If you're comparing aluminum pergola quotes in Miami or anywhere in South Florida, three answers matter most: whether the wind rating is certified, how the pergola is anchored and who pulls the permit, and what the price actually includes. Two quotes with the same size and color can still be very different jobs. Here's how I'd sort them out.
1. Is the wind rating certified, or just claimed?
Ask for it in writing. Plenty of pergolas advertise a wind rating that's only the manufacturer's own number. A certified rating comes from an outside approval, like a Florida Product Approval (an "FL" number), a Miami-Dade NOA or an ICC-ES report, and it covers a specific model and a specific installation. Ask for the approval number and make sure it matches the pergola in your quote. In Miami-Dade and Broward, which are high-velocity hurricane zones, this is not optional.
2. How is it anchored, and who pulls the permit?
Ask how the posts are anchored and whether that's shown in the engineering. Wind uplift is a common focus at inspections, so this one matters. Then ask who applies for the pergola permit and who pays the fee. Attached pergolas and solid or louvered roofs usually need one, and the rules change by city and county, so don't assume.
3. What does the price actually include?
Compare the scope line by line, not just the total. Look for permits, installation, footings or site prep, the finish, and the warranty on both labor and materials. Also ask how extra work gets priced if something changes. Quotes with different totals are often quoting different jobs. If you want a reference point, see our aluminum pergola cost guide.
Before you sign: visit the showroom and check the license
Seeing the products and finished work in person tells you more than a quote can, and you can ask your questions face to face. Then look the company up on the Florida DBPR license search. It's free, and you can search by name or license number. A good contractor will be glad you asked.
A cheaper quote isn't automatically a bad one. It just needs to answer the same questions. If you're still comparing, bring your quotes to our showroom in Doral and I'll go through them with you, or see our aluminum pergolas.
Want to see what I mean when I say not all pergolas are built the same? Watch our Instagram Reel.