Pergolas can easily be built with the help of simple pergola plans even without previous carpentry experience, as I did for my patio pergola. Wood is a warm, cozy, yet pliable material that makes the perfect choice for an outdoor pergola. Whether you choose to build your pergola in the garden or over the patio, this beautiful structure can be built by following a plan that can help you save money over ready made kits.
It is important to choose the location first, as the final product will have a dramatic effect on the whole landscape. Once done that, it is just a matter of purchasing the materials and tools, or borrowing some of them if too expensive. Nails, a hammer, nuts and bolts, sandpaper and a hand saw are always at hand in a household, but you may need to borrow electric tools such as an electric saw, an angle grinder and a drill.
3 Circular Saw
Woodworking can be one of the most satisfactory activities even if a novice, providing a good plan of action is met. In order to build a DIY pergola I followed some simple yet accurate instruction in a design of my choice from a range of pergola plans. The project was laid out step by step, from post foundations, to post rigging and alignment, height, width, size and shape for all joists, rails and posts. It did require some work, sawing, cutting and sand blasting before all the pieces could be assembled together.
Over all, it took me one long weekend and the help of a friend to build my DIY pergola. The project went smoothly except for few minor mistakes that were easily corrected thanks to the wood pliability. In my specific case the pergola was attached to a pre existing first floor front deck, so as to extend the shady area over the ground floor front patio. The results have been impressive to me. I was even more impressed with the money saved in the process, as a ready made pergola kit can cost up to 00.
What I would not save money on though, is wood. I chose a very tough and beautiful tropical hard wood, but it could easily have been cedar or any other quality construction wood. These woods are naturally weather resistant, though they may gray and darken with time.
To avoid that, I stained my pergola with a UVA and rain resistant resin paint that additionally brought out all the natural wood texture and beauty, giving it a glossy and gorgeous look. I was actually surprised how good it looked in the end, considering that I was at first hesitant to implement the project. The design of my choice has a tight rail span to provide extra hold for climbing plants or hanging flowers. No much sun is coming through at all, providing a cool relaxation area to share with family and friends.
Other styles may come in different sizes and shapes, like circular or triangular, or be designed as free standing structures in the garden or attached to the house, say over a patio. Over all, pergola plans help you enhance your garden landscape, save money over ready made kits, provide a focal point where to socialize, improve household livability and increase property value as an added bonus.