Pergolas in Central Illinois
Most homeowners across Tremont, Pekin, Morton, Washington, Bartonville, and the greater Peoria area already have a backyard. What they don't have is a reason to actually spend time in it. A pergola changes that. It gives your outdoor space a defined area somewhere to sit in the shade, have people over, or just step outside in the evening without standing in the open sun. At Mathes Construction, we build custom pergolas for homeowners across Tazewell and Peoria counties attached to the house, freestanding over a patio, or paired with a deck we're building at the same time. Every pergola we build is designed to fit your specific yard and home, built from materials that hold up through Central Illinois winters and summers, and put together by our own crew with no subcontractors involved. We've been doing outdoor construction in this area since 1977 and we treat a pergola project the same way we treat any other job.
WHY CHOOSE MATHES CONSTRUCTION FOR YOUR PERGOLA
Pergola Built to Fit Your Yard & Hold Up Over Time
A lot of homeowners across Tremont, Pekin, Morton, and the greater Peoria area have looked at pergola kits at the hardware store and figured they'd just put one up themselves. Some of them do fine. A lot of them end up with something that wobbles in the wind, fades badly after the first summer, or just doesn't look right next to the house because the scale and proportions are off. A custom-built pergola from Mathes Construction is a different thing entirely. We look at your yard, your home's exterior, where the sun hits your outdoor space and at what time of day, what you're planning to use the space for, and what size and style actually makes sense. Then we build it from scratch to fit all of that. We use lumber that's properly treated for ground contact and outdoor exposure in Central Illinois weather, set posts the right way so they don't shift over time, and finish everything so it looks like it belongs there.
Pergola Projects We've Built Across Central Illinois
Over the years we've built pergolas for homeowners across Tremont, Pekin, Morton, Washington, Bartonville, East Peoria, Peoria, and Mapleton and every single one was built for a specific yard, a specific home, and a specific way of using outdoor space. Some homeowners wanted an attached pergola off the back of the house to create a shaded sitting area right outside the door. Others had a freestanding patio they wanted to define with some structure overhead without attaching anything to the house. A few wanted a pergola built right alongside a new deck so the whole outdoor space came together as one project. We've built them in cedar, pressure-treated pine, and composite materials depending on what the homeowner wanted for maintenance and budget. Some were simple open-beam designs that let in plenty of light. Others had closer-spaced rafters and added privacy screens on the sides. No two were the same because no two yards and no two homeowners are the same and that's exactly how it should be.
What to Think About Before You Build a Pergola
Most homeowners across Tazewell and Peoria counties come to us knowing they want a pergola but not totally sure what they actually need. That's fine and it's part of the conversation we have before we ever pick up a pencil. The first thing we figure out is where you want it and how you plan to use it. A pergola that's mainly for shade needs different rafter spacing than one that's mainly for looks. An attached pergola needs to be fastened to your home properly so it doesn't pull away from the ledger over time. A freestanding pergola needs posts set deep enough that it doesn't shift in Central Illinois freeze-thaw cycles. Then there's size and most people underestimate how big a pergola needs to be to actually feel comfortable to sit under, and we'll tell you honestly if what you're picturing is going to feel cramped once it's built. These are the things we talk through before we give you an estimate, because a pergola that's the wrong size in the wrong spot doesn't do what you wanted it to do.
Attached & Freestanding Pergolas
Mathes Construction build both attached pergolas that connect directly to your home and freestanding pergolas that stand on their own over a patio or yard area. We'll walk you through which option makes more sense for your specific space before any decisions get made.
Cedar, Pine & Composite Options
We build pergolas in pressure-treated pine, cedar, and composite materials. Each one has different cost, maintenance, and appearance tradeoffs and we'll give you a straight opinion on which makes the most sense for your yard and how much upkeep you actually want to deal with.
Pergola Builder Across 8 Cities
We build pergolas for homeowners in Tremont, Pekin, Morton, Washington, Bartonville, East Peoria, Peoria, and Mapleton. If you're in Tazewell or Peoria County and want a pergola built right by people who've been doing outdoor construction since 1977, give us a call.
SERVICES WE OFFER
Everything We Build & Remodel
From the ground up or a single room refresh. Here's what Mathes Construction handles across Central Illinois.
Mathes Construction provides Full-service home remodeling across Tremont, Pekin, Morton and surrounding areas. One crew, one contractor, start to finish.
- Interior & exterior remodeling
- Whole-home or single room
Mathes Construction redesign and rebuild kitchens across Central Illinois with smart layouts, quality materials and work that holds up for years.
- Full kitchen gut & rebuild
- Cabinets, countertops & fixtures
From a simple refresh to a complete bathroom renovation with clean work, solid materials, no shortcuts and done right the first time.
- Tile, vanity & fixture upgrades
- Full bathroom gut & renovation
Need more space but love where you live? We build seamless additions that match your home's existing structure and style across Tazewell County.
- Structural additions & expansions
- Matched to your home's existing build
Mathes Construction build Durable, low-maintenance decks and patios built for Central Illinois weather and designed around how you actually use your outdoor space.
- Wood, composite & custom builds
- Multi-level & ground-level decks
Custom-built pergolas that add shade, structure, and real curb appeal and we built to hold up through Illinois seasons and look great doing it.
- Freestanding & attached pergolas
- Custom size, style & material options
ABOUT OUR PERGOLA WORK
Pergolas That Still Look Right After Five Winters
Cedar splits. Pine rots at the post base if it wasn't the right grade or properly set. Pergola kits from the big box stores look fine in the showroom photo and start showing their age within two or three seasons — gaps opening up in the boards, posts going gray and checking, the whole thing starting to lean slightly because the footings weren't deep enough for ground that freezes and thaws every year in Central Illinois. We've seen all of it. Homeowners across Tremont, Pekin, Morton, Washington, and the greater Peoria area call us after they've already tried the cheap route and want something that actually holds up. When Mathes Construction builds your pergola, we use the right grade of lumber for the application, set posts below the frost line so they don't shift, and build the connections between the beams and rafters the way they're supposed to be done.
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Right grade lumber
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Posts set below frost line
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Beam & rafter connections
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Custom pergola builder
Frequently Asked Questions
Common Questions About Pergolas in Central Illinois
Before building a pergola, most homeowners across Tremont, Pekin, and Tazewell County have the same questions. Here are straight answers to what we hear most.
Still Have Questions?
We’re here to help you!
How much does a pergola cost in Central Illinois?
A basic pressure-treated pine pergola typically starts around $5,000–$9,000 depending on size and design. A cedar pergola with more detailed trim work and custom sizing runs $10,000–$18,000. A larger attached pergola with composite materials, footings, and connection to the house can go higher depending on what’s involved. We don’t quote numbers until we’ve seen your yard and talked through what you actually want because size, post depth, attachment method, and material choice all affect the price. We come out, look at the space, and give you a written estimate that’s accurate.
Do I need a permit to build a pergola in Tazewell or Peoria County?
It depends on the size and whether it’s attached to your home. Attached pergolas almost always require a permit in Tazewell and Peoria counties because they connect to the structure of the house. Freestanding pergolas over a certain square footage may also require one. We handle the permit question for every pergola we build and we know what the local requirements are and we make sure everything is done properly so you don’t have a problem down the road.
What's the difference between an attached and freestanding pergola?
An attached pergola connects directly to your home which usually to the back wall or a ledger which gives it a more integrated look and can help define an outdoor living space right off the house. A freestanding pergola stands on its own posts and can be placed anywhere in your yard, over a patio, or in the middle of a garden area. Both have their place depending on your yard layout and what you’re trying to do with the space. We’ll walk you through which one makes more sense for your specific situation before you make any decisions.
What pergola services do you offer across Central Illinois?
We build attached pergolas, freestanding pergolas, and pergolas paired with new decks or patios in pressure-treated pine, cedar, and composite materials. We serve Tremont, Pekin, Morton, Washington, Bartonville, East Peoria, Peoria, and Mapleton. If you’re in Tazewell or Peoria County and want a custom pergola built by people who’ve been doing outdoor construction since 1977, give us a call.
Have Any Questions?
Whether you're planning a remodel or just exploring your options. Reach out & we'll get back to you promptly.
Let’s Work
Your Trusted Partner in Central Illinois Construction.
From Tremont to Peoria and across Tazewell County, Mathes Construction is ready to bring your project to life with honest pricing, real craftsmanship and decades of local experience.
Phone Number:
(309) 349-4342
Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 08:00 - 17:00 Sat-Sun: Closed
Office Location:
8600 Dillon Rd, Tremont, IL 61568