How to Make a Pergola

A pergola is a popular addition to a home. Many homeowners would like to have one in their backyard, but feel the cost to hire a contractor is prohibitive. A homeowner can build a pergola with only some basic carpentry skills, and save a lot of money in the process.

Things You'll Need

• Shovel
• Gravel
• Tamper
• Ready mix concrete
• 4x4 lumber
• 2x6 lumber
• 2x4 lumber
• Circular saw
• Jigsaw
• Carpenter's level
• 3-inch heavy duty stainless steel wood screws
• Electric drill
• Table saw with dado blades

Instructions

1. Lay out and mark the spots on the ground where the support posts for the pergola will stand. Dig a hole for a support post that is 18 inches deep and about 12 inches in diameter. Add gravel to the bottom of the hole and compact it. Measure and cut 4x4s for the posts to a length of the planned height of your pergola plus 18 inches. Set the post in the hole and fill the hole with concrete. Make sure that the post is plumb and brace it. Repeat this process for all the other support posts and allow the concrete to dry for 24 hours.

2. Measure and cut four pieces of 2x6 lumber to length for your pergola beams. Use a jigsaw to cut a decorative curved pattern of your choice at the end of each piece. Screw the first beam into place with three screws on each support post, 6 inches from the top of both posts. Position and secure another 2x6 beam in the same manner, but on the opposite side of the same posts. Repeat this process for the other two beams on the opposite posts.

3. 

   Measure and cut the 2x6 crossbeams to length. These will run the opposite direction of your beams and should be the same length as the distance between the posts in this direction, plus 6 inches on each end. Cut decorative curved patterns at the ends of the cross beams. Make double notches in the cross beams using a dado blade on a table saw so that they fit over the beams as shown in the photo. Screw them into place from the top down into the beams.

4. Make braces for each support post and beam by cutting 2x6 lumber to length and making 45 degree miter cuts at each end. Slide the 2x6 brace in between the beams and place flush against the support post. Fasten with screws. Do the same on the post and crossbeam sides.

5. Measure and cut the pergola slats from 2x4 lumber cut to the same length as the 2x6 beams. Again, cut the decorative curved patterns on each end. Use the table saw and dado blade to cut notches in the slats so that they will fit over the beams just as you did for the cross beams in Step 3. Drill pilot holes in the slats and then fasten to the crossbeams with screws.

6. Stain, paint or weatherproof your pergola and you are finished.

Tips & Warnings

• Installing the pergola slats so that they run north and south and are angled at 45 degrees to the east will give you sunshine in the morning and some shade in the afternoon.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Gallery of pergolas