Patio Extension With A Fire Pit
A fire pit with some chairs around it is such a nice idea for creating a cozy little area where friends can chat and enjoy the warmness of a burning flame.
Its also great because it doesnt take up too much room and adds just what you need: style and atmosphere.
Use some rock borders, lanterns, and string lights around it for more effective and youre all set.
Choose Your Pergola Materials
If you are using a composite material for your deck, you can buy ready-made pergolas that attach to your deck. There are also many wooden structures that are available to buy in pre-made kits found in your local DIY store.
Pergolas are reasonably easy to build from scratch using treated softwood. You will need 6in x 6in timber to create the posts for your pergola, 2in x 6in timber beams and heavy-duty bolts to attach the posts together. Along with bolts, youll need to use metal brackets to firmly connect your posts to the beams which will make up the top of your pergola. You will also need wood for the rafters that lie across the top.
The support posts need to be attached to the joist structure under the decking.
Whether using a pre-made pergola kit, or building one yourself, its important to consider the weight of the timber on the deck.
We would recommend looking at the deck loading chart in the install guide, for kit-based projects or reaching out to a code official for proper fastening guidance, for other structures, explain the experts at Trex .
Be sure to have plenty of helpers, as youll need people to hold the posts in place for you.
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.
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Is It Better To Anchor The Pergola Before Pavers
Yes, it is often better to anchor your pergola into the ground before setting up any pavers. This is because the ground is much easier to dig into and it is simple to secure each post of your pergola into it. You can even secure and anchor your pergola using concrete in addition to a deeply dug hole.
However, this is not always an option for every homeowner. Perhaps you are renting and do not wish to damage the backyard landscaping in any serious way, or you have recently purchased a home that has existing pavers in your new backyard.
If you have the option to, I highly suggest anchoring a gazebo or pergola into the ground before installing pavers. This is also a good excuse to replace existing pavers if you dont like the way that they look with the rest of your backyard. However, if you want to use the pavers currently installed in your landscaping, read on to learn more about how to anchor your pergola to them now.
Pergola Ideas That Will Add Style And Shade To Your Backyard
You dont need to travel far for a relaxing outdoor retreat.
Creating an outdoor space thats cool and comfortable can be a bit of a challengeespecially if there arent any trees to block out the hot summer sun. Thankfully, its easy to install a pergola that provides shade and style. We found free plans for building your own pergola, as well as fun decorating ideas for existing patio and porch covers. Just be sure to look into whether or not youll need a permit for your project before you get started, and consider hiring a professional for tough builds.
No wonder the National Association of Landscape Professionals listed pergolas as one of 2019s top trends. Usually made of wood or composite material, as in this California space designed by Emily Henderson, the structures not only lend sophisticated style to an al fresco sanctuary, but theyre also available with additional features including roll-down windows, space heaters, and lighting and sound systems.
Edison bulbs and potted plants look beautiful hanging from this pergola made of cedar wood, which is naturally resistant to rot, decay, and insect attacks.
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Patio Extension Using Natural Stones
A really unique idea for adding space is to build a patio extension with natural stones because of their shape adaptability and design.
You can simply cover part or most of your yard with different shaped stones if you want to keep it simple but original.
You can use carefully placed natural stone blocks in rows where your guests can sit comfortably.
Use some padding under their seat so they don feel too hard on their backsides and make sure they have adequate room for your guests to move if needed.
How To Build A Pergola On A Concrete Patio In Two Days
Building a pergola is a quick way to add a touch of class to your outdoor space, and it’s certainly something a homeowner can tackle by him or herself, and can even finish in a couple of days if sufficiently motivated. Additionally, for those who aren’t very experienced in building things with wood, this is a good starter project to develop skills that will readily transfer to other projects.
I’ll note right away that I was able to build this pergola in two days however, I’ve done this sort of thing a few times now, and I have a lot of power tools that make the job easier. If your skills aren’t high and/or you have a limited tool set, it will take longer. Don’t despair though – this still makes a great fair-weather weekend project that can be built over a couple weeks.
In the steps that follow, I link to videos I made for the build. The links go directly to the timestamp in the video pertaining to that particular step, so don’t think I’m just spamming the same video over and over You can also watch the in-depth videos in this playlist. My intent for this Instructable, with the videos to complement, is to be the most comprehensive tutorial online for building a pergola.
Also, check these links if you are looking for premade pergola plans or a custom pergola for your own yard.
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Creative Pergola Accessories To Enhance Diy Patio Designs
Your outdoor design might be a single outdoor room that serves multiple purposes. Pergola accessories can not only enhance the look of an otherwise plain patio, but also provide the means to transform your space for those different uses.
You can add ambiance at night with string lights, or depth in the day with curtains.
Patio pergolas that are designed for use as a patio cover, can also be blended with other landscape elements for a multi-use area. This creates a unique backyard experience that can be molded to fit many types of designs. Choose the type of cover that offers the right amount of shade and space for all your patio accessories.
With our DIY pergolas, you can get the most out of your budget for your landscape design. And, a DIY pergola is a fun family project!
When its finished, itll bring you great satisfaction, not to mention that its a structure that will last for many years if properly constructed, cared for, and maintained.
So if youre still searching for the perfect pergola design for your space, draw out the shape of your patio and jot down a list of how youll make the most of your backyard area. Then you can fill in the blank with your new patio cover to bring it all together!
Pergola Post Information: Pergola Post Length
For our Big Kahuna, Sombrero, Melbourne, and Fedora pergola styles, we offer posts with standard lengths of 8 feet, 10 feet and 12 feet. When trying to decide the length of pergola posts needed for your wood pergola kit, there are a few things to consider.
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Ways To Anchor A Pergola To Pavers
In Lawn & Garden, Tips by JamieFebruary 27, 2022
If you have recently installed a pergola in your backyard, you may be wondering how you can properly and safely anchor it. You may not have all of the tools you need at the moment, but you do have pavers in your backyard.
You may be asking yourself, how can you anchor a pergola to pavers?
You can anchor a pergola to pavers by adding post footings into the ground, drilling gently into the pavers and adding brackets, using concrete to secure your post bases, and, as a last resort, you can use weighted bags to keep your pergola in place.
But why might you need to anchor pergolas to your pavers? And is there a better way for you to do this rather than our 4 choices? In this article, we will explore all of your possible options in terms of getting your backyard pergola or gazebo safely secured. Lets get started and talk about some of these methods now.
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.
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Install The Post Bases
With the perimeter of the posts marked, now it time to install the post bases. Starting at one corner, place the corner of the base at the previously-marked Outer Corner. Mark the center of the post base and move the base to the side.
Using the hammer drill and a 5/8″ dia. carbide-tipped bit, drill on the center mark to a depth of about 4-1/4″. It’s possible that you will drill entirely through your concrete patio since concrete thicknesses 4″ to 6″ are not uncommon for patios. Use a broom to clear the dust.
Replace the post base to its previous location in the corner. With a ratchet and appropriately-sized socket , tighten the Titen HD concrete anchor, fastening the post base to the concrete surface. There should be no play in the post base when you wiggle it.
Repeat these steps for all four corners of the pergola.
Tips For Installing A Pergola To An Existing Deck
Strength and stability are the critical factors for adding a pergola to your existing deck or patio.
Unless youre facing one of the challenging situations noted above, you shouldnt have too many issues, especially if you follow these tricks!
- Splurge for pressure-treated wood, at least for the support beams. Choosing wood support beams that can handle anything you throw at it could be your best bet for long-term use.
- Choose a lightweight roof. The shade is nice, but if you make a top-heavy pergola, it could stress your deck and reduce the lifespan of the entire structure.
- Consider railings. Crossbars create additional support to make the structure more sound, and they can be safer for everyone who uses the space.
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Avoiding Lawsuits In Style
Before installing the joists, we wanted to give the structure more stability, to prevent it from racking. . We cut 2X6s into pieces about 3 long, cutting 45º angles on the ends, and scribing and cutting a gracious Mediterranean curve onto each. . After pre-drilling, to avoid splitting the wood, and double-checking for plumb, we screwed them to the face of the post, holding them all to the same height, then to the headers, using 3 exterior screws.
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Patio Extension Using Bricks
1). Decide what kind of bricks and colors to use There are so many different types of bricks out there which means so many more options for your patio extension project.
You can find all sorts of colors and sizes among the brick varieties which is great news because this means you will have so much more freedom when designing your new patio.
2). You will need to purchase a base When it comes to building with bricks, you are going to need something sturdy for your new foundation. This means purchasing concrete or mortar which can be found at any local hardware store.
3). Your layout needs to be perfect Once again, this means measuring everything from where the bricks will begin and end as well as how far away from the edge they will be located.
It is good practice to make a visual diagram of what exactly you want before you even start laying down your bricks.
4). Mix up some mortar and create a straight line Using your diagram from earlier, get everything properly lined up by creating a straight line of mortar.
You can do this by taking a notched trowel and dragging it across the bricks so that there is mortar underneath them.
5). Place your first brick Now you are ready to place your first brick on top of your fresh line of mortar.
Make sure that everything is lined up properly with any other bricks or stones around it, then press down firmly into the mortar until it becomes nearly impossible to move around.
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Plumb The Posts And Attach To Post Bases
Now to start making the pergola take shape!
We’re going to start by raising and plumbing the posts. At one of the corners, place a post in the post base, but laying down on the ground. Pound in a wooden stake about 6 feet away from the post base next to the laid-down post, and another one 90 degrees around the post so that you can brace from both sides. Take two of the spare 2x4s, and attach each at each of these stakes with a single nail for now, and lay them down also.
Stand the post up and grab one of the braces you previously laid down, and bring the brace around into contact with the post. Using the 4-foot level, plumb the face of the post aligned with the brace. Once satisfied with the plumb-ness of the post, use a nail to tack the brace in place.
Grab the other brace, and repeat the steps above to plumb the post from the other direction. Double check that the post is still plumb in both directions, then go ahead and drive another couple nails into the brace at either end.
Now, take your drill with a drill bit slightly smaller than the HeadLOK screw, and pre-drill holes to match those in the post base. Drive in the HeadLOK screws into these holes. For these particular post bases, there are four holes total, with two on each side. At this point, your post should be secure top and bottom and shouldn’t move when casually jostled.
Learn How To Build A Pergola To Dress Up A Patio Or Outdoor Room This Airy Yet Sturdy Structure Is A Terrific Way To Finish Off A Concrete Slab And Makes A Wonderful Diy Base For Climbing Plants
Caitlin is the senior digital home editor at Better Homes & Gardens, where she covers all things home, including decorating and interior design, cleaning and organization, paint and color, home improvement, and more. She is a writer and editor with nearly a decade of interior design education and expertise. She has vast experience with digital publishing, including SEO, photoshoot production, video production, eCommerce content, print collaboration, and custom sales content. Caitlin graduated with a bachelor of journalism, with an emphasis in magazine editing, as well as a minor in textile and apparel management from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She also received a multicultural certificate. Caitlin regularly attends trade shows and industry press conferences for market research and continued education.
Rather than spending thousands of dollars to tear out a concrete slab and refill it with topsoil, consider building a pergola. Building a backyard pergola attached to the house or a freestanding DIY pergola can be completed in two or three weekends. Pergola materials are also fairly inexpensive.
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