Pergola — 4×4 Or 6×6 Posts

What Is The Best Size Of Post For A Pergola

There are no hard and fast rules to post size, however, bigger is better. A smaller post will result in more wobble, which could lead to a cracked post and falling debris. The safest bet is to get the biggest posts available but for pergolas, a 6×6 is very common for standard or even bigger sized pergolas.

Our Easy Shade Canopy

Our easy shade systems work very well with all of our pergolas. We have a entire page of information about the Easy Shade system which you can link to here. The information on this page is specific to combining an Easy Shade system with a Baldwin cedar Pergola.

The Easy Shade has a main, central beam which wants to be centered and run perpendicular to the rafters. When you order a pergola with a shade system, we create three of your rafters with lumber inside which allows one to attach the mono beam securely.

The fabric is hung from cross-bars which roll back and forth within the centered mono beam. We restrict each end of the cross bar from being blown upward with shade rails. These shade rails attach to the inner face of the main beams. If your pergola is attached to your house, then the inner shade rail is attached to the bottoms of the rafters. By lowering the outermost shade rail, we can get rainwater to flow away from the house.

This pricing chart shows standard sizes for pergolas along with standard sizes and prices for shade systems. Select your pergola by size then your shade color. We make it easy.

Top Factors When Choosing Wood For Pergola Projects

A few of the top considerations when comparing wood types are climate, finishing, and cost. What is your local climate are you in a coastal area, dry climate, or in between? If youre in a coastal area, we often recommend pine. How and when would you like to finish your pergola? If you cant wait to get started staining, cedar will be your choice.

How will you be mounting the posts? If youre mounting in the ground, we recommend our pressure treated pine. If youre mounting on slab or footer, either wood type is a good choice. Is cost a consideration? Pressure-treated pine is a more affordable choice.

Recommended Reading: Fire Pit Built In Deck

Do Pergolas Add Value To Home

Heres what we tell our customers: yes, a pergola will add market value to any house. Since outdoor living has become more popular than ever, the value of properties with a pergola or a comfortable outdoor space has been on the rise. A safe gauge for a deck or backyard improvement is about 50% 80% for your ROI.

Post Requirements For Deck Stairs

Post requirements for deck stairs depend on the type and span of the stringer. A cut stringer must be supported every 6-feet and a solid stringer every 13¼-feet. A 4×4 post may be used to provide support up to 14-feet. The post must rest on a 10-inch square or 12-inch diameter footing at least 6-inches thick.

The 4×4 post must be notched to fit the stringer and bolted with 1/2 through-bolts with washers. There must be 3/4 or more of the stringer below the bottom bolt, and at least 2-inches of the stringer above the top bolt. The post should also be secured to the footing.

An intermediate landing must be built if the stairs exceed a vertical height of 12-0 but may be used to shorten smaller stringer spans. Intermediate rectangular landings must be built as ledger-free decks, wide enough to support stairs at least 36-inches wide, and a landing width of no less than 36-inches. Based on the dimensions of the landing, either 4×4 or 6×6 posts may be used.

You May Like: How To Add Drainage To Concrete Patio

Which Size Is Best For My Pergola 44 Or 66

Everyone builds their pergola based on their choice. There is no fixed size number to build a pergola which means everyone has different sizes, types, and styling pergolas.

You can choose the best size between 4×4 and 6×6 for your pergola based on the size of the pergola. If the pergola posts carried more than 420 pounds weight then your pergola requires a 6×6 size. If the pergola is small and has a weight below 400 pounds, go for 4×4.

Choosing the right size support for posts makes the pergola stronger and more long-lasting.

Few people complain that their pergola posts start damaging and look like they may fall on land because of climate changes, which means if support to posts is weaker, weather changes may damage it.

As we know, harsh weather is not suitable for unstable post support sizes materials. After selecting the perfect size your pergola needs, choose which wood would be great.

Nowadays, Redwood and Red cader are the two most popular materials to build up a long-lasting pergola.

Coordinates On Pole Tags

A practice in some areas is to place poles on coordinates upon a grid. The pole at right is a Delmarva Power pole located in a rural area of the state of in the United States. The lower two tags are the “X” and “Y” coordinates along said grid. Just as in a coordinate plane used in geometry, X increases as one travels east and Y increases as one travels north. The upper two tags are specific to the sub transmission section of the pole the first refers to the route number, the second to the specific pole along the route.

However, not all power lines follow the road. In the British region of East Anglia, EDF Energy Networks often add the Ordnance Survey Grid Reference coordinates of the pole or substation to the name sign.

In some areas, utility pole name plates may provide valuable coordinate information: a poor man’s GPS.

Also Check: Z Shade Instant Gazebo

What Is Better 44 Or 66 For Deck Railing Posts

A 6×6 will work as a railing post too but is over-kill unless there are other aesthetic or structural reasons for the heavier posts. The 6×6 is larger and checks and cracks will be more visible, however, it may not twist or bend like a 4×4. It can be notched by up to 2-inches to sit on the deck and fasten to the rim board.

The style of railing or desired look may require a different post, but for most deck railings 4×4 posts work well. Once they are tied in with the top and bottom rails and the railing cap board attached, theyll resist twisting and bending.

Western Red Cedar And Redwood

Western Red Cedar alongside Redwood is probably the two most popular used timber for pergolas including pergola posts. They are both naturally beautiful and are often assembled together. However, there are still some important distinctions between the two.

• First, Redwood has a dark red-brown color it while Western Red Cedar is more yellowish in color.
• Second, Western Red Cedar has a more pronounced and more rustic grain it while the Redwood is more on the subtle side.
• Both Western Red Cedar and Redwood are insect resistant and doesnt rot. This allows homeowners to not worry about using harmful chemicals or coating.
• They are both very sturdy and extremely durable wood material for pergolas. However, Redwood is noticeably slightly stronger.
• For rustic and a natural look, both kinds of wood are perfect options.

Read Also: 10 By 10 Pergola Cover

Tips For Sealing And Staining Pine Or Cedar Pergolas

Do you like the natural appearance of the wood? Use a transparent or semi-transparent water repellent sealant. Live in a sunny location? To ease the impact of the sun on your pergola, select a sealant with UV stabilizers.

For either wood type, its best to look for a stain that has a good manufacturers warranty, is water repellent, and has a UV stabilizer. Always follow manufacturers recommendations for application.

To keep the lumber looking its best, we recommend sealing pine or cedar lumber once the first year , then every 2nd year thereafter. As with any lumber, it will weather to a gray color if not stained or sealed. You can purchase a stain and water seal combination from any hardware store that goes on in one application and saves tons of time.

Staining Or Sealing Right Away Wood Type Matters

Pressure treated pine requires that you install the pergola, then let the wood dry out completely before staining or painting. You will see it turn from green into a golden brown when the pressure treatment has dried. This could take 2-4 months depending on your location.

If you order a cedar pergola you can stain the lumber before or after installation, and you can stain or seal right away. So if you want to stain or seal right away, cedar will be your best choice.

Recommended Reading: Patio Doors With Blinds Between The Glass Reviews

Rough Sawn Western Red Cedar Pergola Wood

Western red cedar is a beautiful light amber color. For our DIY pergolas, we use high quality western red rough sawn tight knot cedar, which is also highly resistant to decay making it great for outdoor use.

It has a wonderfully appealing fragrance that adds another dimension to its qualities, and is lightweight with close, even grain. This popular wood type is easily worked and can be finished smooth with little effort.

Western red cedar pergola kits take paints and stains very well, and can be applied as soon as you receive the pergola kit. Western red cedar is used in situations where exposure to the elements is continually severe.

A naturally stable wood, the warmth and natural beauty of real cedar makes it a very popular wood choice. If exposed for prolonged periods to conditions where decay could be a factor, such as where the wood is in contact with the ground, cedar should be treated with suitable wood preservatives.

When properly finished and maintained, you can count on cedar to maintain its beauty for decades. Western red cedar is sustainably harvested in North America.

Single Top Shade Pergola With Post Wall Build

what you need

Cardboard

LUMBER

When purchasing your lumber, always take a bracket with you to ensure a proper fit.

You can select whatever lumber suits your style and budget. It must be dry and straight.

Brackets use dressed lumber. 4×4 Bracket Cavity is 3.61×3.616×6 Bracket Cavity is 5.62×5.62

SCREWS

Each bracket only requires 2 screws per each side/set of eight holes.

1-1/2 Pan Rob/Phil combo drive 304 S.S Wood screws with Black plastic head caps are included

Insert screws in holes closest to the wood.

Hardware to secure to wood is included.

Additional screws are available for purchase.

SECTION 1 BUILDING THE TOP

BUILDING A U: Insert your lumber into the TRIO brackets. See figure 1.

BUILDING AN I: Insert your lumber into the TRIO brackets. See figure 2.

Secure bracket to lumber with provided screws.

SECTION 2 ATTACHING THE SHADE SAIL

Attach corner mounts. See figure 3.

Attach buckles. With buckles facing the sky, loop strap around corner mounts, secure with buckle and pull tight. See figure 4.

Line up side mounts to the remaining buckles on SHADE SAIL. See figure 5.

Loop strap around side mounts, secure with buckle and pull tight.

SECTION 3 INSERT THE POSTS

Insert your vertical posts on the first side.

Secure bracket to lumber with provided screws.

SECTION 4 POST WALL

You May Like: How To Scarify The Lawn

Our Planning And Design Team

Max Baldwin founded Baldwin Pergolas over 30 years ago and is considered a leading expert in the industry. With decades of experience you can count on Baldwin to get the job done right the first time! At Baldwin we care and we have an experienced design and sales team that is prepared to guide you through the process of creating your perfect pergola. Mike Hurlburt is our project manager and is ready to help you design and build your dream pergola TODAY!

Choosing The Right Post For The Job

While there may be a handful of circumstances that only require the minimum 4×4 deck post, you will more than likely want to choose a 6×6 post for the deck. It provides more stability for larger decks, the ability to hold a heavier load, and more room for notching. Given that the price difference tends to be minimal, the choice between these two post sizes is clear.

Don’t Miss: How To Attach Patio Rafters To House Roof

Notching: 44 Versus 66

Another factor that puts a 6×6 post over a 4×4 is the possibility of notching them. For those who dont know, notching is when you cut a little groove into the posts of a structure so that other structural pieces of wood can be fitted in snugly. This may be done for aesthetic reasons or by being able to add items such as rim joists.

But be aware that it creates a weak point in the post. Naturally, the thicker post will survive this weak point better than a thinner one, which means that a 6×6 post will do you better if you plan to add any notching to it. Notching can be useful to offer an entire beams stability to hold a header, or whatever item you want to hold up.

And Plugged Screw Heads

We carefully design and notch our pergolas to make the structure more beautiful, stronger and easier to assemble. You just match the notches up and it slides together. No measuring is required. We include mahogany plugs to cap the screws. Mahogany is another of the woods that last for decades outdoors. The worker in this photo is inserting plugs to complete an installation.

Also Check: What To Use To Seal Flagstone Patio

Shop Online For 12 X 12 Garden Pergola Kits 2x Beams With 6 X 6 Posts Made From High

• 12 ft. x 12 ft. in dimension
• The garden pergola kit has 2x joists
• with 6 x 6 pergola posts
• Actual post dimension: 6 in. x 6 in. x 8 ft. 0 in.
• Made from high-quality and sustainable source Western Red Cedar wood
• Choose wide selections of exquisite pergola top end cut design from A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H.
• Helps define your outdoor space and creates a visual interest in your backyard
• Beautifully designed outdoor structure which can increase the value of a home
• Can be freestanding or an outdoor extension of your home
• Creates an ideal shade platform for outdoor seating area
• Easy to hang plants such as vines or sheer curtains, install lights, and decorative outdoor fixtures
• Great outlining and separating outdoor spaces
• Has a unique beauty that surpasses that of most standard awnings
• Durable and low maintenance inexpensive and easy to build

Should I Use 44 Or 66 For Pergola

If you want stronger posts that can tackle a heavy load than 6×6 posts or more than is right for you, just go for it, while 4×4 for a pergola is not better than 6×6. As 4 is much weaker in handling enough eight, it can also

At the set, if you already have a 4×4 for the pergola and it is working fine, your pergola does not require a post replacement.

4×4 posts can carry as much as 420 pounds per post, on the other hand, a 6×6 post can carry as much as 20,834 pounds.

4×4 post size can be prone to twisting if used on bigger pergolas, whereas a 6×6 post size resists twisting and can tackle bigger pergolas load easily.

Several DIY project experts described that 6×6 is usually very popular than other bigger and smaller post sizes.

First identify your need related to the pergola, by doing this you will automatically get the answer of your required post size.

There are more post sizes available in the market to make the pergola bigger and capable of handling the load.

Read Also: How To Fix Broken Glass Patio Table

Legislation: 44 Versus 66

A small note to end this article one of the many things which may push 6×6 over 4×4 is that depending on where you live, it may be nothing short of a legislative requirement to use 6×6 posts in your project. It is highly dependent on where you are in the world, so be sure to check your local laws.

Related Reading: What Size Beams Are Best For a Pergola?

Vs 66 Deck Support Post: Verdict

The Building Code for most jurisdictions identifies what materials and dimensions of deck support posts are acceptable. The IRC sets the guidelines most locales follow. However, it is advisable to always check with the local building department as some only permit 6×6 and some permit both for specified heights.

Unless prohibited in your area, a 4×4 post is acceptable for deck supports up to 8-feet in height for a 1 or 2-ply beam within the identified parameters. If the deck height is greater than 2-feet, diagonal bracing at the corner posts is required parallel to the beam for lateral support this applies to 6×6 beams too. Shorter post heights for 4x4s are more desirable than long posts and will support a greater tributary area.

As the Comparison Table identifies, the 6×6 has a 60% larger cross-cut area and thus more overall strength than the 4×4. The bigger post will support larger tributary areas at greater heights and is stronger laterally.

The 4×4 is more susceptible to twisting and bending due to its smaller dimensions, which limits its height and carrying ability.

Many deck builders and DIYers tend to use 6×6 support posts and so bypass any arguments or concerns.

Also Check: How To Mix And Match Patio Furniture