Village Patios · Stone Houses · Inland Heat · Hillside Villas
Polop is an inland village of stone and render houses with small patios and plenty of sun. We build shade structures sized to those spaces, which suit the look of the place and the hot summers.
The village sits away from the sea, so there is no salt to contend with, but the summer heat is strong and the winters are cooler than on the coast. A patio shaded by a pergola in July can be sunny and welcoming in January, if the structure lets the low sun in.
Most village houses are older, built of stone and render, with courtyards, narrow terraces and the occasional roof that has become a sitting area. Space is small, walls are thick and corners are rarely square, so every structure is measured and made to suit rather than built from a standard kit.
Higher up, villas have larger terraces and gardens, and the work there resembles what we do elsewhere on the slopes. Wherever you live in Polop, we start by looking at the walls and floor, because what a pergola can be fixed to decides how it is designed.
Old Houses
Old walls vary. Some are solid stone that will hold a heavy beam with ease, others are rubble with a skin of render that crumbles under a drill. We probe the wall before deciding on fixing points, and where it is weak, we use freestanding posts instead.
Corners and floors in village houses are seldom level or square. A pergola must still look straight, so we measure at several points, template awkward junctions and make the timber to fit. Scribing a beam against a curved stone face takes time but gives a clean result.
Damp can be an issue where a patio abuts an old wall. We look for signs before attaching anything, and if the wall is wet, we recommend finding the cause first, because timber fixed to a damp wall will suffer whatever treatment it has.
Patios
A solid roof makes a patio cool in summer and dim in winter. Because Polop evenings can be cool outside the warmest months, a lattice or slatted top that filters summer light yet admits the lower winter sun often makes the space more useful over the year.
Climbing plants are traditional here, and a vine or jasmine on a timber frame gives natural shade that falls away in colder months. We can build a frame strong enough to carry plants, and position it so roots, leaf litter and watering do not damage the wall or floor.
Seating, a small table and a shaded corner for a book are usually all a patio can hold, so every centimetre counts. We help you work out what really fits, with room to move chairs and open doors, before ordering timber.
Hillsides
Around the village, villas sit on sloping plots with wide terraces looking over the valley. They take the sun fully, so shade is the main request, often with a covered dining area and some form of lighting for evening use.
Without sea air, timber lasts better, but sun still dries and fades it. We specify a finish that withstands ultraviolet light, advise on when to refresh it, and detail the structure so that rainwater runs off rather than sitting on horizontal surfaces.
Ground on slopes needs checking too. We design bases that sit on firm ground, add steps or low walls where levels change, and plan electrical routes before paving so lighting and sockets can be added cleanly and kept out of sight.
How it works
We visit the house, look at the patio or terrace, test the walls and take careful measurements. In a village house we also check how materials will arrive, since some streets are narrow and some patios are reached through the house.
After the survey you get a written quotation describing the design, the fixing method, the finish and any floor repairs. We prepare timber in the workshop, fit it in a few visits and leave the space tidy. Owners abroad receive photos at each stage.
Questions
Often, if the wall is sound. We test it first, and where the stone or render is weak we use freestanding posts or a separate frame. Either way the structure should be secure and tidy.
Usually a slim frame with a slatted or lattice top, sized to leave room for furniture and door swing. It keeps summer sun off while letting winter light in. We confirm dimensions by marking them out on site.
Yes, if built for it. The frame needs sturdy members and fixings, and positioning must keep roots, watering and leaf fall away from walls. We advise on this at the design stage, including which plants suit a timber frame.
It depends on the structure and the property. On our visit we give an opinion on whether the town hall needs asking, and whether neighbours or a community could need to agree. You or your gestor confirm it.
Across the area
Coastal towns nearby have salt, sea views and busier streets. These pages show how pergolas and outdoor spaces are planned in each, and how that differs from village life.
Pergolas and outdoor living for Benidorm apartments: wind-aware shade, decking and lighting for balconies and penthouse roofs. Free quotation.
View Benidorm →Pergolas and outdoor living in Altea: shade for old town roof terraces, narrow patios and sea-view villa terraces, built around steep access. Free quotation.
View Altea →Pergolas, decking and covered dining areas for La Nucía villas on sloping plots, with poolside shade, garden steps and lighting from one team. Free quotation.
View La Nucía →Pergolas, railings and shade for Finestrat view terraces, hillside villas and homes near Cala de Finestrat, designed for exposed wind and sun. Free quotation.
View Finestrat →Pergolas and outdoor living in Calpe: salt-resistant timber, fixings and finishes for seafront flats and hillside villa terraces. Free quotation.
View Calpe →Pergolas and outdoor living in Alfaz del Pi and Albir: shade for apartments, hillside villas and village fincas, with cabling planned early. Free quotation.
View Alfaz del Pi & Albir →Pergolas and outdoor living in Benissa: large finca terraces, old town patios and coastal villas, with covered dining, stone and timber. Free quotation.
View Benissa →Pergolas and outdoor living in Villajoyosa: shade for old town rooftops, seafront flat balconies and inland villa gardens, for year-round use. Free quotation.
View Villajoyosa →Pergolas and outdoor living in Callosa d'en Sarrià from a local team: shade for village houses, hillside fincas and terraces above the valley. Free quotation.
View Callosa d'en Sarrià →Pergolas and outdoor living in Albir: low-maintenance shade for holiday apartments and hillside villas near the Sierra Helada and seafront. Free quotation.
View Albir →Get in touch
Send photos of your patio, roof or terrace and tell us how you would like to enjoy it. We will visit, test the walls, measure up and write the quotation, free of cost and with no strings attached.
A single team builds, fits and finishes everything, and sends news by message or video if you are away from the village during the weeks of work, so nothing comes as a surprise.
Customer reviews
Genuine Google reviews from Dragon Reforms customers.
Professional Collaboration & Complete House Renovation – Calpe
“We have been collaborating for many years on projects both large and small, with excellent results. Our latest collaboration was the complete renovation of a house in Calpe. Thanks to their professionalism and reliability, they were able to handle all phases of the project. We hope to continue working together for many years to come.”
Complete Apartment Renovation – Benidorm
“I would like to say a huge thank you to Dragonreforms. Nico and his team did an excellent job renovating our 2 bedroom apartment in Benidorm. This included a beautiful new bathroom, kitchen, flooring, interior doors, plumbing and complete electrical works. Truly amazing workmanship. You have made our dreams come true.”
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Everything Dragon Reforms does in Polop, each with its own page.
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