How To Save $$$ Building Your Pergola!
Ryan, my next door neighbor has just put up a garden pergola. I thought one would be a great entertaining feature in my garden as well. Unfortunately, I was taken aback by the price he paid for his kit. That was way over my budget.
Unperturbed, I searched the internet for pergola designs. There are plenty of free pergola plans online but I could not come across one in the size I wanted. Also the diagrams and building notes seemed poor.
However I unearthed a result - pergola plans obtainable in an array of sizes. They come with detailed and easy to understand notes on how to build a pergola as well as a full list of materials required. And you’ll discover the tools you will require too.
I was able to cost the materials to verify I could build within my budget. I thought I could erect a pergola. And I did. In one weekend!
Building a pergola was much easier than I imagined it would be. And that was primarily due to the precise, detailed and easy to understand notes. There were none of those scratching my head pondering how a piece fitted moments!
So, here are my top tips if you want to build a pergola:
1. Know why why you want a pergola. For example is it to provide some shade, as a place to relax with the family or as a landscape feature?
2. Choose the location carefully. Assess the garden from different angles. It might be the ideal opportunity to rearrange the garden.
3. Mark out the desired size of pergola. Ensure it is not too too big for the garden.
4. Assess the outlook from all overlooking windows. Are you still happy with proposed site?
5. Verify there are no underlying cables or pipes.
6. A few building tasks demand an additional pair of hands. Verify someone is willing to assist.
7. Use treated wood. Pine is the least expensive. Western Redwood or Cedar are good options.
8. And last but certainly not least, get the pergola plans in the exact size you need.
Click here for a step-by-step guide on how to build a pergola, complete with full materials and tools list you will need for the job. Plans are available in a wide variety of sizes. You can easily figure out the cost of your pergola before you start.