Most builders use a minimum of 2×8 for the upper framing members, and that’s for a small pergola. Not only will it look weak to the eye, but it will sag over time. A 12-foot span is much too long for a 2×6 board, for example. You also have to consider allowable span based on the size of the pergola you’re building. With 2×6 posts, the girders and cross-members will need to be larger otherwise, the top of the structure will look undersized and anemic. The key to designing a pergola is its visual proportion. Follow this lead and use whatever bracing you need to assist the project during construction. Spend a little time on any rough-framing job site, and you’ll see all manner of temporary bracing and blocking at play. To help ensure a square, plumb, and rigid assembly throughout construction, take a cue from pro framing contractors and brace everything with temporary 2×4 cross-braces to bridge the posts (nailed into the sides). Realize that even after the posts are plumb, square, and set in concrete, they can still shift out of position. Damp soil conditions required the builders to fortify this post footing with extra gravel and concrete. The pergola shown in this article covered an existing concrete patio, and one of the support posts sat on the patio and was fastened to the wall of the house. Repeat this procedure for all four ground-supported posts. Once the post is plumb, the braces can be fastened by staking them to the ground (nailing the stakes to the brace bottoms). The braces are made of 2×4 boards nailed to two adjacent sides of a post and angle down to the ground to prop up the posts. It helps to have one man plumb and align the post while a second worker secures the bottom with concrete and attaches the brace boards that hold the post plumb while the concrete dries. Setting a tall 6×6 post is a two-man job. The posts are made of 6×6 treated lumber rated for ground contact. Using string along the face of the posts can help guide a square layout. Double and triple-check your measurements during installation. Compact the soil at the bottom of the post holes, add gravel for drainage, then secure the post bottom with concrete while ensuring the posts are plumb and aligned perfectly square with the adjacent post locations. Most pergolas are constructed square to the nearest building structure.ĭig the post holes according to the depth determined by your local building codes to get beneath the frost line in your area. Layout the post locations with stakes and string using the 3-4-5 method to ensure square corners. To integrate a pergola into the existing landscape, they’re usually built square to the house or the nearest structure. Make sure the post material is rated for ground contact. For anything larger, though, the 6×6 stock will not only offer a beefier look and greater carrying capacity, but 6×6 also resists the twisting associated with the more spindly 4x4s. For a very small pergola with only 4 to 6 feet between posts, 4×4 supports will work. To adequately support the lumber overhead as well as give the pergola a sturdy look, you’ll probably need to use 6×6 for the support posts. Typically built of treated lumber, cedar, or redwood, they are fairly simple structures in design, but you should keep some basic building practices in mind to ensure the construction of a pergola lasts for years to come. Pergolas are generally constructed with four support posts connected at the top with rafters and decorative cross-members. A pergola offered a good solution to decorate the patio and mitigate the heat and brightness of the shining sun. The hot tub was exposed to direct sunlight, however, which can get overbearing at the height of a sweltering Alabama summer. The rear patio of the homemade is a nice place to congregate, complete with a fire pit, ample seating, and even a hot tub. That was Steve and Blakeney’s reason for adding a new pergola to their backyard. They can vary in size and design to fit different landscapes and have the added benefit of breaking up the sunlight (but not too much) in areas of the yard where people like to relax and entertain. Pergolas have long been popular additions to a home because they add style and character to the outdoor living space.
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