Build a pergola in your garden or backyard, and double the entertainment value of your property! Yes, pergolas are that good.
They can provide shade on hot days, a cool retreat from noisy households, a perfect place for a bench or a BBQ, a climbing frame for roses or vines - the uses for a pergola are only limited by your imagination.
Building a pergola is simple and there are so many pergola designs available - many online for instant download.
If you are wondering how to build a pergola in your backyard, read on.
I hope to show you how easy a project it is - if you have a couple of days free you can design and build one.
Selecting The Pergola Design The easiest way to build a pergola is from a kit that you can buy at most hardware stores or online from many of the usual department stores.
This is, not surprisingly, more expensive than building your own.
A DIY pergola is definitely the way to save quite a lot of money and, I believe, a much more satisfying way to add a great feature to your garden or backyard.
There are lightweight varieties made from wrought iron or tubular steel but really the best material is wood.
Hardwood, softwood or even reclaimed wood all work beautifully.
The traditional pergola design is a simple structure consisting of four vertical posts which support a number of horizontal beams on a pair of bracing cross-beams.
The posts are spaced about 6 feet apart to form a single bay.
If you want a longer pergola, perhaps to cover a pathway, you simply add further bays.
Also check that there are no planning regulations that you must observe.
There usually are none but it pays to find out sooner rather than later.
If you are planning a very high pergola, for instance, there might be some restrictions.
Pergola Assembly Normally you would support each post on a concrete footing, although this is not strictly necessary.
Its weight plus the weight of climbing plants should be sufficient to anchor the pergola, but I think that a proper footing would be advisable.
Simple footings, say one foot deep by about 6 inches diameter, are easy to make and will do the job admirably.
I suggest a mix of one part cement to six parts aggregate.
The spacing of the roofing beams is up to you.
If you use 6 X 2 timbers you could space them 4 inches apart.
Traditional design calls for the ends of these beams to be shaped; a contemporary design would have simple square ends.
If you are using treated wood remember to treat these cut ends as well.
Assembly Procedures The secret to successful and stress-free assembly is to use good pergola plans, take your time and don't cut corners.
Measure carefully before cutting and continually check dimensions during construction.
It is vital to keep everything perfectly aligned - the finished structure will show up even small irregularities.
I suggest that you have a friendly helper lined up for lifting the overhead beams into position, and this person would also be a useful second pair of eyes while you put things together.
Before assembly clear a good space around the chosen site so that you can lay out and cut the various parts of the pergola free of obstructions.
Carefully mark out the exact position for each footing and then dig the holes for the concrete.
Use the suggested mix, or buy ready-mixed concrete.
Make each footing and let it set properly for a few days.
Then carefully measure the exact center positions for each of the four posts on these footings.
The best way to attach the posts is with anchor bolts and steel supports, available at all hardware stores.
Fit the posts loosely to the supports and brace them temporarily with diagonals from scrap while you fit the top cross-braces and roofing beams.
When you are satisfied that the whole structure is aligned correctly tighten all fasteners carefully.
Check final alignment, make any necessary adjustments, then remove the temporary braces.
Use screws rather than nails to fasten everything together, although you can use nails to hold parts temporarily while you check dimensions.
All fasteners should be galvanized or rust-free, for obvious reasons.
It is good practice to leave final tightening until all fasteners have been fitted.
And that's about all there is to building a pergola.
It is a simple project with really rewarding results.
Fun to make and fun to use afterwards!
They can provide shade on hot days, a cool retreat from noisy households, a perfect place for a bench or a BBQ, a climbing frame for roses or vines - the uses for a pergola are only limited by your imagination.
Building a pergola is simple and there are so many pergola designs available - many online for instant download.
If you are wondering how to build a pergola in your backyard, read on.
I hope to show you how easy a project it is - if you have a couple of days free you can design and build one.
Selecting The Pergola Design The easiest way to build a pergola is from a kit that you can buy at most hardware stores or online from many of the usual department stores.
This is, not surprisingly, more expensive than building your own.
A DIY pergola is definitely the way to save quite a lot of money and, I believe, a much more satisfying way to add a great feature to your garden or backyard.
There are lightweight varieties made from wrought iron or tubular steel but really the best material is wood.
Hardwood, softwood or even reclaimed wood all work beautifully.
The traditional pergola design is a simple structure consisting of four vertical posts which support a number of horizontal beams on a pair of bracing cross-beams.
The posts are spaced about 6 feet apart to form a single bay.
If you want a longer pergola, perhaps to cover a pathway, you simply add further bays.
Also check that there are no planning regulations that you must observe.
There usually are none but it pays to find out sooner rather than later.
If you are planning a very high pergola, for instance, there might be some restrictions.
Pergola Assembly Normally you would support each post on a concrete footing, although this is not strictly necessary.
Its weight plus the weight of climbing plants should be sufficient to anchor the pergola, but I think that a proper footing would be advisable.
Simple footings, say one foot deep by about 6 inches diameter, are easy to make and will do the job admirably.
I suggest a mix of one part cement to six parts aggregate.
The spacing of the roofing beams is up to you.
If you use 6 X 2 timbers you could space them 4 inches apart.
Traditional design calls for the ends of these beams to be shaped; a contemporary design would have simple square ends.
If you are using treated wood remember to treat these cut ends as well.
Assembly Procedures The secret to successful and stress-free assembly is to use good pergola plans, take your time and don't cut corners.
Measure carefully before cutting and continually check dimensions during construction.
It is vital to keep everything perfectly aligned - the finished structure will show up even small irregularities.
I suggest that you have a friendly helper lined up for lifting the overhead beams into position, and this person would also be a useful second pair of eyes while you put things together.
Before assembly clear a good space around the chosen site so that you can lay out and cut the various parts of the pergola free of obstructions.
Carefully mark out the exact position for each footing and then dig the holes for the concrete.
Use the suggested mix, or buy ready-mixed concrete.
Make each footing and let it set properly for a few days.
Then carefully measure the exact center positions for each of the four posts on these footings.
The best way to attach the posts is with anchor bolts and steel supports, available at all hardware stores.
Fit the posts loosely to the supports and brace them temporarily with diagonals from scrap while you fit the top cross-braces and roofing beams.
When you are satisfied that the whole structure is aligned correctly tighten all fasteners carefully.
Check final alignment, make any necessary adjustments, then remove the temporary braces.
Use screws rather than nails to fasten everything together, although you can use nails to hold parts temporarily while you check dimensions.
All fasteners should be galvanized or rust-free, for obvious reasons.
It is good practice to leave final tightening until all fasteners have been fitted.
And that's about all there is to building a pergola.
It is a simple project with really rewarding results.
Fun to make and fun to use afterwards!
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