Creating a pergola helps to add a flare of sophistication to your home. Pergolas help provide a defined, cool outside space, where a patio can be partially covered and add drama to a space you use for entertaining. They also can be an effective way to introduce climbing vines or roses to your landscaping.
Decide on a Design
Determine a design for your pergola. The structures come in several different designs. Some are free-standing while others are connected to the roof of a house. Free-standing pergolas are typically in a box design, with four posts holding up beams that make up the top of the pergola. Pergolas that connect to the roof of a house can be in a box design or built to a slope. Garden pergolas, which are smaller, are suitable for entrances into a garden and can support growing vines.
Pick Out Lumber
Selected treated wood to build your pergola. Posts should be treated for being partially underground, and the rest of the lumber should be treated for normal outside use. Beams should be either two-by-eights or two-by-10s. Depending on the size, columns could be either four-by-four or six-by-six.
Finish Materials
If you are on a budget, but would still like for the decorative, ornate look of a pergola, use molding to help create an elegant, finished feel. Stain the wood so you do not have to replace all of the wood after a couple of years. Don't do this right away though; you should wait for pressure-treated lumber to dry out completely so it can absorb the stain without trapping moisture in that would otherwise rot the wood. Depending on the climate, this could take a few weeks or a few months. Choose a stain that works well with the grain of the wood used for the pergola.
Construction
Set the posts. If you have clay soil, plan on digging below the frost depth, greater than 24 inches. When pouring concrete, allow that to set for a day before moving on. Use a level to help ensure your posts are straight. Use 3-inch lag bolts to attach the joist beams to the posts. A clamp can be helpful in holding joists while you bolt them in, especially if you are working by yourself. Attach the stringers spanning the joist beams.
Tags: pergola, joist beams, roof house, should treated, your pergola
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