How to Build an Arbor or Pergola

Particularly in the southern states, homeowners are often looking for ways to escape the sun’s oppressive heat. Sitting outside on a lawn chair or eating dinner on the patio can be a miserable pastime in the summer, which is why many people build an arbor or pergola to shelter their patios, porches, balconies and yards.

Arbors and pergolas are essentially the same structure except that arbors are generally wider and are usually attached to another structure, such as a house, barn or shed. A pergola, on the other hand, is usually a narrow construct that is free-standing over a patio or porch.

The major concern when you decide to build an arbor or pergola is the terms of your home owner’s agreement with your HOA. If there are restrictions on such structures, you might need to get your plans approved ahead of time, particularly if the arbor or pergola will be taller than your roof.

The first step to building an arbor or pergola is to gather the necessary materials. You’ll need six-by-six posts, concrete mix, galvanized nails, six-by-six beams, four-by-four rafters, several braces and at least ten wooden stakes. You’ll also need to purchase a .5″-by-10″ lag bolt with a washer for each of your posts and a .5″-by-7″ lag bolt with a washer for each beam.

STEP ONE

Before you can start to build your arbor or pergola, you will need to root the posts in concrete or build a concrete base. You can use an anchor bolt to affix the post to the concrete base, but make sure you have the posts firmly rooted in the ground, sufficient to support the entire structure. You might also need to cut the post if you find that you want a shorter arbor or pergola.

STEP TWO

Ensure that your posts are perfectly straight by holding a level vertical to each. You might need to adjust if the posts aren’t straight. Until you attach the beams, you can make sure that they stay straight by using rope attached to one of your stakes in the ground on catercorner sides.

STEP THREE

Next, you’ll need to create the top of your arbor or pergola by attaching parallel beams to the long sides of the structure. Once you have the beams in place, drill a nine-inch hole through the top and secure in place with one of your 10″ lag bolts. For drilling, use a bit that is at least 7/16 of an inch.

STEP FOUR

The last piece of construction for building your arbor or pergola is to attach the support rafters between the two beams on the roof. You can use a 7″ lag bolt to affix each one, making sure that they are evenly spaced. If you feel that the rafters aren’t sufficient to keep the structure steady, you might want to attach diagonal supports between each of the rafters.

STEP FIVE

Finally, you will want to create shading for your arbor or pergola. Most people use thick vines, such as jasmine or bougainvillea, to create sufficient shade underneath the structure, but feel free to use your imagination.

Once you’ve installed your arbor or pergola, you can decorate it however you see fit. Wind chimes, bird feeders, sun catchers and other decorative accents will add a personal touch to your construction. You’ll also want to plant flowers or plants that will thrive in whatever sunlight your arbor or pergola provides.