Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeFurnitureHow To Build A Pergola On Concrete Patio

How To Build A Pergola On Concrete Patio

Attach Pergola Posts To The Footings

One Man Builds a PERGOLA in TWO DAYS on a Concrete Patio

Take your post and set it into the saddle. Use a 48″ long level and set the post plumb to the soil.

Secure the post to the saddle by driving ¼” x 3″ lag screws through the vertically aligned and embossed holes. The post will now be set in place on the footing.

Just remember the post will not be fully secure while standing freely. If the post is wobbly use a stake and a scrap 2×4 to brace the post in position until you connect it to the other posts.

Install the other posts for your pergola the same way.


You are now ready to begin building your pergola. This will involve attaching beams to opposing pairs of posts and then securing rafters across the beams. The posts will begin to stiffen up as the structure becomes unified.

Critical Requirements For Digging Pergola Footings

Minimum Diameter

Dig a hole twelve to twenty-four inches in diameter. The diameter will be determined by how large the footing or pier size is.

Use a clam shell digger and a pry bar to help loosen stubborn rocks or cut roots if required. Alternatively rent a two-man twelve inch gas powered auger.

Large 24″ diameter bell formed footings usually require a front or back end loader with a hydraulic auger to get the job done. This is what was done for the job shown in this photo.

FROST CONSIDERATIONS FOR TRADITIONAL FOOTINGS

If you experience seasonal freezing temperatures, make sure you dig your holes about twelve inches deeper than the average frost depth.


This might mean 48″ or deeper depending on your climate.

This ensures that the pergola posts never heave and displace the structure unevenly. The hole in the photo shown here was 60″ deep.

Back fill holes or around forms

As soon as the hole is properly dug, set your post or the footing. If you are just dropping a pergola post into the hole, back fill soil around it after having made sure it is plumb.

If you plan on having a cement footing under the post, you will need a day for the cement to set up before you can place the pergola post on top. But as soon as you have your post in place, back fill around it while plumbing it vertical.

Lastly, if you are using forms for a concrete pier, be sure to back fill soil around the forms as soon as you have them set in place.


cover the tube forms from rain or debris

How To Attach A Wood Pergola To House

If you would like to have your wood pergola attached to a house, you will need to install a header board with lag bolts along the length of the house where pergola is built.

Make sure to use the appropriate hardware for attaching to the home. For example, if you have a brick home, make sure to secure the header board using lag bolts made to hold through brick and other stonework.

Read Also: Best Heater For Screened Porch

Attach The Columns To The Posts

Now slip each column over its post. Strap a level near the base of each column and screw into the wood beneath. Predrill and countersink eight screw holes in the sides of the columns: four 6 in. from the bottom and four 30 in. from the bottom. Use 3-in. No. 12 exterior wood screws to anchor the columns to the wood posts. Plumb the column as you screw it to the post. Youll notice some play between the post and column. Opposing screws will tighten the entire assembly.

What To Paint A Wood Pergola With

How To Build A Pergola On Concrete Patio #pergolato ...

What to paint a wood pergola with depends on the overall look you are trying to achieve. You can either paint or stain the wood for your pergola.


You should use an outdoor paint or stain, something that is made to withstand the elements. If staining, we recommend purchasing a semi-transparent stain to allow the natural wood color to come through.

Read Also: Restore Iron Patio Furniture

How To Build A Pergola

For this project, homeowners chose lumber from Everwood Treatment Company, which uses Wolmanized copper azole preservative treatment. This No. 1 grade hand – pick wood was treated with micronized CA – C for Ground Contact, meeting all building code requirements. It is a great building material for docks, decks, Pergolas, retaining walls, fences, picnic tables, planter boxes, walkways, sill plate and structural members. Lumbers S4S designation means its sand on four sides for a finish, professional look. Wolmanized Outdoor wood has earned Good Housekeeping Seal, has been certified by Home Innovation Research Labs as meeting requirements for termite – resistant materials in the National Green Building Standard, and has been verified by internationally recognized EcoSpecifier. It comes with limited warranty for most residential applications and, to top it off, it costs less than alternatives such as tropical hardwoods and artificial wood. Visit www.

* Please keep in mind that all text is machine-generated, we do not bear any responsibility, and you should always get advice from professionals before taking any actions.

* Please keep in mind that all text is machine-generated, we do not bear any responsibility, and you should always get advice from professionals before taking any actions

A Pergola Attached To The House

An attached pergola looks like an extension of the home itself, similar to how a front or back patio functions. At least one of the sides of the pergola is attached to or shares the same wall, flooring, and/or beams as the home itself.


The pergola provides privacy even outdoors while still allowing ample sunlight and breeze to come through its open sides. You can decorate it with a lounge, a table, and some plants to create a relaxed space to entertain guests.

Also Check: Garden Furniture Weights

Build Your Outdoor Pergola

Depending on your pergola type it might be built a little differently. Some pergola legs are hollow and need to be placed over mounting posts while some are solid wood and need to be placed directly into the footing holes. With the correct footing in place, insert any wooden mounting posts for the pergola. If you are using solid wood then place your pergola legs into the footing holes.

Any bolts or fasteners for the wooden mounting posts or legs should also be secured at this step.

With support posts or legs in place, your pergola is ready to be built. Continue to build your pergola as instructed by the manufacturer and then take care to secure the fitting.


If at this point you realize you should probably hire a hardscaping company to help with installing a pergola over patio pavers please give us a call.

At Sequoia Stonescape, were passionate about hardscaping. With over 10 years of experience, our family-owned company would love to help. Get in touch with us at . Weve got an eye for practical solutions and can help you create beautiful outdoor esthetics for your backyard.

How Can I Update My Patio Cheaply

DIY Overview: A Pergola on Concrete Patio in 3 Days. Itâs Possible!
  • Construct a Tree Bench.
  • Create Shade with a Pergola.
  • Invest in a Fountain.
  • Use a Stock Tank Pool.
  • Furthermore, Is it cheaper to do deck or concrete patio? Overall, a concrete patio will generally be cheaper to install compared to a deck. While your specific house and yard set-up may determine which is cheaper for your individual needs, a wood deck is likely to have a better return on investment compared to a concrete patio.

    Secondly, How can I make my backyard beautiful on a low budget?

    10 Ideas for Backyard Landscaping on a Budget


  • 10 Cheap Landscaping Ideas for the Backyard.
  • Use Mulch Alternatives.
  • Go Vertical With Your Gardening.
  • Add a Splash of Color.
  • Plant Useful Plants.
  • Opt for Natural Perennial Ground Covers.
  • Build an Outdoor Fire Pit.
  • What can I use instead of paving slabs?

    Gravel and concrete

    The cheapest natural alternative to stone paving is gravel. Less natural but also cheap is concrete in its pre-cast form. Many concrete slabs are designed to imitate stone, and do so more or less successfully.

    Also Check: Adding Wood Deck To Concrete Patio

    *** Thanksgiving Recipes ***

    These roasted brussels sprouts get a fair amount of spice from the crushed red pepper flakes, which cuts…

    We love how the cinnamon-scented streusel topping lets the juicy berries peek through.

    Poach quince in rosé with a dash of cocktail bitters and a few warm spices, then assemble into a tart…

    Alton Brown’s turkey brine recipe from Good Eats will give you a flavorful Thanksgiving turkey with juicy…

    Bone-in turkey breasts are easy to find, and as impressive as a whole bird when you roast them in butter…

    Leave the sausage, nuts, dried fruit behind in favor of this easy, vegetarian-friendly stuffing recipe…

    After trying every turkey-roasting method under the sun, I’ve finally settled on this as absolutely the…

    Italian sausage and a heap of Parmesan cheese lend signature flair to the easy Thanksgiving dressing…

    It’s all about the layers and ruffles in this dramatic seasonal pie.

    This recipe was handed down by my great-grandmother. It is a family favorite that we make every Thanksgiving….

    Cutting leeks into large pieces gives them a presence equal…

    This crunchy crumble is the perfect topping for an ice cream sundae, easy apple crumble, or our Build-Your-Own…

    I adapted this from a 50-year-old peach crisp recipe. Although it works well with peaches, it works even better with fresh, crisp cooking apples.

    A simple dessert that’s great served with ice cream.

    It takes a little work, but it is worth it.

    How To Build Your Pergola The Simple Steps To Success

    Over the years, we ended up creating quite a few more pergolas for friends, neighbors and family. Below, we share the simple secrets and tips we have learned over the years to create a beautiful structure that lasts. All of course, with keeping an eye on the budget!

    Here is a look below at our biggest keys to success, step by step:

    #1 Choosing The Right Lumber

    Building a strong, attractive pergola all starts with choosing the right lumber. One thing we have learned is that 4 x 4 posts are simply not strong enough to hold up over time. Nor is wood that is 1 inch thick or less for the top of the structure.

    We use only 6 x 6 treated posts, and 2x treated lumber for building our pergolas. Although there are thinner and less costly options, the thickness of 2x lumber gives the piece massive long-term strength and durability.

    As for what type of wood to use, we have found treated lumber to be the most economical and durable choice. By far! Cedar is an option, but the cost of cedar is astronomical. And in many cases, cedar will still warp and twist.

    Treated lumber has come a long way in the past few years. Its also extremely versatile. It can be left to weather to a natural grey patina, or painted or stained to match existing colors. And it builds one beautiful, strong and affordable pergola!

    What Does It Cost To Build Your Own Pergola

    Also Check: How To Build A Barbecue Grill Surround For Your Patio

    Here Is How To Install A Footing And Start Building A Pergola The Same Day

    The beauty of installing pergola footings this way is that you can literally have the footings and posts in place in as little as 30 to 45 minutes if your locations are already set. Best of all is you can start building the pergola right away.

    You can see from the illustration that this footing assembly is ready to be installed into the ground. The auger will turn freely and the load plate will stay still as you drive the auger into the ground.

    Wear work gloves and hold the auger vertically with one hand while the other hand holds the impact wrench. The wrench will not exert any continuous torque so it will be very easy to manage. Just let the tool and the auger do the work.

    drive the auger down into the soil

    Drive the auger into the ground until the load plate makes good solid contact with the stone dust soil and the upper surface of the plate contacts the nut above it.

    You will feel the auger continue to try and pull into the ground. Once you feel that tension in the auger stop driving it down.

    Do not continue driving the auger or you may just churn up the soil around the helical blade. During the next step, the load plate will be set into place.

    compress the footing load plate against the soil

    Using a socket or a wrench, tighten the upper nut against the load plate so the plate is compressed against the soil and so the underside of the footing load plate makes contact with the stop washer welded to the auger.

    Attach 6×6 post saddle to footing

    Install Wood Plugs In The Pergola Columns

    How To Build A Pergola On Concrete Patio #pergolas ...

    Cut 5-1/2 in. round treated wood plugs to fit the inside of your columns. Glue and screw together a pair for each column top, then glue the plugs flush into the top of each column. Secure the plugs to the columns with 2-in. deck screws.

    Note: Drive a screw into the top of each plug to use as a handle to position the plug.

    Don’t Miss: How To Hang Lights On Aluminum Patio

    How Deep Does A Footing Need To Be For A Pergola

    The depth of the footing will depend on the type of soil you are building on. If you have a lot of hard clay, for instance, your footing will need to be considerably deeper than if you were building on loose sand.

    A general rule is that the posts should sit about 1/4 the length of your pergola into the ground however, you should consult a local engineer or soil expert to determine what depth is appropriate for your soil.

    It is also important to note that the pergolas footings should all sit at the same depth, and when digging them its important to make sure that you can soundly pack down the dirt around the footings with a tamper or large shovel.

    Should Pergola Posts Be Buried

    Burying the post in concrete makes it more sturdy, but you can use other methods like digging an additional hole and using steel anchors or footings systems so you dont have to bury it.

    In order to maintain a seamless appearance, some woodworkers recommend that all posts be buried into the ground. This is particularly true if it is desired to use a deck or patio surface as a supporting surface for the structure.

    Installing posts completely in the ground can allow for landscape materials such as mulch or gravel to be placed around them in order to hide their presence. It also can prevent rotting at ground level, which can be an issue in higher rainfall areas.

    On the other hand, posts installed above ground level make installation much easier and eliminate the need for deep holes, which can cause settling of the surrounding soil. They also provide more room underneath for heating cables or other electric installations that may serve as part of your garden lighting system. They also allow easy access to components such as shear bolts and other hardware should they eventually need replacement or repair.

    Don’t Miss: Does Concrete Patio Need Rebar

    Cut The Secondary Beam Tails

    Bring over the 2x8x10ft secondary beams from the pile and set them on the sawhorses. Trace out a pleasing curve or other shape on the tail of the beam. I opted for a simple curve on mine, but feel free to be as creative as you please.

    Using a jigsaw, cut out the tail of the beam. With the cutoff piece, trace the remaining tails of the beams, and proceed to cut them out too.

    Measure The Post Offsets Due To Patio Slope

    How to Build a Pergola over a Patio

    If your patio is anything like mine, it slopes away from your house for drainage. This presents the obvious problem that the posts can’t be all the same length, otherwise the top of the pergola won’t be level. To mitigate this, the post offsets must be measured from a reference point and all measured and cut accordingly.

    The sill of my patio door proved to be a convenient reference point. In order to measure off these, I put together a couple scraps of wood to extend the reference line out to the same line as the post bases. Then I clamped this extension to the door sill to hold it in place and tied one end of a string line to it. On the opposite end of the line of post bases, I drove in a wooden stake and tied the string line to it. You’ll want to make sure that the string line is very tight and is also level. This string line is now at the exact same elevation as the door sill.

    When you’re satisfied with the string line, measure the distance between the string and the bottom of the post base, and record this number. Do the same with the next post base in line, then repeat these steps for the other side of the pergola. You should have four measurements written down that correlate to each corner of the pergola. It will be convenient to name these “A” through “D” to keep things straight or some other naming scheme that suits your taste.

    In my case, since I had to contend with the second story overhang, I also measured this height with respect to the door sill.

    Also Check: How To Stop Staining On Patio From Plant Pots

    Make The Lattice Strips

    Now cut the 3 in. wide tail tops from 5/4 decking to make parts J. Round over the cut ends with a hand plane or a router. Rout a 1/4-in. round-over on each edge to make the lattice strips. Ease the edges of the tails and the tops with 100-grit sandpaper and then apply a solid-color stain. Make sure the treated wood pieces are dry to the touch before you pre-stain them. If they feel cool, let them dry in a shady spot for two days before applying the solid-color stain. Rushing the process could cause the stain to blister or roll off.


    RELATED ARTICLES

    Most Popular

    Patio Sliding Doors Home Depot

    When Should You Aerate Lawn