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How To Build A Pergola With Metal Roof

The Simple Backyard Curved Plan

Pergola Ideas – Metal & Wood Patio Cover

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.

The Classic Real Cedar Vineyard Build

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.

Choosing The Right Material For Your Backyard Structure

Not all backyard structures are created equal.

Whether you are looking to add a gazebo, pavilion, or pergola to your outdoor living space, you should select one based on the quality of craftsmanship and materials. A structure that uses sub-par materials can lead to increased maintenance, poor durability, and a less dependable structure.


Find out what material choices are available for your pergola, pavilion, or gazebo, and why it is important to select premium-quality materials.

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For Arbors Gazebos Pavilions Pergolas And Trellises

The gentle slope of a hip roof with its trapezoidal sides and pyramid-like elegance is a graceful traditional design that pleases the eyes and can be constructed in a combination of various unique styles. The hip roof also referred to as a hipped roof is asymmetrical rectangular construction with two hips meeting at either end with four sloping uniform sides meeting at a single peak.

When the hip is equal on all four sides it is sometimes called a pavilion roof or a pyramid roof. The external angle to which the sloping adjacent sides meet is the hip. To the degree that the hip slopes is ascribed as the hip-bevel. A hipped roof is durable, adding architectural quality and solidness to a home or shade structure.

How To Build A Pergola

Pergola with clear roof

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, 94% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 66,191 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 Attached Wall Shady Pergola Blueprint

For people who lack a large yawn or dont want to bother with complicated constructions, this pergola attached to the house might be just the thing. It has a roof that will provide plenty of shade for your and your plants during the hot summer days.

Again, sketchup.com offers you easy to follow plans how to construct this attached pergola.

Beginning Construction On The Patio Cover

Early the next morning the materials arrived at my house. Once the materials were unloaded, I began carrying the ten-foot-long boards and corrugated metal sheets to the backyard, laying them out in a pattern to roughly match how they would be assembled.


I also separated the corrugated metal sheets, wiped each one down with a light coat of vegetable oil, and then re-stacked them. This was something I had seen a neighbor do a long time ago when I was a child. I dont know if it served any purpose other than making me feel better. Its a step I probably could have skipped, but who was I to doubt the wisdom of the ancients?

Ledger Board Installation

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Private Lounging Space Features A Concrete Paver Patio And Classic Pergola With Metal Roof

If youre looking for a trendy backyard patio that combines raw concrete, natural turf landscaping, and a metal pergola, look no further.

This photo illustrates a lovely outdoor space featuring a mid-sized patio design with a large but simple pergola. The roofing itself is a metal standing seam painted in Benjamin Moores Watercolor Blue 79.


It was designed based on a custom quote and done by Steel Geisha Design in Sonoma. Any local manufacturer would be able to help you out if you show them the design.

Meanwhile, the concrete pavements are in their natural color and consist of 25% fly ash replacement for cement. The result is a slightly lighter color, which you can see goes well with the natural surrounding of grasses and trees.

For the furniture, place some nondescript yet durable outdoor seating like the sun loungers and dining area. You can add a bright-colored sofa to introduce some fun aspects too. Imagine the place looking like a happy hideaway in the summer!

The String Light Cedar Build

How to Build a Pergola Over a Patio Video

This outdoor pergola is situated on a concrete slab, and its perfect if you want to create a comfortable outdoor space for your evenings and movie nights. Another thing youll notice about this pergola design is that there are two layers of lattice boards, with the second one running perpendicular to the first.

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The Windsor Shade Shelter Idea

This freestanding pergola shade is made of redwood, and it will cover an area of 96 square feet , but you can customize it to your preference by adding additional louvers and most. But the rafters shouldnt span more than 6 feet.

If you want, you can build this pergola shelter next to your house to keep your home cooler in the summer.

Large Classic Patio Featuring Metal Pergola And A Cozy Outdoor Dining Table

Heres another excellent example of a metal pergola in a large and lavish home. This classic backyard patio design features large white pillars and intricate shapes.

The metal roof itself is pretty simple and resembles any pergola you have ever seen. However, what sets the entire thing apart are the grand pillars and structure, which you can see add many personalities.

Furthermore, you can use this space to create a cozy dining area with a wooden table, chairs, and an exquisite table setup. With large glass doors separating the outdoor space from the interior, as well as a stunning view on the other side, you will be sure to wow any guest with this experience.


In terms of lighting, yellow wall lanterns can exude the right warmth and glow. This is an excellent opportunity to look for unique lamp designs from antique shops or thrift stores.

The owner here has also added plenty of plants and greeneries to liven up the patio. These provide a nice contrast to the stone flooring and unique siding.

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Easy 12 By 24 Foot Pergola

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


Corrugated / Flat Panels

Metal Roof for Pergola Options

A much more cost-friendly solution, it is now possible to buy a whole array of different styles, sizes and materials with various fixings from plain old screws to more optimized solutions that are less likely to leak or make your pergola rot. In order to maintain the same amount of light, in my research, I was looking at clear or lightly tinted panels rather than changing the concept of a Pergola and going for a solid dark roof.

I was initially not interested in using these but having investigated them they are now of real interest. I like them as I could add them to my existing structures and they are compatible with other shade methods, including growing vines and they would still work with the sliding fabric panels if more shade was required.

Having checked some reviews it seems that Fiberglass panels will craze/cloud quite quickly, which will change the appearance and amount of light they allow.

The PVC panels are an improvement but are still quite brittle and susceptible to cracking , although they are more scratch-resistant than polycarbonate.

The strongest and longest-lasting would be the Polycarbonate panels but they are also the most expensive and can last 10-20 years!

Most polycarbonate sheets come with specialist UV coating but for residential applications, it is usually only on one side of the panel. You have to check that it is installed with the UV coating upwards.

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What Are Your Building Options

Most pergolas are constructed from pressure-treated lumber, or some other low-maintenance material, such as vinyl, redwood, aluminum, or steel. Wooden pergolas are the most common, as the materials are widely available and the easiest to work with. However, pergolas built from wood do have their drawbacks, such as twisting, splitting, and susceptibility to fire.

Today, we will discuss pergolas built from metal, and which options may be within the skills of a do-it-yourselfer.

Do You Need Planning Permission For A Pergola

If you’re UK-based, you won’t need planning permission for a pergola so long as it meets the following criteria.

  • Height is no greater than 2.5m unless it’s a pitched-roof structure which ca be up to 4m high .
  • It’s within 2m of your garden’s boundary.
  • It mustn’t 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 shouldn’t be more than 30cm above the ground and again, it shouldn’t 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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Installing A Clear Pergola Roof Was The Best Decision Ever It Has Turned Our Side Yard Is A Three Season Patio That We Can Enjoy In Any Weather

We love our new patio pergola, but the only thing that could make it better was installing a clear pergola roof. Now even if it decides to rain for an entire month , we can still enjoy gatherings on the patio.

Adding a roof to a pergola seems like a big deal, but we partnered with the Home Depot to make it easy! Now we cannot wait for another storm so we can test out our new clear pergola roof.

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

After installing the SunTuf corrugated roofing on the kids outdoor playhouse, I knew I wanted to use it again. It looks so nice and is absolutely DIY friendly.

But my favorite part is that it lets the light in but blocks out the UV rays. Blocking UV rays on the patio means all our patio furniture will last longer. No more fading and sun bleaching! And we can enjoy the patio even if the weather decides to rain out another of our parties!

The biggest decision we had was whether to use the same Solar Gray color on the patio as we had on the playhouse roof. I love that the playhouse has the extra shading so the kids can play in it all summer long and it stays a bit cooler.

Originally I had planned on using the shading color for the patio pergola too. Then I realized the patio is completely shaded by the house in the late afternoon on and our neighbors trees block most of the direct sun in the morning, so we would only have direct sun for a small portion of the day.

Screw On The Roofing Panels

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

Then youre ready to start attaching your panels.

Put up the first panel so that its lying straight across the horizontal supports and the last raised groove is running on top of the vertical strip .

Make sure that you have the proper side up. There should be a label on the panel that tells you what side that is. Remove the label before attaching the panel.

Since my panel was a little bigger than my pergola roof, I let it overhang on both sides. That way if my roof isnt perfectly square , I can trim the panels later to end at the edge of the pergola roof line.

Then use a quarter inch drill bit to drill holes through the panel where the screws are going to go. These screws will be installed in the raised part of the horizontal supports and along the vertical supports.

You dont need a screw in every raised section of the horizontal closure strip.

For the strips that run along the outside edges of your pergola roof, put a screw in every other raised section.

For the closure strips that are in the middle of your pergola roof, put a screw in every third raised section.

Then screw in the screws with rubberized washers using the socket bit.

The washer should be resting firmly on the plastic roofing panel, but not tight enough to cause a dimple in the panel.

When you get to the edge where the next panel will join, dont put the screws in yet.

Put up the next panel so that the first raised section of the new panel overlaps the last raised section of the old panel.

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Stretch Out Your Deck

For an outdoor room that feels like a natural extension of your home, you’ll want to invest in a big ol’ solid pergola, likely custom made, that stretches the length of your entire decked area. Mirror the construction with your furniture and you’ll have one really sophisticated and functional backyard space going on in no time.

  • See more of our in our edit.

The Kitchen Island Plan

Another unique option, this outdoor kitchen pergola provides a shaded area as well as a work island for food preparation and serving.

The countertop includes a sink as well as drawers and cabinets- the countertop can accommodate a miniature refrigerator as well as an icemaker. Built from resilient cedar this outdoor cooking station is a unique build and perfect for backyard barbecues and parties.

The downloadable blueprints run to 14 pages and provide comprehensive instructions regarding the tools and materials that you need, a cutting list and articulate assembly directions.

Ron Hazletons website is a home-improvement resource that provides instructions for creating a freestanding, hurricane-resistant pergola that can be tucked away in the corner of your yard.

He recommends designing it with enough interior spaciousness that you can accommodate garden furniture and perhaps even a hot tub. His instructions will walk you through assessing for electric, water and gas lines prior to inserting posts into the ground.

As well, a video guide walks you through aligning the back corner stake, tying markers down to figure out post positions, marking post holes, digging the post holes with a post hole digger, pouring in the dry concrete mix, attaching temporary supports, installing the carriage bolts, and finally attaching the cross beams with hurricane-grade clips.

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The Minimalist Pergola Plan

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.

The Partial Shade Blueprint

Austin Deck Company

Rona provides a template for this basic-style weekend project pergola, saying its ideal to shade a walkway, complement a backyard deck, or situate in a garden for the benefit of plants. You can even try hanging flower pots from it.

When it comes to constructing a freestanding pergola, they recommend you contact your local building office to see if you require a permit or not. As well, its recommended that if you are drilling posts, that you connect with local utility companies to ensure you wont be cutting into any important underground connections.

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Selecting Materials To Build A Patio Cover

While looks are important, you want to make sure that the materials fit the structure. Since my patio cover was going to have a slight slope, shingles were out. A tar roof would work, but it would be a heavy smell like a BP oil spill. I decided on corrugated metal roofing because its resistant to high winds, is lightweight, and is structurally sound.

Using corrugated metal also allows me to reduce the degree of slope, or roof pitch needed to a mere 10 percent, or a 1-to-10 pitch. This meant the patio cover could start at the edge of the houses roof at a height of eight feet and slope down to seven feet, leaving a clearance of more than six and a half feet between the lowest part of the frame’s headers and the ground at its outer edge.


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