| If you wonder how to build a pergola or feel | | | | the iron nets to reinforce the concrete, and poured |
| intimidated at the prospect due to lack of expertise | | | | cement into the holes to prepare a foundation base. |
| in diy or carpentry, then you may want to read this | | | | This was done to prevent the posts from sinking or |
| article because I was exactly in the same situation | | | | moving in the future. We then let the cement set in |
| and I did it, saving a good deal of money in the | | | | until the next day while we cut and finished all the |
| process. I built my own pergola on the front patio, | | | | wood parts. |
| but it could have been on any other area such as the | | | | Next day we positioned the main posts into the holes |
| garden or the backyard. Ready made kits are | | | | and propped them up with temporary sticks to keep |
| beautiful and stylish but also expensive and this is | | | | them in position and aligned. The alignment was |
| why I decided to build a pergola the do it yourself | | | | achieved with nailed horizontal lines and the vertical |
| way. | | | | angle with a weighted line. Once done that, we |
| I had an idea that I wanted my pergola made of | | | | bolted all the pre-cut main beams to connect all the |
| wood, not aluminium or vinyl, as wood is by far the | | | | posts and close the structure like a box. Only then |
| prettiest and coziest of the materials as well as the | | | | we went on to pour extra cement in the holes on |
| most pliable during construction. However, I had | | | | top of the foundation bases and close the holes. |
| never built a pergola before. So without any | | | | Finally, we nailed all rails with a pre-cut span wedge to |
| carpentry experience I sought the advice and help of | | | | distance them evenly. The whole pergola was now |
| a local foreman who provided me with a set of | | | | built and almost ready. The final day was dedicated |
| designs to choose from. I then picked my custom | | | | to the finishing touches. I did some sand papering |
| made plan to match a 2 level first floor deck over | | | | here and there and general angle grinder work to |
| the house front patio in order to extend the shady | | | | smooth up imperfections before going onto painting. |
| area. | | | | Red wood, cedar or other high quality woods are |
| I bought the materials and tools, namely red wood, | | | | weather resistant anyway, but I decided to stain my |
| nuts, bolts and nails, and borrowed few others like | | | | pergola with a resin based wood paint for extra |
| electric angle grinder, circular saw, and a drill in addition | | | | protection from UVA and rain. |
| to measure tape and lines for alignment. A friend of | | | | The end result was a beautiful glossy pergola |
| mine helped me in the construction that only took a | | | | offering a lot of shade and plenty of joists for |
| long weekend to accomplish, working flat out. | | | | flowers and plants to hang on. I built my pergola on |
| This first important step in building a pergola is laying | | | | the patio area, so after the construction I tiled the |
| down the foundations for the main posts. So we dug | | | | whole patio floor covering the foundation holes, but |
| the holes, found the right levels with a simple | | | | this was part of the patio construction project that |
| transparent water hose (no GPS needed), put down | | | | was done at a later stage. |