Pergola Electrical Rough-In with Two Switched Outlets

Most pergolas get built and then just... sit there. No power. No lighting. No way to run anything without running an extension cord across the patio. That's exactly the kind of thing we love to solve before it becomes a problem.

For this backyard setup, we ran two switched outlets on the pergola post - one dedicated to future lighting, and one wired specifically to power an automatic wind screen. Two separate circuits, two separate switches, everything controlled intentionally. It's the kind of planning that most people don't think about until they're already wishing they had it.

Here's why the switched setup matters: a regular unswitched outlet just gives you power. A switched outlet means you control when things turn on and off from a wall switch - no unplugging, no timers, no workarounds. For automatic screens especially, that's exactly how it should work. Wind picks up, you flip a switch, screen comes down. Simple.

The outlet boxes are mounted flush and clean on the post, rated for outdoor use, and positioned where they're actually useful - not just wherever was easiest to run wire. That's a small detail, but it's the difference between electrical work that looks like an afterthought and work that looks like it was always part of the plan.

Outdoor spaces are getting more functional every year. Pergolas, covered patios, outdoor kitchens - people are investing in them because they want real usable space. Getting the electrical right from the start is what makes all of that actually work.