How to Build a Shade Pergola or Arbor
A pergola or arbor is a shade structure that beautifies your home and provides shade. You can build this attached to your home, onto your deck, or as a free standing structure. Climbing plants, like wisteria, make a great addition to your arbor. There are a variety of styles, sizes and designs to suit your outdoor living space. You can even add roofing to your structure for added shade and weather protection.
Tools and Materials:
- Wood (cedar) boards: four-by-four, two-by-six, two-by-four and two-by-ten
- Lag bolts
- Screwdriver
- Ladder
- Posthole digger
- Jigsaw
- Socket set
- Galvanized deck screws
- Gravel
- Hammer
- Shovel
- Drill
- Circular saw
- Mark the four posts at the selected site. Dig up holes with a post-hole digger to a depth of 24-inches and width of nine-inches.
- Place gravel at the bottom of each hole for drainage, then place the posts and measure for plumb. Affix the two-inch by four-inch bracing temporarily for firmness. Using manufacturer’s instructions, mix the fast drying cement and place in holes then set to dry for 24 hours.
- Install the posts on an eight-foot square concrete pad, lay out the four positions for the posts. Mark screw positions on the steel post-base anchors.
- Cut the joist beams to the length of the posts from the two-by-four boards. You can decorate the ends of the beams by curving out a design with a jigsaw. Clamp the beams firmly in place and drill holes through them and the posts. Use the three-inch lag bolts to secure beams tightly to the posts.
- Cut the two-by-six support beams to length, mark the curved notches at their ends and use a jigsaw to cut out the notches. Place a beam across two posts and clamp in place, check to ensure they are level. Secure each end firmly with three-inch screws. Add the other pair of beams the same way.
- Place the first pair of crossbeams over the posts- support beams fit into notches on crossbeams. Drill screw holes through the top edges and fasten screws to secure the crossbeams firmly to the support beams. Fix the three remaining pairs similarly, with equal spacing.
- Slit the two-by-six-inch boards to length make the stringers. Place the stringers perpendicular and overhanging the joist beams, and space them evenly. Using three-inch galvanized deck screws, toenail the stringers in place.
- Cap the posts for a decorative look and to provide durability.