, deck, and sun orientation. It also means one coordinated build timeline rather than two separate contractor schedules.

 Most pergola and cabana projects are completed within 1 to 3 weeks from the start of construction, depending on size and complexity. Timeline also depends on permitting — we factor that in from the beginning so there are no delays mid-project.

For properties in Isle of Palms, Sullivan's Island, Kiawah, or anywhere near the coast, we typically recommend powder-coated aluminum or high-density vinyl systems over untreated wood. These hold up significantly better against salt air and moisture. If you prefer the look of wood, we use pressure-treated or naturally rot-resistant species and finish them for coastal durability.

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Let's Design Your Outdoor Structure

A custom pergola or cabana can completely transform how you use your backyard. Whether you’re starting with the pool or just looking to add shade and structure to an existing space, Low Country Lagoons will design something built to last in the Charleston climate.

Contact us today for a free consultation. We’ll review your yard, discuss your goals, and provide a clear design and pricing proposal.

Ready to Add a Pergola or Cabana to Your Backyard?

Contact Low Country Lagoons for a free design consultation. We respond within 24 hours.

Request Your Custom Pool Consultation

Tell us about your vision and our team will contact you within 1 business day to discuss your project.

Planning a Pool or Backyard Upgrade?

Share a few details and we’ll reach out within 24 hours.