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How To Install A Pergola

Other Pergola Costs To Consider

How To Install A SkyPoly Patio Cover (Easy Tutorial) | Cover Your Pergola Installation

A pergola is not a stand-alone structure, and at the very least it will require pavers or a deck. These will add to the cost of the project if theyre not already installed.

In general, outdoor paving costs between $20 and $50 per square metre, but some can cost more than $50 per square metre.

depends on the material its made from:

  • Treated pine is the least expensive option at around $200 per m2
  • Hardwood decking starts at around $320 per m2 and goes up depending on the species
  • Composite decking costs around $350 per m2

If hardwood or composite decking are too expensive, treated pine can be stained to look like hardwood as a cheaper alternative. Composite decking can be worth the extra cost because it requires little maintenance, only requiring an occasional washing down to remove dirt.


In some climates, its a good idea to enclose or semi-enclose a pergola, which will help to keep the rain out. In some locations, a roof can also keep the sun from shining into the pergola area. An enclosure can also be a privacy screen, or you may want to completely enclose the pergola so you can use it throughout the year.

Add up all the costs to find out how much the pergola is really going to cost. Some features such as privacy screens can be added later if theyre outside your current budget.

Exhaustive Written Installation Guide

OK so every pergola kit out there has an installation guide of some sorts. You really need to take a good look through their materials and see how much detail they go into. Too many install guides leave a lot to the imagination. Make sure to go through the pergola installation guide and see what, if any, questions you may have for your specific project. Detailed diagrams that make sense are also vital to a clean and efficient installation. Lastly, make sure your pergola company makes their installation guide easy to access on their website make sure they have nothing to hide!

Pergola Installation Made Easy With Pergola Depot

You dont want to be left with a terrible pergola installation that results in the wrong size or configuration. And you dont want to miss out on the fun and enjoyment a pergola brings. Thats why, at Pergola Depot, weve considered all these common mistakes and thoughtfully provided you with everything you could need at a great price. From detailed plans to a full line of accessories and award-winning service, we know youll be completely satisfied.

Once you learn how to install a pergola, your family and friends will be enjoying it for years to come! Contact us if you need any additional pergola installation tips to get the ball rolling. We look forward to providing you with the pergola youve always wanted!


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Preparing And Measuring Your Space

  • 1Research zoning laws in your area. States and towns have zoning laws that restrict certain kinds of construction. Call your local building commission or zoning department to make sure that you can build a pergola on your property. You can also find zoning ordinances on your local towns website.XResearch source
  • In some cases youll have to get a permit before you can start building.
  • If you’re in an urban area, you’ll have to consider the “setbacks” set by the cities.XExpert Source
  • Here Is How To Install A Footing And Start Building A Pergola The Same Day

    Pergola Install

    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

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    It Provides Opportunity For Simple Garden

    Planting flowers around a pergola is another way you can effectively shade yourself away from the heat coming from the sun during the summer. Plants provide fresh air and cool environment that help you to beat the summer heat. You can also hang plants from the over boards to create a gorgeous garden in the air. So, as the flowers grow from the ground up, they meet with the ones from the board to create a beautiful natural ceiling as they intertwine themselves


    How To Choose The Option Thats Right For You

    Installing a pergola is one of the easiest ways to upgrade your outdoor space. An outdoor pergola can provide a sophisticated source of shade, serve as a breathable cover, and significantly increase the appeal of your home. Its no wonder then that pergolas have become a popular trend in home improvement.

    Yet, many people still struggle with determining which type of pergola to choose in order to reap the most benefits from their investment. Thats why weve put together the answers to the most common questions regarding pergolas, from the best ways to leverage a pergola in your space to types of pergolas and their pros and cons, and why choosing a made to measure option can save you both time and money in the long run.

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    It Acts As Your Dining Area

    Since the pergola provides adequate ventilation in the afternoon time, it could serve as your dining area for lunch. You can create a dining area with a pergola, which is profound, especially if you do not have a patio shade. Thus, if you are looking to quickly make use of a place within your property for outdoor purposes, a pergola is the perfect solution you can always find.

    Securing The Posts To Ground

    How to Install Pergola Post Bases On A Concrete Patio

    There are 3 different methods for you to choose from:


  • Original Spiked Fixing Posts
  • Bolt – Down Fixing Posts
  • Concrete – in Fixing Post
  • We have chosen these methods of securing as the Fixing Posts are easy to install and keep the bottom of the posts out of the ground, reducing the risk of rotting. The method that you choose depends on your local conditions and where your pergola is to be sited. If you have good, solid earth – choose the first option. If you want your pergola positioned over a patio or concrete choose the second option as the Fixing Post is secured by using a hammer drill and masonry bit to drill through the hard surface and then secured using the special masonry bolts provided. If your soil is of a poor constituency you should go for the final option. If this is the case, you will need to dig a hole and buy a bag of quick setting concrete and follow the simple instructions for a safe and secure fix.

    When ordering, you will be prompted as to which method you require in order to secure the posts to the ground. See Fig 9 below for details:

    Post supports Installation instructions:

    All 3 of the above versions above will ensure years of maintenance free, secure anchorage. If, for whatever reason, you have cause to change the timber post, you can simply loosen the holding bolts, take it out and replace with another without having to re-dig, drill or concrete in any new post supports.

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    Plans Permits & Building Codes

    The first step in building your own patio cover is learning about local building codes and permitting processes. If your neighborhood has a homeowners association, start there. You will need to get their approval anyway, and they can likely point you in the right direction regarding building codes and how to apply for a permit, if necessary. If you do not live in a neighborhood with a homeowners association, head to the local building codes office in your city or county to learn about relevant building codes and whether or not you will need a permit.


    If you do need a permit, you will need plans to submit. If you go with a pergola kit, you will likely receive plans that you can use for this. If you are building from scratch, your best and most affordable option is to find plans online. There are many free pergola plans available online. If you go this route, it is best to choose pergola plans from a site specializing in DIY home improvement projects, such as HGTV or DIY Network.

    If you do not find plans online but do need a permit, you will need to hire someone to draw up plans. Depending on the size and scope of your project, you may also need an engineer to sign off on them.

    If you will be digging holes for the posts, you will need to contact local utility companies to make sure you can safely dig in your chosen area without damaging lines or pipes.

    Of course, if you hire a contractor for professional pergola installation, they will take care of all of this for you.

    How To Add A Pergola To An Existing Deck

    Can you add a pergola to an existing deck? sink the front two posts into the ground several feet and surround with concrete (typically youd want 1/3 of the post in the ground. add diagonal bracing. 45 degrees is the strongest but for the pergola likely not a requirement.If 45 degrees brings the braces too low you could consider a different angle.


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    To A Concrete Footing

    An alternative to burying your posts in concrete is to create a concrete footing. Like the previous method, you’ll dig a hole and ultimately fill it with concrete. However, instead of inserting the pergola poles into the wet concrete, you’ll insert an anchor. Once the concrete is set, you can secure your pergola poles to the anchor using a bracket.

    Installing The Closure Strips

    How to Install Pergola Post Bases On A Concrete Patio ...

    After the purlins were attached, we needed to attach the SunTuf horizontal closure strips. We attached them to the bottom of the purlin on the far edge of the pergola and the center of other purlins with 1 1/4 construction screws.

    They are super easy to install because they just snap together at the ends. We just climbed on top of the pergola and made quick work of it.

    Under the eave of the house it was a very tight fit. We barely had enough space to add the pergola roof. We had to be a little creative to attach the purlins and horizontal closure strips.

    First we attached the horizontal closure strips to the 2×3 boards. When the board ended and we needed to attach another closure strip, we marked where the new strip would start on the next board.

    In order to attach the purlin on top of the header, we had to screw up from the header of the pergola into the purlin. We did this by pre-drilling a pilot hole at an angle then securing the purlin with a screw. I added a screw on each side of every cross beam.

    Next we attached the vertical closure strips. These go in between the ends of the horizontal closure strips just on the outer edges of the roof.

    We needed to add 2×2 boards in between the 2×3 purlins to bring the sides of the pergola up to the same height. These were painted before installing again.

    Then it was easy to cut the boards to length and secure with 2 1/2 construction screws. The vertical closure strips were cut to fit and then attached with the 1 1/4 screws.

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    How Far Can A Pergola Beam Span Without Support

    Theres not quite enough information here to give a definitive answer, but for decks, a rule of thumb is when supporting joists that span 12 feet, a double ply beam can span in feet a value equal to its depth in inches. Thus, a double 2×12 beam could span 12 feet with 20 beams, posts at 10 might look the best.

    How Much Does A Kit Weigh

    ShadeScape® kits are shipped out daily throughout North America ranging from 2,500 11,000 lbs. . Custom ShadeScape® timber kits are transported on a semi-trailer because of the sheer mass and weight of the timbers. The average ShadeScape® shipment weighs over 5,500 lbs. Western Timber Frame custom builds heavy-duty pallets to ship these ShadeScape® kits on just to sustain the mass and weight of the timbers.

    These timber frame shade shelters are not big-box store kits. Or, rather judging by the weight, I should say: big box store kites.

    Because our kits can weigh thousands of pounds, a forklift is required to load and unload the carrier truck. We will ship your kit to a location with an on-site forklift, such as a business or landscape company.

    If you do not have access to a forklift, no problem, you can pick up your kit with a flatbed trailer at the nearest Shipping Terminal. The pallet can then be broken down and the kit unloaded from your trailer by hand at the installation site.

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    Set Posts In Concrete

    As you dig your holes, put the soil in a wheelbarrow and find a place to relocate it away from your site. Save any gravel or sand to reinstall pavers. You may need to move a post slightly. We shifted one post near the house to create an entry along the steps.

    Reconnect your layout string to make sure the holes are aligned. Cut your forming tubes and insert them into the holes. Level the tops of the forming tubes until theyre flush with the patio surface. If you mix the concrete on site, youll need about five bags of Quikrete or Sakrete concrete mix per hole, for a total of 30 bags. Add your 60-in. posts and pour concrete around them.

    As you set your posts, reposition your string line about 1-3/4 in. to allow for the post thickness and then align the posts with your string line as you pour in the concrete.

    Note: If you have a post thats 1/2 in. out of whack, dont sweat it. Youll be able to align the tops of the columns later when you install the overhead beam. Once the posts are embedded in concrete, let the concrete harden for a minimum of two days.

    Replace An Old Deck With Composite Decking

    How To Install A Pergola Column Using A Deck Mount Adapter Kit

    Aug 12, 2008 Composite decking, Replacing Worn-out Wood with Low-Maintenance Composites. I also had some difficulty positioning the tops of a few joists flush with the existing deck boards, and I needed to make sure the replacement boards would be going down on framing thats all in the same plane. My solution Get Price

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    Common Characteristics For Digging Pergola Footings

    When most people think of pergola footings, the dreaded thought of digging deep holes, setting a post in it and back filling with cement fills their mind.

    Options one and two depict this concept with subtle variations. In both these scenarios, the posts are buried in the ground and therefore must be treated for ground contact.

    Others, get a bit more sophisticated and build a wide footing, then use tubular forms to pour cement and finally attach post anchoring hardware to the concrete footing.

    Options three to five depict this concept. The pergola posts are secured to the pier by various connecting hardware.

    Diy Backyard Shade Ideas

    2021-3-23·One of the classiest ways to add shade to a patio or deck is with a pergola. DIY Patio Sail Shades. 3 . Keep in mind that adjustable panels are the most useful. Diy backyard shade ideas. Mosquito Netting Side Shade. A Slice of Shade Creating Canopies. Fun and Funky Outdoor Seating Shade.

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    How To Install Pergola Rafters

    While the pergola posts and frame are all vital to the pergolas existence, it is the rafters that really make the pergola what it is. And when those rafters provide the pergola with a modern two-tone aesthetic, even better. This tutorial shows a straightforward and cost-effective method for hanging your 2×6 pergola rafters, with the end result being a sleek, seamless look. This is the step where, really, it all comes together.

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    Dig Holes For The Posts

    Bioclimatic Pergola Futura

    For best results, start with a level site that has good drainage and measure out the dimensions to make sure it can accommodate the pergola. Once the site is ready to go, it’s time to dig holes for the footers. All footers should be to local codes, which is usually below the frost line. Dig three holes in the first row, eight feet apart. The second row will be set up the same way, 10 feet in front of the first.

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