Maryland Pergola Builders
Azenco louvered pergolas and custom wood pergolas, designed, permitted, and built by our own crews. Authorized Azenco dealer. MHIC #91686.
Local Pergola Builders
Pergola projects in Howard County tend to fall into three groups. In Columbia, the design has to clear village architectural review. In Ellicott City, the yard is often a hillside and the house is often older. In western Howard around Clarksville, Glenelg, and Highland, there is room to build big, and the site is usually open to sun and wind. We design and build Azenco louvered pergolas and custom wood pergolas across all three with our own crews, working from our shop in Fallston. Every job is a complete design-build project: footings, structure, roof system, electrical, and the permit.
Columbia and Ellicott City sit side by side but build very differently. In most Columbia villages, a pergola is a visible exterior change, so it typically needs Columbia Association architectural committee approval, and we prepare that submission during design. In Ellicott City, slope is the main issue. A pergola on a hillside lot may need taller posts, deeper or stepped footings, or a deck that has to be checked before anything goes on it. Older homes there also need a close look at the wall or deck framing before a pergola attaches.
Western Howard is a different job. Lots in Clarksville, Glenelg, and Highland are often large, with long setbacks, wells, and septic fields to plan around. A pergola out here can be sized for an outdoor kitchen or a pool deck, not just a small patio. Open sites get full sun and more wind, so the roof choice matters. A motorized R-BLADE lets you close the roof for shade or rain. A fixed R-BREEZE gives steady shade with no motor to maintain.
Across the county, we start with what the pergola sits on. A deck needs framing that can carry the load, or footings that pass through to the ground. A patio or lawn needs footings of its own. If the pergola attaches to the house, the connection has to be flashed so water stays out of the wall. We check all of that on the site visit, along with where the sun lands and where power will come from for lights or a motor.
Permits and Review
Howard County permits go through the Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits. What a pergola needs depends on the property and on whether it attaches to the house, so we check your property's requirements first. Then we prepare the submission, file for Columbia Association architectural review where it applies, and meet the inspector. Howard County is landlocked, so there is no Chesapeake Critical Area review here, though Ellicott City's historic district carries its own preservation review.
Investment Guide
| Option | What it is | Typical price |
|---|---|---|
| Azenco R-BLADE motorized louvered pergola | Aluminum louvers on a motor. Open the roof, tilt it for shade, or close it against rain. | $25,000 to $100,000 |
| Azenco R-BREEZE fixed louvered pergola | A fixed slatted aluminum roof for steady shade, with no motor to maintain. | Contact us for current pricing |
| Azenco R-WEAVE retractable fabric pergola | A motorized fabric roof that opens to the sky or closes for shade and rain. | Contact us for current pricing |
| Azenco K-BANA manual louvered pergola | A modular louvered pergola you adjust by hand. No electricity needed. | Contact us for current pricing |
| Custom wood pergola | Posts, beams, and open rafters built on site for filtered shade and a classic look. | $3,000 to $18,000 |
Ranges cover small to extra-large sizes and come from the same pricing our online calculator uses. Your final number comes in a written, to-the-penny proposal after the site visit. See the full pergola cost guide or price your own pergola.
Why Custom Design & Build
The people who design your pergola are the people who build it. We do not hand the job to a subcontractor.
We are an authorized, factory-trained Azenco dealer. Azenco is a Hunter Douglas Outdoor brand assembled in Miami, and we install its systems to the manufacturer's specifications.
We check your property's requirements, prepare the permit submission, coordinate HOA or architectural review, and meet the inspector.
Owned by Mark Szabo and licensed under MHIC #91686. Our shop is at 2817 Belair Rd in Fallston. Call 443-616-1459.
What Homeowners Say
Rated 4.9 on Google from 101 reviews as of October 12, 2026. Read every review
"I recently worked with Mark and the team at Custom Design & Build LLC to create an outdoor space, and I'm super happy! From the start, Mark made sure to understand exactly what I wanted and offered great suggestions along the way. The whole team was super professional and easy to work with, and the final result turned out better than I imagined. Whether you're looking for a deck, a pergola, or just a better outdoor setup, these guys know what they're doing."
Noah Barba
Google review
"Mark was fantastic to work with from start to finish. He's incredibly knowledgeable and took the time to explain everything clearly, which really put us at ease. The entire experience was smooth, professional, and exceeded our expectations. You can tell he takes pride in what he does, and it shows in the quality of his work and the way he treats his clients. Highly recommend Mark and his team if you want the job done right!"
Brandon Herd
Google review
"Mark and his team are professional, detail oriented, and, most of all, they LISTEN to you. So rare these days. Cannot recommend them highly enough."
Jeffrey Buck
Google review
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Pergolas
What a pergola costs in Maryland in 2026, by size: wood pergolas from about $3,000 and Azenco louvered pergolas from about $25,000, plus how they compare to awnings.
Comparison Guides
Adjustable motorized louvers or clean fixed slats? Here is how Azenco's R-BLADE and R-BREEZE pergolas compare.
Comparison Guides
Pergola or retractable awning? A Maryland outdoor living contractor compares shade, weather protection, cost, and features so you can pick the right one.
Comparison Guides
Three popular ways to shade a deck or patio, compared on coverage, cost, and weather protection.
Pergolas
Outdoor spaces often feel incomplete without a sense of structure or purpose. That’s where pergolas come in. These simple yet stylish additions frame outdoor areas, making them more inviting and functional. Whether you’re creating a cozy corner or enhancing a large backyard, pergolas bring a perfect
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4.9 stars on Google • 101 Google reviews • MHIC #91686 • Locally owned and operated
