One of the most common questions we get: "How long is this actually going to take?" It's a fair question, and the answer is more predictable than most home improvement projects. Here's exactly what happens, in order, and how long each stage takes.
Seven steps. Six to eight weeks.
For most residential projects in Los Angeles, the process runs six to eight weeks from your first call to installation day. Here's exactly what happens at each stage.
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Week 1 — Discovery call A 20-minute call — your space, your vision, your timeline. We'll tell you exactly what's possible and what it takes. No commitment, no pressure.
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Week 1 — On-site consultation We come to you, take measurements, walk the space, and finalize the design direction. Complimentary for qualified projects.
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Week 2 — Proposal & 3D rendering A full Customer Proposal with your personalized 3D rendering, complete specifications, finishes, and pricing. Revisions included.
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Week 2 — Contract & drawings sign-off Review and sign the final engineering drawings and project configuration. Everything is locked in writing — scope, specs, finishes, and timeline — before a single dollar changes hands.
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Week 2 — Initial deposit → production begins A 50% deposit is invoiced and required to start production. Lead time begins the day your deposit is received — standard build time is 3–4 weeks from that date.
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Weeks 3–6 — Manufacturing & balance payment Your structure is precision-built to your exact configuration. When your order is ready to ship, the remaining balance is due. Delivery is scheduled only after full payment is confirmed.
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Weeks 6–8 — Installation & hand-off Master installers, supervised by our crew. Most installations complete in 3–5 days. Full walkthrough, smart-home setup, owner training, and warranty activation on completion.
What can speed it up or slow it down?
A few factors affect the timeline:
- Product selection: Standard sizes and colors ship faster than fully custom configurations. If you pick a stock color and standard dimension, you're looking at 3–4 weeks for manufacturing.
- Site complexity: A straightforward patio install is faster than a hillside project with custom post heights or an attached install requiring structural connections to the house.
- Decision speed: The biggest variable is often how quickly design choices get finalized. Clients who come into the consultation with a clear vision of size and use tend to move through the process in 8 weeks. Those who need time to finalize layout or compare options may take 10–12.
Planning tip: If you have a date in mind — an event, a season, a renovation completion — work backwards from that date and add a 2-week buffer. Starting the consultation process 10–12 weeks out gives you comfortable room for any delays.
What installation day actually looks like
Our crew arrives with everything pre-cut and pre-labeled — your pergola is not assembled on-site from raw materials, it's a precision-manufactured kit that goes together efficiently. On a typical 16×20 residential project, the structure is up and the roof system installed within two days. Day three is finish work: gutters, electrical connections, touch-up, and final walk-through.
We do a full review at completion — motorized functions tested, remote programmed, smart-home integration set up, drainage checked, owner training completed. Warranty activation and written warranty documents are handled before we leave.