Size and Design
More square footage means more panel area and heavier framework. A simple beam layout costs less than an elaborate custom footprint.
Clear Roof Pergolas in South Florida
Some spaces need cover without losing the light. A clear roof pergola keeps rain off and keeps the brightness — which matters when a solid roof would turn the room behind it dark. The panels block the UV that burns skin, they’re rated for hurricane-zone wind, and they sit on an aluminum frame built for this climate.
What a Clear Roof Pergola Costs
Most contractors make you call to find out. Here’s where projects usually start.
Small cover — Starting at $8,000
A walkway, a side entry, or a small patio section. Usually under 100 square feet.
Standard patio — Starting at $16,000
Covering a typical back patio or seating area. This is where most projects land.
Large span or combined — Starting at $20,000
Bigger areas, or a structure with clear panels over one section and solid or louvered over another. That combination is common, and it’s often the smartest answer.
What Moves the Number
Pricing isn't one-size-fits-all. Several engineering, sizing, and design choices dictate where your final estimate lands.
Unsupported Span
Every foot of open span without intermediate posts adds structural demand, requiring heavier framing extrusions and reinforced engineering.
Attached vs. Freestanding
Tying directly into the home’s fascia or structural wall borrows existing rigidity, requiring fewer posts and usually reducing overall cost.
Frame Color
Bronze and white durable powder-coat finishes are standard. Specialized or custom color matching carries a higher production cost.
Panel Color
$0 DifferencePanel tint doesn’t move the price. Clear, bronze, and diffused white cost the same—what they adjust is light quality and heat rejection.
Permits & Engineering
$1,500 – $2,500Includes site plan preparation, signed/sealed wind calculations for South Florida HVHZ codes, county filing, and close-out inspections.
When a Clear Roof Is the Right Answer
This isn’t the product for everyone, and we’d rather say so up front.
A clear roof solves one specific problem: you need protection from rain, but you can’t afford to lose daylight. That comes up more often than people expect.
The room behind the patio. A solid roof off a slider darkens the kitchen or family room behind it. Plenty of homeowners find that out after the fact. A clear roof keeps the light coming in.
Walkways and side entries. Narrow spaces with no room for a shadow. You want to get from the car to the door dry, not sit under it in August.
Pool-side sections and plants. Anything that needs to stay bright. Plants keep growing under a clear roof. They don’t under a solid one.
If what you actually want is cool shade, this isn’t the page. An insulated aluminum roof or a louvered roof does that job. We’ll tell you which one fits before you decide.
Clear, Bronze or White?
A clear roof is for people who want a rainproof space that still feels like being outside. Full daylight, no shadow line, and you can’t get sunburned under it. Which panel you choose decides how much heat comes with the light.
Clear
The most light and the most heat. The manufacturer rates it at zero temperature reduction. It’s the right choice if you want a sunroom feel and already have shade from trees or the house.
Bronze tint
Works like sunglasses. You still see the sky, and the manufacturer rates it up to 15° cooler than direct sun. This is the one most people choose.
White
If there’s already a concrete driveway in good condition, we work with it. If the slab is cracked, undersized, or there’s no slab at all, that’s added cost before anything goes up.
About the Panels
We install one panel system, and we chose it for the wind.
What it is
An 8mm four-wall multiwall polycarbonate sheet with a standing-seam profile. Multiwall means the sheet is built from layers with air channels between them, which is why it’s light, rigid and doesn’t shatter. It carries a Class A fire rating, so it’s safe over an outdoor kitchen with proper airflow.
Wind rating
The panel has been tested to 139 mph and is warrantied to 125 mph when installed to spec. It carries Miami-Dade County Notice of Acceptance 24-0611.05, approved for the High Velocity Hurricane Zone. That’s the standard Broward County inspectors look for, and most polycarbonate sold online doesn’t have it.
The trade-offs
Rain is audible on it. A steady rain sounds like rain on a skylight — louder than an insulated roof, quieter than a metal pan. Some people like it. You should know before you buy.
It’s not an insulation product. The sheet works out to roughly R-2. An insulated aluminum panel is several times that.
It needs a rinse. Pollen and dust collect on top, and a hose takes care of it. Tree sap comes off with diluted dish soap.
Don’t walk on it. Cleaning and gutter work happen from a ladder, not from the roof.
Warranty
Ten years, covering hail penetration, leaks at the seams, discoloration and brittleness. That last pair matters here. Cheap polycarbonate goes yellow and cracks in Florida sun inside a few years.
Wind Code, Permits and HOA Approval
Broward County sits in the High Velocity Hurricane Zone. Any permanent structure has to meet wind-load requirements written specifically for this part of the state, and a clear roof is no exception.
That means signed and sealed engineering for the aluminum frame, and a panel with a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance. Ours has both. A DIY kit or a sheet from a big-box store typically has neither, and it won’t permit.
The wind rating comes with installation rules — support spacing, fastener type, and a minimum slope for drainage. We build the frame to those rules, because a panel rated for 139 mph on paper only performs that way when the structure under it is right.
Permits are required. So are inspections. We prepare the drawings, submit them to Broward County or the City of Fort Lauderdale depending on your address, and handle the inspections through to close-out.
Setbacks matter too. Lot lines, easements and pool enclosures all affect placement, and we check that before designing anything.
If you’re in a neighborhood with an HOA, expect architectural approval on top. That’s common across Coral Ridge, Harbor Beach, Parkland and the communities west of I-95. We supply the drawings and specifications your board will ask for.
How the Project Runs
First, we come out and look. We measure, look at where the light comes from, and give you an honest read on whether clear is the right roof. Free, no pressure attached.
Then we design and quote. You’ll see a layout and a fixed price. If the number doesn’t work, we’ll show you where the cost sits and what changes it.
Next, engineering and permitting. Drawings prepared and submitted to the right jurisdiction for your address.
Then installation. Most clear roof structures go up in 2 to 4 days on site once the permit is issued.
Be aware that permitting is the long part. From signed contract to final inspection, expect 2 to 3 months. Most of that is waiting on the county, not building.
Finally, inspection closes it out, and you get documentation for your records. That matters if you sell the house.
Client Reviews
★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5
Our project came out fantastic and Miguel and his team delivered as promised at everything along the way and where helpful, courteous, and honest. If your shopping for an aluminum structure don’t hesitate to use there services.
William M
★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5
Just relocated from New York, this company is on point. Creative designs and great builders. Highly recommend
Nagul M
★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5
If you are looking for a serious, dependable, clean, conscientious Company, Look no further. Broward Aluminum Pergola does OUTSTANDING Work! Miguel and Leylani the owners are hands on. Their Team is one you can always count on to do a great job!
Ivonne G
Common Questions
How much does a clear roof pergola cost?
Small covers start at $8,000. A standard patio starts at $16,000. Size, span and whether it attaches to the house drive most of the difference. Permitting and engineering add $1,500 to $2,500.
Will it keep the space cool?
Not the clear panel. It gives you light and rain protection, and by the manufacturer’s own rating it does nothing for heat. Bronze tint is rated up to 15° cooler and you still see through it. White is rated up to 20° cooler but you can’t. If cool is the goal, an insulated aluminum roof does far more than any of the three.
Will I get sunburned under it?
No. All three panel colors, including clear, block the UV that burns skin and fades furniture. What clear doesn’t block is heat.
Will it hold up in a hurricane?
The panel is tested to 139 mph, warrantied to 125 mph, and carries a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance for the High Velocity Hurricane Zone. The aluminum frame under it is engineered and permitted to the same code. A kit from a big-box store is neither, and that difference shows up after a storm.
Is it loud when it rains?
You’ll hear it. Steady rain sounds like rain on a skylight — louder than an insulated roof, quieter than a metal pan.
Can I combine clear panels with a louvered or solid roof?
Yes, and it’s often the best design. Clear over the section by the house to keep the room bright, solid or louvered over the seating area for shade. We build that combination regularly.
How long do the panels last?
The panel carries a ten-year warranty against hail penetration, seam leaks, discoloration and brittleness. Rinse it with a hose a couple of times a year and it stays clear.
Can it go over an outdoor kitchen?
Yes, with proper airflow. The panel has a Class A fire rating and doesn’t melt. We plan the grill placement and ventilation at the design stage.
Can it go over an outdoor kitchen?
Yes, with proper airflow. The panel has a Class A fire rating and doesn’t melt. We plan the grill placement and ventilation at the design stage.
Call (954) 787-7703 or fill in the form below. We’ll come out, measure, and give you a straight answer on whether a clear roof is the right call.