Things You'll Need:
- Table saw
- 2-by-2-inch boards
- Wood glue
- Galvanized nails
- 1-by-1-inch boards or wood strips
- Finishing nails
- Wood stain or sealant (optional)
- Adhesive
- 4-by-4-inch ceramic tiles
- Masking tape
- Grout
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Step 1
Call your city or county building department to learn whether or not you need a permit or variance to build a pergola. Obtain any necessary permits before you start construction.
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Step 2
Choose a level spot for your pergola. If you want to build it on a deck, make sure there are joists to bolt the support posts securely. Clear the ground where you plan to build, and use a level to make certain it's completely level.
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Step 3
Mark one corner of your pergola with a peg. Place another peg 6-to 8-feet away to make one side of the pergola, and attach a string to make sure the line is level and straight. Mark the other two corners so that you have an 8-by-8-foot square, or 6-by-6-foot square if you prefer. The pegs will be at the inside corners of the support post.
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Step 4
Dig an 18-inch deep hole at least 10-by-10-inches square, at each corner peg, making sure that the inside corner of the hole is at the peg and the bottom of the hole is level. Place a prefabricated concrete footing with a metal L for double bolting in each hole. Make sure the top of the footing is level with the ground, fill in any open space in the hole with dirt and tamp it down firmly.
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Step 5
Have your assistant help you raise a support post and bolt it into place. Make sure the post is both plumb and level, and has its inside corner at the peg mark. Repeat with the other three posts. Make sure they're all exactly the same height, and if they aren't, use your saw to adjust where necessary.
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Step 6
Cut four 2-by-6-inch boards for crossbeams, long enough to extend 8 inches beyond the outside dimensions of the pergola side. Hold one board up against the support posts so that the top of the board is level with the post, and have your helper mark the board where four bolt holes should go for each post.
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Step 7
Drill starter holes in the boards with a 1/4-inch bit. Place the first board against the front sides of the two front support posts. Bolt them into place. Place the second board against the back side of those two posts, and bolt them into place, then repeat this step with the back two posts and the remaining two crossbeams.
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Step 1
Use a table saw to cut the 2-by-2-inch boards the length of the distance from the first front crossbeam to the last back crossbeam plus 4 inches. These are the rafters.
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Step 2
Put the rafters on the crossbeams so that 2 inches extend past the front and back. Space them 1 to 2 inches apart, or a distance that you like. Use wood glue to secure them onto the rafters, then nail them into place.
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Step 3
Take the 1-by-1-inch strips of wood and cut them to fit from the bottom of each post to just under the crossbeams. Use finishing nails to attach them to the outside edges of each face of all four support posts, leaving a 4-inch space between them on the posts.
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Step 4
Apply wood stain or sealant now if you intend to use it. Allow it to dry completely before proceeding to the next step.
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Step 5
Select a waterproof adhesive that can be used with both wood and tile. Glue your decorative tiles in place between the 1-inch strips on each support post, starting at the top. Hold them in place with masking tape until the adhesive is set. If you need to cut a tile to finish, cut a tile at the bottom where it will be less noticeable.
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Step 6
Squeeze grout into the seams between the tiles when they're in place, and wipe off any extra quickly before it can harden.
