Building A Pergola

What is a pergola and what is it used for?

A pergola is a garden feature which serves different uses. It is an ingenious way to separate space without using any walls, it provides hangers for additional lighting fixtures, hanging plants or anything that needs to be hung outdoors. It can also be used to provide shade over a certain area by hanging a weatherproof fabric over and serve as a gazebo for morning teas. 

To build a pergola we need a large enough space for the poles. Here we’ll be building on a 9 by 9 feet space. We’ll need lumber, some concrete, a few woodworking tools and some digging tools.

Wood cuts: 

• 4 pcs. of 4 x 4 inch lumber cut to 9 feet for the posts.
• 4 pcs. of 2 x 4 inch lumber cut to 9 feet for the support beams.
• 12 pcs. of 2 x 4 inch cut to 9 feet cross members with test prop 2 pairs notches which should coincide with the support beams. 

Mark the area where the posts will be located. Each hole should be equally distanced apart as a perfect square. Dig the holes for the posts approximately 1 and a half feet deep and fill each hole with 6 inches of gravel leaving four 1 foot holes. Position each of the posts leveled at 8 feet and perfectly perpendicular. Use a few scrap lumber to get it standing perfectly straight and still by supporting the posts from the ground. Measure each pole frequently to make sure everything is square. Fill the hole with concrete and let it set.

Fasten the supporting beams on each pair of posts levelled to the top of each post. Measure the distance between the beams and position two cross members on each end of the supporting beams. Mark the positions for the remaining 10 cross members and make sure all 12 cross members are spaced equally from one another before fastening them permanently.  

Position four boards square on the ground equally and edges levelled on all sides for the floor. Place rebars across each side of the boards crossing them together. Affix each of the bars with steel wires. Pour the concrete and let it set until it hardens.

Smoothen the wood with sandpaper and clean it with rags. Treat the lumber with the finish of your choice.