Pergola Plans – Answer questions? How to build a pergola. For this blog post, I’d like to go back and revisit the pergola I built a few years ago.

This build was before I started this YouTube channel, but the construction and assembly of this structure is quite simple, so I’ll show you how it was done with some animation.

Pergola Plans

It is made from rough cut western red cedar. And it is located in the sunny, side yard of this residence. Space was limited, but the open design of the pergola suits it. This ended up being a great place to build a pergola.

Pergola Plans 12 X 12ft / Digital Downlaod

Each post sits on a round concrete pier that is spaced on center 8′ 6″ inches. The overall height of the pergola is also 8ft 6 with a head clearance of 7′ 3″. Concrete foundations are poured below the frost line.

Four beams are bolted to the posts and run from north to south. Ten rafters sit comfortably above these beams. They are grouped in pairs running from east to west. Eight angle brackets are attached to either the post and roof or the post and beam. There are five louvres at the top of the structure. These are also notched so they sit on roofs.

I will use batten boards to arrange the location of the foundations. I drive stakes into the ground and attach ledgers.

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I used a laser level to set all the tops of the launch boards to be level.

A masonry rope loaded with bricks is strung across the boards at a distance of 8 ft. 6. The ropes are straightened together by marking a point 3 ft. and 4 ft. from the intersection with a sharpie. Then adjust the strings so that these marks are 5 feet apart diagonally.

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Another way to check for squareness is to measure the diagonal intersection to the chord intersection and adjust until the distance is equal.

When everything is aligned, a plumb line is hung at this intersection to mark the center of the hole. A hole is dug and a Sonotube is inserted. Canvas and strings are used to set a consistent height for all pipes. I secured these cardboard tubes with additional pins that hold the tops 3″ above the lawn.

I dug below the frost line and opened a hole in the bottom to create a wider foot (or base) for the post.

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I mixed a few bags of concrete in a wheelbarrow and filled out each form. I put the 6×6 saddle into the concrete before it hardened.

A few simple tools are all you need to build the pergola for this first part. Circular saw, handsaw, large speed square plus layout and marking tools

Posters are full size 6″x6″. This entire pergola is made from wood supplied by my friend Jay. He has a portable mill and is a careful and precise sawyer. I brought the rough wood to the site and put it on the saws to mark and cut.

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For this video I had enough extra cedar wood from other projects to show almost all the steps needed to make each part of the pergola.

I draw around the post on all four sides with a pencil. If square and true, the lines will connect.

Each post is cut to length in 4 cuts with a circular saw, turning the post a quarter turn each time, and then finishing the cut with a handsaw.

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The top of each post has a 30 degree slope. It is primarily about aesthetics. I just loved the look. Pencil lines are drawn using a large speed square. I freely cut the front and back parts. Then I adjusted the angle of the blade and made side cuts. He then finished with a handsaw.

I bevel the top edges of the post with a sanding disc on my angle grinder. And the rest of the angles with a powerful aircraft. I like this look and do it on other outdoor structures I have built. I think it’s worth the extra time.

You can use an angle grinder for all chamfering, but I find that a motor plane works better for long runs.

12×12 Pergola Plan

These posts are then placed in saddles, flipped up and plumb with the civil level. The pins are driven in and temporary clamps hold them in place. The screws are driven through the saddles into the bottom of each post.

The next step, building the pergola, I then cut four 2×8 beams to length. Mark the 45° corner piece for the end profile and mark the locations for the carriage bolts that go through the posts on the two end beams. These holes are drilled using a guide.

Now I cut the corner piece with a circular saw and a square. These are also equipped with a chamber with an angle grinder and/or a power plane. I stain most of the pieces before assembly. This is much easier on horseback than later up the ladder.

Porch Pergola Plans • Woodarchivist

The beams are attached to the posts and checked for level. I then drill through the joist, post and opposite joist with a long 3/8 bit. I tap the carriage bolt and secure it with a flat washer, wrench and nut. This post details how to build an easy pergola on a concrete patio with a modern wood slatted privacy wall!

Well friends, if you’re looking for an easy way to update your yard, a DIY pergola is it! We (mainly my husband, ha) built this pergola on our concrete patio last summer, and it’s my favorite DIY project we’ve ever done. It completely changed the look and feel of our patio and yard area.

It may look scary, but this project was so much fun and I know how much it enhances an outdoor space. This simple pergola can be made on a budget and can work with a number of different layouts.

Ozco Project #396 & #895

Our house has a very small yard and the houses are close together so there was no privacy when moving. We live in a newly built community so the trees are also still very small and don’t provide shade or privacy yet. .

The back of our house faces south, so it’s always sunny and warm in the summer months. Without shade, it was really hard to use this space. But having two little boys, I needed a sheltered place to hang out with them!

The wind can also be very strong where we live, so we had trouble finding a shading solution. We tried umbrellas (with very heavy bases), a free standing pergola (again weighted) and non-structural shade awnings. Nothing could resist the wind!

How To Build A Pergola

We tried hard to find a good shadow budget option but nothing worked well. Looking back, I really wish we had bitten the bullet and built the pergola now. We tried three other ideas and ended up spending hundreds of dollars before deciding to learn how to build a pergola.

Building this DIY pergola on a concrete patio definitely paid off! With the help of my husband’s brother, we were able to complete this project in two weekends! It went a lot faster than I thought and it was a lot cheaper to build us!

This is a DIY project that I would recommend to anyone looking to add some shade and privacy to their yard while increasing the value of their home!

12×24 Timber Frame Pergola Plan

EDIT March 2023: We moved a few years ago and this pergola is the thing I miss most about this house! However, it definitely helped our house stand out when we went to sell it. At each performance we commented on how much they loved the pergola! It added so much to our little backyard. Without her, the backyard would be a difficult business. But with that it was one of the best features! So if you are looking to increase the retail value of your home, I highly recommend this project!

How To Build A Patio Pergola With Wood Slats Privacy Step 1 – Explore Pergola Design Inspiration

I did a lot of research before starting this pergola project! Pinterest is always my search engine when I start a project!

51 Diy Pergola Plans & Ideas You Can Build In Your Garden (free)

I looked at so many different styles and sizes and ideas. Pergolas that were freestanding vs. Attached to the house… Pergolas with a traditional design style vs. more modern styles… Cedar vs. Redwood vs. Pressure treated lumber…

I also looked at a few different packaging options. Some companies, like Home Depot, sell do-it-yourself pergola kits where they send you pre-cut pieces and you can then assemble them. Professional installation of the pergola is also a matter of course.

I can tell you that the price for professional installation would be at least 3 times higher than ours.

Pergola Plans: Harmony In Design: A Pergola For A Balanced Outdoor Spa

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