subject: Interesting Tips - How To Build A Pergola [print this page] A pergola is a shaded walkway or passageway that is usually used in gardens. It is usually made up of pillars with beams across the top and an open lattice on which vines are typically trained to grow. A pergola is at times used as a walkway to connect two buildings, or as an expansion to a building and affords shade and even shelter from rain if the overhanging vines are very thick.
Pergolas can be made of stone, brick, or wood and are typically roofed by any sort of vine one opts for including bougainvillea, grape vines, or bamboo. Wood is typically favored when building a pergola as it looks more natural than stone or brick pillars, and is more inexpensive. Thus if you are considering building a pergola in your own backyard, wood is most likely the best option for you.
Required Tools
Post-hole digger/two-person auger
Jigsaw (optional)
Clamps
Drill
Hammer
Screw driver
Required Materials
Gravel
4x4 posts
2x4 bracings
Fast-drying cement
2x10 boards
3-inch lag bolts
2x6 boards
3-inch galvanized deck screws
Instructions
The first stage in making a pergola is selecting a appropriate location, a flat location with good drainage is recommended. Decide whether or not your pergola will be made as an addition of your house, or to stand on its own. Measure out the size your pergola will be and mark the 4 outer corners of the measured location as where you will set your 4x4 posts. Use the post-hole digger/two-person auger and dig holes 24 inches deep and 9 inches wide for the 4x4 posts. Put a couple inches of the gravel within each hole to aid with drainage and then place the 4x4 posts inside the hole, making sure they are level and parallel with each other.
Use the 2x4 bracings to secure the poles in position, mix and throw the fast-drying cement into the holes around the poles and allow it to harden for no less than 24 hours before doing anything else.
Next cut joist beams out of the 2x10 pieces of board, long enough to cross the 4x4 posts. If you choose you may use the jigsaw to cut a decorative design on the ends of the joist beams still this is not a requirement. Use the clamps to secure the joist beam in position while drilling a hole through the beams and the posts, use the 3-inch lag bolts to fix the beams to the posts.
Finally, cut stringers out of the 2x6 boards, long enough to overhang the joist beams. Once more you can use the jigsaw to cut a decorative design into the stringers if you choose. Evenly space the stringers apart and fix them in place using the 3-inch galvanized deck screws.
Tips and Warnings
The amount of materials you will require will differ depending on the size of your pergola, smaller pergolas might require only 4 main posts, whereas bigger pergolas will need further support.
If you do not desire to hollow out holes for your main posts or you just do not want it to be visible that you did, you may do one of two things. Firstly you can bury the posts and subsequently obtain hollow-core columns to place over them, or if you are building on a concrete pad, you may fasten the posts to the concrete with steel post-base anchors.
Ensure that all the wood you use to build your pergola is thoroughly treated and sturdy or your pergola will rot rapidly and will not stand very long.
There are quite a few variations to building a pergola so it would be a good idea to view a few of the designs available on the internet to find one that works for your needs.
