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How To Build A Pergola Roof

Choosing A Design For The Pitched Pergola Roof

How To Build A Pergola Roof – DIY At Bunnings

You can choose from a wide range pergola pitched roof designs based on factors like available space, local building regulations and requirements.

The pitched roof can be a small one like any walkabout exterior leading to the walkway from the short veranda. This type of roofing is installed to protect the doors and veranda from rainwater, sun rays, etc.

The wide, prairie-style pitched pergola can be used to create an open patio with furniture where you can entertain your guests during a sunny morning or a fabulous evening.

The pitched pergola for a backyard patio can be ordinary, slanted on one side for rainwater drainage and even kept open for an airy private space for the occupants.


Step 1: Install the Posts for the Pitched Roof

The first step begins with digging holes into the ground for installing the posts. These roofs are generally slanted on either sides for creating a slope that helps in proper drainage for the rain and snow.

Dig the holes of equal length of about 1 ft. The distance between the holes should be consistent to offer proper support to the rafters.

Depending on the area of the pitched roof area, there can be 3 to 5 posts. Now, place the posts in the proper holes as per the height and their specific position and add concrete for firm strength.

Step 2: Drilling and Screwing Shade Battens


Step 3: Sizing and Cutting the Rafter Ends

Rafter Support

In order to ease the proper positioning of the rafters, put a piece of timber beneath the beams.

The Plant Deck Hangers Build

The Lowes deck pergola with plant hangers is a heavily customizable option that has a modern appeal with its exposed bolts and cables. Its identified as an advanced skill level plan that takes one weekend to build and will cost under $500 in total.

Youll need to have a couple of tools handy including a circular or compound miter saw, drill and bit set, as well as some treated lumber. The image shows a pergola designed to fit a 12 x 14 deck but Lowes instructions help you to customize it to fit your property.


They advise woodworkers to contact a local utility company to ensure that when you dig the post footings that you dont intercept any buried lines and pipes.

Since youll be working with pressure-treated lumber, they also advise that you take some safety precautions including wearing a dust mask and goggles to avoid exposure to unhealthy chemicals. Indeed, this is a particularly professional and attractive looking option.

Step : Rafters Purlins Fascia And Brace

  • Cut the rafters to length and angle cut each end to suit. Work out the rafter length to suit the roof sheets if possible . In this example cut the rafters 2280mm long for 2400 roof sheets. Thus ledger 50mm + rafter 2280mm + fascia 20mm + roof overhang 50mm = 2400mm Refer to the plans for reference if necessary.
  • Fix four rows of 100Ã50 nogs on edge in-between the rafters as in the flat plan These are the nogs that the roofing is fixed to.
  • Fix the top row of nogs 100mm down from the top of the rafters and fix the bottom row of nogs 100mm up from the end of the rafters.
  • Fix the other two rows of nogs equal distance apart.
  • Alternatively the purlins can be fixed on top of the rafters if there is enough room between the top of the rafters and the eaves.
  • Fix fascia board along the end of the rafters and also up the sides of the two end rafters .
  • Brace on top of the frame diagonally from corner to corner with metal strap brace. see flat plan.

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The Backyard Shade Plan

You can use these step-by-step instructions provided by hgtv.com to build a backyard wood pergola. This one has 4 x 4 pressure-treated posts and evenly-spaced stringers perpendicular to the beams.

If you want, you can add decorative elements both to the joist beam and the stringers. Youll also need 3 lag bolts to attach the beams to the posts. Better looking than a standard white-vinyl, premade pergola, its an easy, rustic option.


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The Classic Real Cedar Vineyard Build

How to Build a Wood Pergola

This Vineyard Pergola has somewhat of a different design. It is an elongated, rectangular option, in contrast to the Square designs weve typically seen. You can download a PDF file and print out the instructions which include a comprehensive material list, recommended tools and clearly delineated instructions to help you assemble this unique-looking option.

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Adorn With Climbing Roses

Pep up a path with climbing plants

Looking for something a little more natural for your roof ideas for pergolas? Then think about investing in some of the best climbing plants to create a canopy of beautifully-fragranced blooms.


Sure, you’ll need some sort of structure to begin with to support the climbers. But it doesn’t have to be anything ornate, as long as it’s structurally sound. Roses, jasmine and honeysuckle are perfect picks for a romantic, cottage-garden style and will up the sense of romance for any outdoor seating space or pathway.

Building A Diy Pergola

Instead of spending too much on buying a pergola, this creator shows how to make yours from home. For this build, you will need a couple of power tools to make the job easier like a jigsaw, drill, and miter saw. The creator starts off with building a solid foundation and then the rest of the build. I would highly recommend this video for beginners.

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The Western Red Cedar Bench Plan

This western red cedar option includes bench seating and is marketed as a defining enhancement for an outdoor living area. It has an L-shaped layout that is two level.

The downloadable PDF provides comprehensive instructions for assembling the main pergola, the seating area and the bench. A helpful video walk-through provides additional feedback for woodworkers looking to embark on this fun, DIY project.


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Easy 12 By 24 Foot Pergola

HOW TO BUILD A PERGOLA AND ROOF IT FROM START TO FINISH

If you really want something grand for the backyard, this 12 by 24 foot pergola is it. This is one of the easiest ones to DIY and it is absolutely gorgeous when it is finished. Its a great way to use up some of those 2X4s that you may have left over from other projects, too. There are so many great DIY projects you can make from 2X4s and this is just one of them.

Plans: myoutdoorplans

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Louver Design Is Important

Not all metal louvers are created the same. Some are simple single-layered wood or steel. This basic design is fine for blocking the sun, but leaves the shaded space below the pergola susceptible to annoying drips when it rains. Azenco uses a unique dual-walled louver design that channels water into an integrated drainage system and away from the outdoor living space below. Homeowners researching a louvered pergola roof for their home should make sure to ask their dealer how the louvers will handle rain water. Even better, ask them to demonstrate the drainage system first-hand.


How To Build A Pergola

This article was co-authored by Benjamin Hansen. Benjamin Hansen is a Landscape Contractor and the Owner of Artscape Gardens, a boutique landscaping company in Los Angeles, California. With over 12 years of experience, Benjamin specializes in transforming properties into aesthetic, functional, and drought-tolerant oases. Benjamin uses color scheme, dimension, and water conscious spaces to inspire the design and installation of soft scape, hardscape, patios, pathways, irrigation, drainage, fencing, concrete, lighting, and electrical work. Artscape Gardens covers all areas of the C-27 landscape contractor classification.There are 17 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, 96% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 69,390 times.

A pergola is an open outdoor structure that is made up of wooden posts and has a trussed roof. To build a pergola you’ll need to prepare and measure a space in your yard before laying down the foundation posts. Once a strong foundation is in place, you’ll finish the project by constructing the roof. With the right materials and forethought, you can build a sturdy pergola that can add some style to your yard’s decor and can create a shaded area where you can relax and socialize.

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The Simple Backyard Curved Plan

If you dont want to bother with complex pergola plans and you have only basic woodworking knowledge, this simple backyard pergola is just what you need. The builder uses Google Sketch software to design his wooden pergola shade, and he advises that you do the same. There is also a video of the building process for your convenience.

What Is The Best Roof For A Pergola

17 Free Pergola Plans You Can DIY Today

The best roof for a pergola does depend, to a large extent, on individual style and budget, but also how much shelter you need for your space.

An attachable canvas awning is versatile and generally one of the more affordable choices. With some pergola designs, you can pick from a variety of hues to suit your garden color schemes. And, they’re ideal for controlling the level of shade, especially if they can be pulled open and closed. They tend to offer less shelter during heavy rainfall though, and it’s best to take them down over the winter months for storage.

Corrugated plastic or metal can be added to an existing pergola structure for a low price and are both very durable. They’re great for keeping your space dry , however attaching them directly onto the beams overhead means they won’t be adjustable. Firstly, this can make the space below heat up quickly. Secondly, in the case of metal sheets, it means that the area will almost constantly be in shadow. With plastic, the sunlight will still shine through, but you’ll be protected from harmful UV rays.

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Do You Need Planning Permission For A Pergola

If youre UK-based, you wont need planning permission for a pergola so long as it meets the following criteria.

  • Height is no greater than 2.5m unless its a pitched-roof structure which ca be up to 4m high .
  • Its within 2m of your gardens boundary.
  • It mustnt cover more than 50% of the land around your house and existing outbuildings.
  • It must not go at the front of the house or in the side return.
  • You do not live in a listed building or in a conservation area.
  • The pergola is not to go on a raised platform like a veranda or balcony

If you want to add a pergola to a deck like many of our ideas showcase, the deck shouldnt be more than 30cm above the ground and again, it shouldnt take up more than 50% of the land including other extensions, outbuildings and decking areas.

A must for your outdoor space, not just in the summertime!

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Choosing A Style And Materials

  • 1Choose your roof style. There are hundreds of roof types out there, and they are all suitable for different purposes and allow for different materials. The two major categories of roof are flat and pitched,XResearch source and one of the main things that will determine the actual style of roof you need is the shape of the building. It will be much more difficult to build a round roof onto a square building, for instance, so allow the shape of the structure to guide you. Some of the most common roof styles are: XResearch source
  • Gable roof: this looks like an inverted V, and is the easiest and most popular roof style in North America. There are also several variations on the gable roof that are designed for buildings that arent simple rectangles, including the saltbox roof, which is suited to join walls that are different heights. XExpert Source
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    Cost Of Buying A Pergola

    If you choose not to build the pergola yourself, hiring a professional is always an option. However, there are a few price considerations to take into account before contacting a professional.

    Buying a pergola and having a contractor install it for you is the easiest and most expensive. Because building a pergola is labor-intensive and requires some skill, we would have to pay for the labor, which in some cases can cost almost as much as the pergola itself.

    Like building a DIY pergola, Ill go over a few of the most significant aspects that can affect the price.

    From experience, I found that the most common pergola types are either wood, fiberglass, or vinyl and often include an aluminum support structure.

    Wood is the most expensive option, as it looks the best. However, it must be pressure treated, which can add a high cost to the project. I found that vinyl and fiberglass are also great alternatives, and in most cases, are much more durable.

    So, I dove deep into researching the costs of buying a pergola, and the estimated price came out to around an average of $3,500 in the U.S. However, the total cost could range from anywhere between $2,500 $6,000 depending on which type of material the homeowner chooses.

    To put this more, in contrast, the average wooden pergola, spanning around 10 square feet, will often cost about $3500, including labor, delivery, etc.

    The Minimalist Pergola Plan

    How to build a Pergola – Purlins and Roof Sheets

    This 10 x 10 pergola is a great choice for amateurs. The Beautiful Mess website gives you step by step instruction for everything including what kinds of herb you can use to repel insects and whether or not youll need a builders permit. The builder recommends that you use pre-treated materials if you are not going to paint the pergola so that it could withstand harsh weather.

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    How To Build A Roof

    This article was co-authored by David Bitan. David Bitan is a roofing professional, licensed contractor, and the owner and founder of Bumble Roofing based in Southern California. With over 12 years of construction industry experience, David specializes in restoring, repairing, and maintaining residential, commercial, and industrial roofs. With over 60 years of combined experience, Bumble Roofing provides easy, friendly services to structures including residential, commercial, industrial, multi-family, and government buildings along with hospitals, hotels, and churches.There are 12 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 201,594 times.

    A roof is much more than just the decorative top of a building. A roof provides protection from the elements and precipitation, helps drain water away from a structure, and provides insulation that helps keep the interior of a building warm or cool, depending on the season. There are several types of roofs, but the best one for your needs will depend on the structure, the climate, and the amount and type of precipitation you receive. Regardless of the type of roof you want to build, safety should always be a priority, as roofing work can be dangerous, and fall equipment should always be used.

    The Classic Column Build

    This unique style pergola will provide shade to your patio or wood deck. It features classic columns which support a wooden lattice framework that dapples the light.

    The columns are not that hard to build as you might think because you are not going to make them they are hollow-core and precast. Despite that, this is a complex pergola project, and it will take a couple of weekends.

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    How To Put A Roof On A Pergola: Final Words

    Installing a roof on top of your pergola is a pretty simple task. You dont need to be a rocket scientist to get the job done. Pick out the right material, get your screwdriver ready, and youll have a functional roof in no time.

    If you dont want to bother, you may want to consider getting a gazebo instead. Just read our post explaining the differences between a gazebo and pergola beforehand and make your choice!

    Set Up A Professional Outdoor Kitchen Under The Cozy Shade Of A Gorgeous Metal Pergola

    How to Build a Backyard Pergola

    Our next source of inspiration is a professional outdoor kitchen protected from bright sun and rain by a gorgeous metal pergola.

    If you like hosting BBQ parties and outdoor events, this is the design for you. The simple metal roofing may look underwhelming on its own, but with a solid and sturdy structure, it feels like the perfect one.

    Once you furnish the space underneath with top-grade equipment, including a stainless-steel grill, sink, stove range, and countertop, it all appears very chic indeed!

    Meanwhile, in the patio that is directly connected to the house, you can place some outdoor sofa and seats. This is where everyone can hang out and enjoy a nice meal after it is prepared in the outdoor kitchen.

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    Is It Cheaper To Buy Or Build A Pergola

    By: Author Lindsay Reed

    A pergola can be a great addition to any home, as it adds a nice bit of outdoor space. However, if you consider purchasing a pergola for your home, you may find yourself weighing out the pros and cons of either buying a pergola or building it yourself.

    The cost of building a pergola is cheaper than buying a pre-fabricated one or hiring a professional to construct one. However, you will need the tools, expertise, and time to properly execute the project to ensure that it lasts and adds maximal value.

    With that in mind, in this article, Ill go over a few of the pros and cons of each!


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