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Outdoor Living: 12 Pergola Building Tips

July 9, 2020 by Kasi Smith 6 Comments

If you’ve got space in your yard for an outdoor living oasis, you should consider a pergola. You can even build your own and save a lot of money in the process.

Save money by building your own pergola. These pergola building tips will take you through each step to make the job easier. Now you just need to decide what style you want. Read on for more info. #pergola #howtobuildapergola #DIYprojects #backyardprojects #blessmyweedsblog

Today I’ve got 12 pergola building tips for you. It includes a step-by-step guide to help you build your very own pergola. Get ready for those summer nights in the backyard!

Contents
1 Step-by-Step Pergola Building Tips
1.1 Pergola Building Tips: Ready for Installation

Step-by-Step Pergola Building Tips

Space

First off, make sure you have the space for a pergola. While they can differ in size and shape, you don’t want a pergola taking up most of your backyard if it’s not very large. Pick a spot in your yard or garden that would look great with a pergola and also provide enough room outside of it.

Pergola building tips

 Determine Type of Pergola

There are tons of different styles and designs of pergolas that you can build. Figure out which one would look best in your yard and that you would like the most. Pay attention to rafter beam shape and the curve of the roof.

Pergola

Materials

Once you’ve decided on the type of pergola you want, go out and get the materials. You’ll want sturdy wood that looks great and will withstand pressure and weather damage. It’s best to spend a little more in this part than to get cheap material that won’t last as long.

Pergola

Cutting

Figure out the dimensions of your pergola (depending on how much space you have in your yard) and begin cutting! Most pergolas have dimensions that are more or less around 10 feet, so keep that in mind. Cut the support beams and rafters to their necessary length.

Shaping

Once you’ve got your wood cut to the length you want, it’s time to shape the ends of the rafters. You can leave them flat if you want, but most pergolas have curved or pointed rafters. Look at some designs online that you like and try those ones.

Paint and Coat

With your cut and shaped wood, put a weather-protective coat or two on them and, if you want, you can paint them as well. Most pergolas are either painted white or just remain their normal color. However, this is your pergola so you can do whatever you want! Just make sure the protective coats get put on.

Pergola Building Tips

Post Holes

Here’s where the process really begins to split into different directions. If you are building your pergola on cement then you’ll want to use metal cores and foundations to keep your pergola stable. If you’re digging into the ground, then make your holes about a foot or two in depth, depending on the soil type. Most people recommend digging below the frost line, which can never hurt.

Notches

This part is optional, depending on the type of pergola you’re building. Some people like to cut notches across the tops of the support beams for the rafters to sit down in. However, if you don’t want to do that, you can just nail and/or screw the rafters into place on top of the support beams. It’s your call!

Pergola

Support Beams

There are two ways to begin putting your pergola up. Method 1 is to attach everything when it’s lying flat on the ground. Put the appropriate spaces between the support beams and then attach them to one another. Method 2 is to stick each support beam in its respective hole or metal brace and then get on a ladder to attach the beams between them. Choose whichever method you think will work best for you!

Attach Rafters

Once your outside structure and support beams are tight and secure, it’s time to attach the rafters. If you cut notches into the beams then you can just slide each rafter into its appropriate spot and secure with nails and/or screws. If not, then position each rafter where you want it and then secure it into place.

Pergola

Pergola Building Tips: Ready for Installation

Concrete

This step is only necessary if you dug holes for your pergola to sit in, not if you built it on a concrete foundation. Once your pergola is up and supported, make a concrete mixture and pour it into each of the four holes. This will keep your pergola secure and prevent it from sliding out of place or getting damaged.

Pergola building tips

Furnish and Decorate

Once your creation is up and stable, all you need to do is add some decorations and furniture. Check out these DIY garden furniture ideas to save some more cash. Or visit Best Choice Products to see all of their terrific outdoor furniture options!

Filed Under: DIY Yard, Garden, Hardscape, Landscape, Patio Tagged With: backyard, construction, Deck, DIY, guide, outdoor room, patio, Pergola, Pergola Building Tips

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Nancy Seaton says

    November 12, 2016 at 4:44 pm

    This was wonderful. I actually think I can do this myself now! Thank you so much for just spelling it out in plain language that everyone (even us women without a lot of experience) can understand.

    Reply
  2. xavier says

    June 28, 2017 at 7:36 am

    I like the projects here> Good stuff that I can implement when I get the time

    Reply
  3. Jesse Ford says

    February 3, 2020 at 9:01 pm

    Thanks for mentioning to choose which pergolas would look best in your yard because there are a lot of designs to select from. My wife and I are thinking of hiring a contractor next month because we’re contemplating putting a custom pergola in our back yard since we’re contemplating hosting more events at our home. I think it’s a good investment to hire a reputable professional that can help us choose the best design to fit the layout of our yard if we decide to build one.

    Reply
  4. Ellie Davis says

    March 24, 2020 at 1:25 pm

    My mother is thinking about remodeling our backyard, and we are looking for advice about what to do. I loved that you mentioned you need to consider a pergola that looks better in your yard. I will let her know about your recommendations to help her choose the right materials for her backyard project.

    Reply

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