Shaded Swimming Pool: A Cedar Timber Frame Pergola in Arizona

This oversize 16′ × 16′ cedar pergola shades a backyard pool in Arizona, where July highs average more than 100°F. It has a 2′ cantilever on all four sides, a wraparound roof with Roosevelt beam and rafter ends, full arched knee braces with decorative keystones, and a natural stain that shows off the cedar.

Natural cedar 16 by 16 foot pergola with full arched braces and keystones shading the edge of a pool in Arizona — Shade at the edge of the pool.

Key Takeaways

Size: 16′ × 16′, oversize cedar timbers
Roof: 2′ cantilever on all four sides, wraparound end profiles
Details: full arched knee braces with decorative keystones
Finish: natural stain for a warm cedar color

Why Shade a Pool in Arizona?

The Arizona desert is known for its sunshine, and in this area the average July high runs from about 101 to 104°F. A timber pergola over the pool brings shade to the water and the deck, so the family can swim comfortably on the hottest summer days.

Cedar pergola with a cantilevered wraparound roof and Roosevelt beam ends standing over a pool sun shelf — Over the pool sun shelf.

Cedar pergola roof cantilevered two feet past the posts on all four sides above a sparkling backyard pool — A cantilevered roof on every side.

What Makes This Pergola Stand Out?

The roof cantilevers 2′ past the posts on all four sides, stretching the shade farther over the water. The wraparound roof carries the Roosevelt beam and rafter end profiles around every side, and full arched knee braces meet at decorative keystones. A natural stain keeps the cedar’s warm color.

Natural cedar pergola beyond a bubbling spa at the end of a desert backyard pool lined with shrubs and a stucco wall — Beyond the spa.

Side view of a cedar pergola beside the pool deck, with stone pavers, potted plants, and a tan stucco wall behind — From the pool deck.

Natural cedar pergola with arched braces and keystones casting shade across a pool step in an Arizona backyard — Shade across the pool step.

Close view of a natural cedar post, arched knee brace, and Roosevelt beam end on a poolside timber pergola — Arched brace and Roosevelt end.

Why Is Wood Comfortable Beside a Pool?

Wood is a low conductor of heat, so a timber post stays warm in the sun but not hot enough to burn on contact the way metal can. That matters at a pool, where people are often barefoot and wet. Real wood also brings warmth, texture, and natural color that fits the desert landscape.

What Do Clients Say About Working With Western Timber Frame?

“We had a terrific experience with Western Timber Frame. They were able to do a custom design for us and offered money-saving comments during the process. The design was done quickly, and production and delivery were ahead of schedule. When we received the pergola, it was just as easy to assemble as they told us. The final result was a big wow!” — Bart Baker, hotel and conference center, Dubuque, Iowa

Questions About Pool Pergolas

What size is this pool pergola?

It is an oversize 16′ × 16′ cedar pergola with a 2′ cantilever on all four sides, so the shade reaches past the posts.

Why add a pergola over a pool in Arizona?

Summer highs in the area average about 101 to 104°F in July. Shade over the water makes the pool comfortable through the hottest part of the day.

What is a wraparound roof?

The beam and rafter end profiles continue around all four sides of the roof, so the pergola looks finished from every angle, including from the water.

Does timber get hot by a pool?

Wood is a low conductor of heat, so the posts get warm in the sun but not hot enough to burn on contact the way metal can.

Is a cedar pergola kit easy to assemble?

Yes. The timbers arrive pre-cut and test-fit, and clients often say it goes together just as easily as promised.

Western Timber Frame has designed, handcrafted, and delivered more than 7,000 outdoor structures in all 50 states since 2008. See more Arizona projects and timber pergolas, or request a free design consultation and call 877-870-8755.

Western Timber Frame™ — Payson, Utah | Since 2008 | 7,000+ structures in all 50 states
2026 SBA Manufacturing Award | HGTV Design Excellence Award | 28 Best of State Awards

Marilynn Thompson

Content Writer, Architectural Photographer & Outdoor Living Author, Western Timber Frame

Marilynn Thompson is a content writer, architectural photographer, and outdoor living author at Western Timber Frame™, where she specializes in custom timber pergolas, pavilions, gazebos, and heavy timber construction. Since joining the company, she has helped document thousands of custom projects through technical research, homeowner interviews, jobsite photography, and educational articles that explain complex building concepts in clear, practical language.

Her work combines engineering research with real-world project experience, covering topics such as structural design, building permits, installation, timber species, joinery, maintenance, and outdoor living design. She regularly collaborates with Western Timber Frame's designers, engineers, and project specialists to ensure every article reflects current building practices and accurate technical information.

As the company's architectural photographer, Marilynn has photographed custom timber structures across the United States, documenting how they perform in different climates, landscapes, and architectural styles. Her writing is informed not only by research, but by conversations with homeowners and business owners who have lived with these structures for years.

Her goal is simple: to help homeowners understand the decisions behind a custom timber structure so they can build with confidence, not guesswork.