How to Construct a Pergola

The finished pergola in the garden

A pergola is an ideal addition to a garden, providing a lovely place to sit in the fresh air, watching the wildlife, but shaded from the sun. This is a challenging project but well worth the effort

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Circular power saw, miter saw, drill, level, hammer

1. Constructing the base of the pergola

   Select a flat area in the garden for the pergola. It needs to be clear of trees and stable to handle the weight of the pergola. This design uses concrete support blocks under each of the support posts. Each block was buried partially in the ground to provide both a solid footing and a level surface for the posts

2. Vertical posts in place

   With the posts in place and loosely supported, start to create the base, connecting each post in turn and providing a solid star shaped foundation for the floor. The provides a very solid floor and also gives the posts a very secure base which can withstand movement in the ground due to temperature changes

3. The floor of the pergola

   Start to construct the framework of the roof to provide the stability to the posts. At this stage, the posts can be cut to length. With the basic framework in place, the floor can be constructed. This design used "iron wood" - a very hard and resilient tropical wood that can be finished to a high gloss. The design also used a circular shape from the center to provide an interesting effect

4. The center of the roof support

   The roof in this design is pressured treated wood - using 4 inch wide strips to cover the roof from the edge towards the top. A long sloping ladder is helpful here to support the builder as the wood is nailed in place. The photo shows the center of the roof support with the wood in place

5. The pergola ready for use

   Finally, the roof was covered with felt and tiles nailed into place. Pre-made panels were inserted between the posts to provide more support and privacy. The pergola is then ready for use!

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure you apply for appropriate planning permissions for your location

• Get the assistance of friends to support the heavy posts as they are raised in place

• Allow plenty of time to build the pergola and make sure safety is your number one priority

• Don't take risks - especially with power tools and working at heights

Resources

• The author of this article