What is a pergola? Essentially a pergola is an arbor built as a garden feature in the backyard. Pergolas are also used to form a shaded area over a walkway, patio or house entryway. It is simply a set of vertical posts that support a series of cross beams and sometimes lattice around two sides. The purpose is to block sunlight or provide a place for climbing vines to grow.

Pergolas have become a popular outdoor addition to nearly any style home, deck, yard or walkway. They create an open roof that allows some sun to shine on your outdoor living space. They are

freestanding in an open area or built over a patio or entrance way. When they are built as freestanding structures the vertical posts provide the anchorage to the deck or the ground to keep the structure stable. Pergolas can also be attached to the side of a home or other building to create a covered area similar to a porch.

Building a pergola is a great DIY task that can be completed in one weekend. Most DIY homeowners can build one using common carpenter tools. Kits can also be purchased from most home supply centers. Pergolas do not provide shelter from inclement weather.

Pergola define an outdoor space without constraining it. It's a unique architectural blend that places you both inside and out at the same time. Pergolas were common features of Italian Renaissance gardens for covering walkways or serving as grape arbors. In modern household construction the pergola is designed to define a passageway or frame a focal point in the yard. By adding climbing plants such as wisteria or grapevines will provide color and shade as well.

How to Build a Pergola:

Step 1: Choose a location:

Ensure that the location will not obstruct views or interfere with other structures.

Step 2: Installing the Posts:

The posts should be pressure treated 4 x 4 covered with sheathed cedar. If the pergola is built on a concrete slab secured the post to the pad with steel post-base anchors. If not on a pad use longer posts and set them in the earth below the frost line.

Step 3: Attaching the Support Beams:

Attach the support beams to the post using six inch galvanized bolts

Sep 4: Attach the overhead beams to the support beams:

Cut the overhead beams using 2 X 6 pressure treated wood. The ends of each beam can be the design of your choosing. Attach the overhead beams using three inch galvanized screws. Install bracing as necessary.

Step 5: Installing the overhead slats:

Cut the overhead slats length using 1 X 3 inch pressure treated wood. Attach the slats to the overhead beams using 2 inch galvanized screws.

As an option you may want to install lattice on two of the sides. I recommend that you use standard 4 X 8 pressure treated lattice. Attach the lattice using galvanized hardware.

That’s all there is to it.

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