Anyone ever build a pergola?

[Coyote_Bandit]

My house is L-shaped. I'm thinking of building one to cover and help shade the patio.

[Berserker]

1. Here are some

pics and plans
http://www.gardenstructure.com/subcategory/pergola_plans_pergola_designs.html

[Coyote_Bandit]

2. Thanks!

I had seen some plans available online but not that variety.

I'd like to anchor 2 of the 4 sides to the house and trellis at least part of one side. I'm beginning to think that I should have a couple of conractors bid on the project. Maybe they'll surprise me (if it's a pleasant surprise I may even let them do the work) and if not maybe I can at least pump them for information about the details of how best to attach the pergola to the house.

The patio is only about 13' x 15' (including the roof overhang) so its seems like with the proper planning this should be an easily doable weekend project. The patio gets south and west sun. A fixed roof really isn't an option. A pergola seems like the next most logical solution.

[NMDemDist2]

3. i'm not sure what you mean by "pergola"

DH and I built a 10x10 shade cover off our house.

the hardest thing was drilling into the concrete to set the corner posts away from the house

hint.... paint or stain the wood on the ground BEFORE you build it. It's much easier to touch up than paint over your head :)

we used a plastic lattice then covered it with shade cloth. That was 6 years ago and it's still looks and works great and has survived 4 BAD monsoon summer storms with high winds

[Coyote_Bandit]

4. That's It

I'm thinking about a structure with an open lattice type roof that will provide shade and still be decorative.

I'm thinking I will probably have to notch and interlock 2x4's for the roof. Here in JOklahoma we have tornados, thunderstorms with high winds and hail and some snow and ice. I'm figuring interlocked 2x4's can withstand that kind of abuse.

I'm thinking I can make this work by using 4x4 postsanchored to the existing concrete pad, anchoring the 2x4's to the house on 2 sides, using an angle cut on the exposed ends of the 2x4's, and using 2x6 support beams on the exposed ends and at the posts. Then I'll lattice at least half of the exposed south side and plant some vining plants (wisteria or clematis) for shade. With the west side also being exposed I'm thinking of also installing some outdoor curtains or roll down shades for occasional use to partially shade the table area from the evening sun. There is already an electrical outlet for lighting which would also allow me to use a portable fan.

That's what I'm thinking. But it is a bigger project than what I would normally undertake myself.

[Longhorn]

5. In case your project gets delayed

you might want to consider these sun shades.

http://www.hammacher.com/publish/75740.asp?promo=search

We live outside of Austin and have a pool on the south side of our house. The patio between the house and pool gets pretty darn unbearable in the summer, so we got three of the triangular shaped sun shades for about $300. They attach to the house on one end and to a steel cable that my husband ran between two trees on the other side. We take them down in the winter when the warmth and brightness of the sun is welcome. We've had these for three seasons now and they still look great. I also love seeing them sway in the breeze in the summer, giving the effect of coolness, even though I know it's a hundred degrees outside!

Here's how it looks:

[Lugnut]

7. I like that

Our southern exposure patio is unbearably hot in the summer. I don't want to put up a roof because it will diminish the light and warmth in the kitchen in the winter. Something like that would be perfect.

[Longhorn]

8. They really are pretty amazing.

They cut something like 99 percent of the ultraviolet rays and it really is cooler under them. Of course, they don't stop the rain. Several companies sell them besides Hammacher Schlemmer but we've had good experience with them. They have different sizes and some square ones, too. :D

[Lugnut]

12. We have an octagonal stand-alone

That we haven't bothered to put up the past two years. It's pretty much useless for any real shade and doesn't offer any rain protection.

[NMDemDist2]

6. they make trik little metal things that nail into your eaves that the

2x4's or 4x4's sit on. They will break away in a high wind (but we've had 50 MPH winds and it stayed tight)

I'll take some pics this weekend for ya :)

[madmax]

10. Yes, yes...pics!

Although I mine will be freestanding - I'd still like to see pics.

P.S. AZD - almost done with the kitchen. Island is in, painted the trim and ceiling and am wallpapering now. That's why I've been MIA. :hi:

[NMDemDist2]

13. well then, speaking of pics....

i want to see too!!!!

i'm sure it will be wonderful :)

[NMDemDist2]

14. here's some pics (large to show detail)

it's hard to really see them as they are painted too, we got all these at Home Depot :) ignore the little brown weird things, they are old rope light brackets that the heat has killed LOL

freestanding corner



2x4 attached to FS crossbeam



corner attachment to the eave and upright at the house corner



2x4 at eave



it's raining can you tell? This is a pic of the cover. It has shade cloth covered with vinyl lattice

[madmax]

9. Thanks for posting this!

I've been thinking about a pergola, too. I thought I might have a mason do a concrete patio first and while the cement is till wet put in the brakets to hold the vertical corner beams.

Trying to decide if I want the top in latice or beams running horizontal.

[Berserker]

11. Here are some other ideas

These are made out of Aluminum. No maintenance No painting No termites

[Coyote_Bandit]

15. Wow.

Thanks for the pics and the encouragement.

[NMDemDist2]

16. it was really pretty easy. have fun :) n/t