How to Design a Pergola

Pergolas are usually freestanding structures outside of a home, although they can also be attached to the home. They can cover a walkway or gate area, shade a patio or deck, or provide a structure for climbing plants to cover. If you decide you want to build a pergola on your property, there are a number of things you should consider as you design it.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Think about the reasons you want to build your pergola. It can be a freestanding structure in your backyard, which can be a shady place to sit or can divide one area of the yard from another. It can also provide a walkway or cover an existing one, or it could be attached around a doorway as an inviting entryway. Consider what its main purpose will be.

2. Decide how much money you can spend on your pergola. This will affect the size of the pergola and the materials you use in construction. If you can do some or all of the construction yourself, you can save money in labor costs.

3. Consider what materials you want to use. Most pergolas are made of wood, but there are vinyl and metal options available.

4. Evaluate the architecture of your home and the size and layout of your property because they will play a role in the size and shape of your pergola. Decide if you want your pergola to blend in with the home's design or stand out as a different style of architecture, making it a focal point of your yard or garden.

5. Choose the location for your pergola. Measure the size available in that location, and the best shape to fit there. Most pergolas are square or rectangular, but you can alter the shape to fit your chosen space or your personal design preference. Keep in mind that you will need support for each extension off of a rectangle.

6. Draw up plans for your pergola. They don't need to be architecturally perfect, but they do need to be accurate enough so that you can determine the materials you'll need, from the concrete footings for the posts to the overhead beams. Many experienced contractors can work from your plans, but others may require that you have a draftsman or an architect tweak the plan.

7. Find a contractor to start building your pergola from your plans, or begin to build it yourself.

Tips & Warnings

• You can purchase a basic pergola construction plan in a variety of styles and sizes at the Pergola Plans website.
• Adding a pergola to your yard may give you the opportunity to redesign or relandscape your property to better fit the pergola and your lifestyle.
• Think about how the sun will affect a pergola in the location you've chosen for it. You can use it to block the sun most of the day, to filter the sun, or you can design the overhead cross boards to make shadow patterns that will change throughout the day. Shadow can add a sense of drama to your yard or garden.
• As you choose the location of your pergola, make sure you place a call to the "call before you dig" number to learn about any underground hazards. You should also obtain any necessary building permits from your city or county building department.