Do I need to enclose all sides of a pergola?

No. Most backyards only need one or two sides enclosed — typically where the wind, afternoon sun or overlooking neighbours are. Leaving a side or two open keeps the space feeling like an outdoor room rather than a sealed sunroom.

Glass, screens or slats — what's the difference?

Glass walls give the most weather protection and keep the view but add no privacy. Zip mesh screens block wind and light rain while staying breathable and retract out of sight. Aluminium slat walls give the strongest privacy and filter sun and wind, at the cost of the view.

Are zip screens waterproof?

Zip mesh screens block wind and light rain and keep the space far more comfortable, but they are not a full waterproof seal. For all-season weatherproofing on an exposed side, framed sliding glass is the better choice.

Can I add walls and screens later?

Yes. On a modular pergola, glass walls, screens and slat walls bolt onto the same frame, so you can enclose the space in stages. Deciding which sides you want closed up front still makes the build cleaner and avoids an awkward retrofit.

Enclosing A Pergola

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Enclosing a Pergola

Glass walls, zip screens and slat walls to make an outdoor room usable in more weather.

BPBuildPilot Editorial3 min readLast updated Feb 2026

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Content scope

This guide has been reviewed for South Australia (Adelaide metro + regional SA). Building licensing, warranty, stamp duty and approval rules differ in other Australian states — verify against your local authority before acting.

A pergola on its own gives you shade and a roof, but it is the walls and screens that turn it into a genuine outdoor room you can use when it is windy, wet or cold. Enclosing one or more sides blocks wind, adds privacy and keeps the space comfortable for far more of the year. This guide covers the three common ways to enclose a modular pergola — glass walls, zip mesh screens and aluminium slat walls — how they compare, and how to decide which sides to close in.

Key takeaways

Enclose only the sides facing wind, sun or neighbours — rarely all four
Glass = weather + view; screens = breathable wind/rain control; slats = privacy
Zip screens aren't a full waterproof seal; glass is for all-season sides
Plan walls and screens with the frame so you avoid an awkward retrofit

Things to consider before you choose

Plain practical advice for Australian builds. No fluff.

Decide which sides to enclose

You rarely need to close in all four sides. Work out where the wind, afternoon sun and overlooking neighbours come from, and enclose those sides. Leaving one or two sides open keeps the space feeling like an outdoor room rather than a sunroom.

Weather vs view vs privacy

Glass walls give the most weather protection and keep the view, but add no privacy. Zip mesh screens block wind and light rain while still letting a breeze through. Aluminium slat walls give the strongest privacy and filter sun and wind, at the cost of the view. Most backyards mix two of the three.

Fixed, sliding or retractable

Framed sliding glass lets you open the space right up in good weather and seal it in bad. Zip screens retract into a headbox so they are out of sight when not needed. Slat walls are usually fixed. Match the mechanism to how often you expect to change the setup.

Plan it with the pergola, not after

Walls and screens bolt onto the same modular frame, so deciding up front which sides you want enclosed makes the build cleaner and avoids an awkward retrofit. Even if you add them in stages, size and position the pergola with enclosure in mind.

Types of enclosing a pergola

Quick compare

	Glass walls	Zip / mesh screens	Slat walls
Weather protection	Highest	Good (wind & light rain)	Wind & sun
Keeps the view	Yes	Partly	No (privacy)
Airflow	Sealed	Breathable	Filtered
Privacy	Low	Medium	High

Framed sliding glass walls

Glass panels in an aluminium frame that slide open or closed, sealing the space for all-season use while keeping the view.

Pros

• Most weather protection
• Keeps the outlook and light
• Opens right up in fine weather

Cons

• Highest cost
• Adds no privacy
• Glass needs cleaning

Best for: Exposed or coastal sides, and all-season outdoor rooms

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Zip / mesh screens

Guided mesh screens that drop down to block wind, insects and light rain while still letting a breeze through, and retract when not needed.

Pros

• Blocks wind and light rain
• Breathable — keeps airflow
• Retracts out of sight

Cons

• Not fully waterproof
• Mesh partly obscures the view

Best for: Wind and sun control without sealing the space

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Aluminium slat walls

Weather-resistant aluminium slats that give strong privacy and filter sun and wind while adding a crafted architectural look.

Pros

• Strongest privacy
• Low maintenance
• Filters sun and wind

Cons

• Blocks the view
• Not a full weather seal

Best for: Privacy from neighbours and a finished, architectural look

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How much does it cost in Australia?

What enclosure costs depends on which sides you close in and what you use: framed sliding glass is the most expensive per side, zip mesh screens sit in the middle, and aluminium slat walls vary with coverage. Because you can enclose one side or all of them, and add more over time, the total is highly configuration-dependent. Price each wall and screen for the sides you actually want closed directly at the supplier rather than assuming a whole-room figure.

Common mistakes to avoid

Enclosing all four sides and ending up with a stuffy sunroom, not an outdoor room
Choosing glass for a side that really needed privacy (or slats where you wanted the view)
Expecting mesh zip screens to fully waterproof the space
Retrofitting walls after the build instead of planning them with the frame
Ignoring which direction the wind and afternoon sun actually come from

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Enclosing A Pergola

Enclosing a Pergola

Things to consider before you choose

Decide which sides to enclose

Weather vs view vs privacy

Fixed, sliding or retractable

Plan it with the pergola, not after

Types of enclosing a pergola

Framed sliding glass walls

Zip / mesh screens

Aluminium slat walls

How much does it cost in Australia?

Common mistakes to avoid

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