How should I react with my pergola when strong wind begins to pick up ? Are the risks of damage significant and how can I best protect myself against them? While the Solisysteme team may not be able to do anything against the force of the wind, they can detail how to best protect your pergola in case of strong winds.

With a pergola attached to the house, in case of strong gusts of wind, the Solisysteme team recommends slightly opening the slats to about 20 degrees so that the wind resistance is minimal and more diffuse. This will prevent the slats from clattering against each other.

Once the gusts have passed, you can operate the slats as desired. With a freestanding pergola in the middle of the garden, the situation will be different, and it will be advisable to ensure that the wind circulates on all sides of the pergola and keep the slats closed. This way, the wind will circulate above and below the pergola, and clattering of the slats will be avoided.

If your bioclimatic pergola is equipped with awnings, remember to retract them before the first gusts of wind, as strong gusts (over 48 km/h) could damage them. Therefore, also place all the garden furniture under the pergola out of harm's way, as it alone will not suffice to protect it.

It could even sustain impacts if a gust carries away a piece of furniture. It is therefore safer to shelter everything elsewhere than under the pergola. Additionally, equipping your pergola with a wind sensor can be very useful, especially in case of absence.