Terra Louvered Roof | Manual Control (Crank) Aluminum Pergola Kit

The Terra is a manually operated bioclimatic pergola: an aluminum structure with adjustable louvers that you move with a hand crank. There's no motor and no electrical dependency for the roof, so the louvers work with or without power. LED lighting is available as an option.

Like the motorized Venta, the Terra ships as a kit you can assemble yourself, or Rinova can deliver it as a complete Turnkey Project with design, permits and installation.

A bioclimatic pergola regulates the climate underneath it mechanically, without using energy for cooling. Tilting the aluminum louvers opens a controlled air gap, so warm air escapes upward. Closing them creates a solid roof that keeps out rain and wind. On the Terra, a few turns of the hand crank switch between the two.

A standard patio cover has a fixed roof, usually solid, glass or polycarbonate. It keeps the rain off but can't control the sun, so many owners add a shade later. A louvered roof adjusts on its own: full sun, filtered light, ventilation, or a closed rain-tight roof, all without a second shading layer.

The one advantage of a glass roof is that it lets more daylight through in mid-winter.

Both use the same base structure: the same frame, the same 5.3" × 5.3" posts and profiles with 0.08" (2.0 mm) walls, and the same drainage. The difference is the roof and how you operate it.

The Terra is hand-cranked and needs no motor or wiring for the roof. Its louvers are 0.06" (1.5 mm) thick, spaced 5.1" apart, and open up to 115°. The Venta is motorized, with 0.067" (1.7 mm) louvers spaced 6.7" apart, integrated LED lighting, and sizes up to 13' × 19'.

The Terra suits you if you want a simple system that doesn't depend on power, or the lowest starting price. The Venta is the more convenient choice if you'll adjust the roof often and want built-in lighting. A Terra can't be converted to a motor later, because the louver profiles are different.

Yes. When the aluminum louvers close fully they interlock into a closed, rain-tight roof. Rainwater is collected in the louvers, carried along the perimeter frame and drained through concealed downpipes inside the front posts, exactly as on the Venta.

On wall-mounted installations, the seal between the house wall and the pergola is made on site. Rinova's crew does this on installed projects.

Water is channeled through the louvers and frame to the front posts, and drains out at ground level at the base of those posts. No connection to an existing drain system is included, so plan a gravel bed, a channel drain or a tie-in to a downspout at those points.

For heavy rain on freestanding units, an extra outlet can be opened at each of the two rear posts by opening the gasket at the marked point, as shown in the manual. Water then drops freely at those posts, so plan a gravel bed or drain there too. This option is free, can be done during or after assembly, and isn't available on wall-mounted units.

The posts are 5.3" × 5.3" (135 × 135 mm) with a 0.08" (2.0 mm) wall, the same as the motorized Venta. The Terra's louvers are 0.06" (1.5 mm) thick, spaced 5.1" (13 cm) apart, and open up to 115°.

6063-T6 aluminum, the architectural standard for its mix of strength, corrosion resistance and clean extrusion. The profiles aren't off-the-shelf shapes: they were engineered for this system and are extruded in the manufacturer's own plant.

Every profile is powder-coated to 70–100 µm (about 2.8–3.9 mils) using TIGER Coatings powders, in a Qualicoat-certified plant.

Qualicoat is an independent European quality label for powder-coated architectural aluminum. It sets requirements for pretreatment, coating thickness, adhesion, impact resistance and accelerated weathering.

Aluminum doesn't rust like steel. It forms a stable oxide layer instead. How the color holds up over the years depends mainly on the coating. No repainting, oiling or yearly sealing is needed; an occasional wash is enough. Near the coast, rinse off salt spray a few times a year.

Freestanding, the Terra weighs between about 456 lb (10' × 10') and 681 lb (10' × 16'). Wall-mounted versions are lighter because one side of posts is replaced by wall brackets. Around 95% of the total weight is aluminum.

The Terra is rated for wind resistance up to 110 MPH and a snow load of 13–25 psf (65–120 kg/m²), depending on size. Before high winds or heavy snow, crank the louvers open, so the wind passes through instead of loading a closed roof and snow falls through.

The design wind speed your building code requires, plus the anchoring and footings, are worked out separately by the project engineer. On Rinova-installed projects, that means site-specific PE-stamped calculations.

The Terra comes in three sizes, each freestanding or wall-mounted: 10' × 10', 10' × 13' and 10' × 16'. The listed size is the covered roof area. The clear span between posts is what you use to plan furniture and walkways:

*Freestanding kit weight. Wall-mounted versions are lighter.

Custom widths and depths aren't available. A custom height is (see Colors & Options).

The standard clear height under the beam is 92 1/2" (7' 8 1/2"). The overall height of the structure is 99 3/16" (8' 3 3/16"), and the highest point with the louvers fully open is about 102 3/8" (8' 6 3/8").

Before ordering, check door and window openings, roof overhangs and any height limits in your city or HOA rules. The height can't be changed after installation.

A freestanding Terra stands on four posts and can go anywhere on the patio. On a wall-mounted Terra, wall brackets replace the two rear posts, so the pergola attaches directly to the building and takes up less patio space.

Both are priced the same. Wall mounting needs a load-bearing wall, and the wall-to-pergola seal is made on site.

Yes. Two Terra units can be installed side by side. This can't be ordered through the standard options on this page, because the joint, shared posts and drainage have to be matched to your site.

Send us the area dimensions, the mounting situation and a photo or sketch, and we'll work out the layout and price. You can also request a quote for a Turnkey Project.

Three finishes, all at the same price: Anthracite (RAL 7016), White (RAL 9010), or a two-tone Anthracite frame with White louvers. Every finish is TIGER powder coat applied in a Qualicoat-certified plant.

Yes. The standard clear height under the beam is 92 1/2" (7' 8 1/2"). Choose the Individual interior height option on this page to set any clear height from 79" (6' 7") to 110" (9' 2") for a flat $1,000, whatever the size.

The height has to be specified when you order, because the posts are cut to length at the factory and can't be changed later.

A removable hand crank tilts the aluminum louvers up to 115°, so you can set exactly how much sun, shade or airflow you get. It turns easily. The effort rises a little with size because more louvers are moving, but every size is designed to be operated comfortably by one adult.

No regular maintenance or lubrication schedule is needed for the crank mechanism.

The crank mechanism sits on one of the two main beams. Which side ends up reachable is set during assembly by how that beam is oriented, and the same choice sets the direction the louvers open. Plan both together, so the crank stays easy to reach and the roof opens the right way for the afternoon sun.

No. The handle comes off after use, so nothing hangs down from the roof. A wall bracket for storing the crank is included.

Nothing happens to the roof. The Terra has no motor and doesn't depend on power at all to move the louvers, so the crank works during an outage. If you've added the optional LED lighting, only the lights are affected.

Yes. The LED kit ($350–$490 depending on size) is available as an option and can also be added later. Because the Terra has no motor, the lighting is its only electrical component.

Plan a supply line to the post. The final connection to the house circuit should be made by a licensed electrician.

No. The motorized Venta uses a different louver profile (thicker and spaced wider), so the Terra's roof can't be retrofitted with a motor. If you might want motorized control later, choose the Venta from the start.

Both. The Terra is designed as a self-assembly kit: the connections are CNC-machined and prepared, and no special tools are needed. You do need basic building skills, a level and prepared base, and enough helpers. It's easier to install than the Venta because there's no motor position or wiring to plan.

Rinova Pergola is also a licensed California contractor (CSLB #1116353). We install throughout Orange County, LA County and Riverside County with our own crew, including the permit submittal and PE-stamped drawings, as a complete Turnkey Project. request a quote for installed pricing.

Plan on three people and about one day. Smaller sizes can be built by two people, but lifting the roof frame is much more awkward. Prepare the base separately, before the delivery date.

Among others: a drill with masonry bits, a ratchet and socket set, hex keys, a level (ideally 5 ft or longer), a tape measure, a rubber mallet, ladders, safety glasses and gloves. For concrete or pavers you'll also need a hammer drill. The exact tool list for your configuration is at the start of the installation manual.

The base must be level, load-bearing and permanently stable. Suitable bases include concrete slabs of adequate thickness, pavers laid on a proper sub-base, tile or porcelain on concrete, and wood or composite decks with a load-bearing substructure.

Loose gravel, freshly filled soil and deck boards without a load-bearing substructure are not suitable. The full base and footing requirements are in the installation manual. On installed projects, Rinova engineers the footings for your site.

Every delivery includes an illustrated installation manual, and step-by-step videos are in our installation guide & video library. The guides are organized by model, size, mounting and base type, so use the one that exactly matches your configuration.

In most Orange County cities, yes. Patio covers over 120 sq ft, structures attached to the house, and structures over 12 feet tall typically need a permit, and requirements vary by city. Rinova prepares the submittal on installed projects and can supply dimensioned drawings and a spec sheet to kit buyers.

See the Orange County permit guide.

Clean the surfaces once or twice a year with clean water, a mild detergent and a soft cloth or sponge, then rinse with clear water. In late fall, clear leaves out of the drainage channels so water can always run off freely. No painting, oiling or yearly sealing is needed.

Avoid abrasive cleaners, scouring pads, solvents, and strongly alkaline or acidic products, since these can damage the coating. Don't aim a pressure washer at coated surfaces, the crank mechanism, or straight into the drainage channels.

No regular maintenance is needed. Keep the mechanism free of leaves and dirt. If the crank ever feels unusually rough or stiff, don't force it. Contact us instead.

No. The structure stays up all year. In areas with heavy snow, open the louvers whenever more snow is expected than your size is rated for, so it falls through the roof instead of loading the structure. To clear heavy snow, use only plastic or wooden tools.

Open them in heavy snow and in storms. In light or moderate snow they can stay closed, as long as the rated load isn't exceeded; open them once snow builds up so it can fall through. In a storm, open louvers also reduce the closed surface the wind acts on.

One advantage of the manual Terra is that you can always set this position, even during a power outage, as long as you can reach the crank.

Manual and solar retractable side screens, the radiant heater, the LED kit and the custom height option.

When ordering screens, check the exact model name, because screens for the Terra are different items from those for the Venta.

Most accessories can be added later. Screens, the heater and LED lighting mount at points already built into the profiles. The exception is custom height, since the posts are cut to length at the factory. Accessories ordered later ship separately, and shipping charges may apply.

For efficient heating, side screens make a big difference. One radiant heater covers roughly 160 sq ft, and that figure assumes closed or sheltered sides; with a fully open pergola, much of the heat escapes sideways. Plan the screens and heater together if you'll use the patio in the cooler months.

The kit runs $4,549–$6,999 depending on size. Fully installed with permits in Orange County, most Terra Turnkey Projects run $8,000–$16,000 depending on size, accessories and site.

Financing through HFS Financial starts from about $37/month, with fixed rates from 7.80% (8.08% APR), $0 down and a soft credit check. See financing or request a quote.

The Terra has a lifetime warranty on the structure and paint, a 10-year warranty on moving parts, and a 5-year warranty on motor/electrical components. Spare parts remain available by part number after the warranty ends.

The 100-day return period starts on the delivery date; the kit must be unassembled, undamaged and repalletized. A 10% cancellation fee applies after 24 hours, and if you use our carrier, a $1,000 return shipping fee and a $500 restocking fee are deducted. See the Return Policy.

Seeing the Terra at our Santa Ana showroom first is the easiest way to be sure.