Make It Yourself PVC Pergola for Wedding Dance Floor

Learn how to build a pergola out of PVC for your wedding dance floor.

Many couples who desire to create an outdoor wedding rent or purchase a portable dance floor. A dance floor provides a sturdy, stable surface in an outdoor environment. However, a wedding dance floor may need a little something to add style, flair, and a bit of shade from the bright sun. Here you will learn how to create a PVC pergola that will install over your wedding dance floor.

Difficulty:

Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Dance Floor
• Tape Measure
• Hacksaw with PVC blade
• Marker
• 8 -- ¾" canopy foot pads
• 4 -- ¾" 3 way PVC connector
• 4 -- ¾" PVC cross connector
• 4 -- ¾" Tee connector
• 4 -- ¾" 4 way connector
• 24 -- 10" Landscape spikes
• 12 -- 10 foot ¾" PVC pipes
• PVC primer
• PVC glue
• String
• 8 Landscape marking stakes

1. Measure a 10 x 10 foot square in the location where your dance floor will be installed. Use the landscaping stakes to mark the corners. Make sure the space is square, meaning all corners are 90 degrees. One easy way to determine this is by using the "3-4-5" rule. Measure three feet in from one corner and make a mark; measure four feet in the other direction from the corner and mark. Measure the distance from one mark across to the other; the distance should be 5 feet. Adjust as necessary.

2. Measure the two sides, placing two additional stakes equidistant from each other and the corners. The stakes will be placed at approximately 3 feet, 4 inches and 6 feet, 8 inches. This will mark the locations of the canopy footings on the sides of the pergola. The front and back sides of the pergola will not have canopy footings.

3. Cut 12 pieces of PVC pipe to 40 inches each. Assemble the top of the pergola on the level ground, laying out these twelve pieces (3 on each side). Add the 3-way connectors at the corners and the tee connectors between the pieces on the front and back sides. Lay the 4-way connectors between the pieces on the sides of the pergola. Put all of the pieces together with the 3-ways and 4-ways pointing up and the tee-connectors pointing in.

4. Tie a string across the square from each of the tee connectors, making a grid of 9 squares. Place the cross connectors where the strings intersect. Measure the distance between the tee connectors and the cross connectors (and from cross connector to cross connector). Cut poles to fit each measurement. The measurement of each should be about 40 inches, depending on the actual width of the connectors.

5. Dry fit all of the pieces together, creating the grid-style roof of the pergola. Glue together the PVC roof, following the PVC primer and glue instructions. This glue is permanent, so make sure everything fits well before beginning the process. Allow the glue to dry for 24 hours before moving on.

6. Cut eight PVC poles at 8 foot lengths. These will serve as your side footings or colonnades. Glue these poles in the corner and side connectors (they will be pointing up, as you are assembling the pergola upside down). Allow the glue to dry for 24 hours.

7. Place canopy foot pads by each landscape stake. With a helper (or two) carefully lift the structure and tip it upright. Place each colonnade into a footer pad and glue in place (allow 24 hours to dry).

8. Drive landscape spikes into the holes of the footer pads, securing them to the ground. Install your dance floor beneath the pergola. Decorate the poles and roof of pergola as desired.

Tips & Warnings

• To add more life and beauty, plant vines in pots at the base of the colonnades and use wire or string to hold them up as they grow.

• Decorate the roof with flowing fabric, floral or greenery vines, or stringed lights.

• This pergola is 10 foot square, which should accommodate 20-24 dancers.

References

• Popular Mechanics: How to Build a Pergola
• PVC Plans: Arch
• PVC Workshop: Pipe Fitting