How To Build A Pergola

A pergola is a shaded walkway or passageway that is typically used in gardens. It is often made up of pillars with beams across the top and an open lattice on which vines are typically trained to grow. A pergola is sometimes used as a walkway to join two buildings, or as an addition to a building and provides shade and even shelter from rain if the overhanging vines are very thick.

Pergolas may be made of stone, brick, or wood and are often roofed by any sort of vine one selects like bougainvillea, grape vines, or bamboo. Wood is frequently favored when building a pergola because it looks more authentic than stone or brick pillars, and is more inexpensive. Therefore if you are thinking of building a pergola in your own backyard, wood is probably the best option for you.

Required Tools
Post-hole digger/two-person auger
Jigsaw (optional)
Clamps
Drill
Hammer
Screw driver

Required Materials
Gravel
4×4 posts
2×4 bracings
Fast-drying cement
2×10 boards
3-inch lag bolts
2×6 boards
3-inch galvanized deck screws

Instructions
The first step in making a pergola is picking a adequate location, a level spot with good drainage is best. Decide whether or not your pergola Cialis Jelly will be made as an expansion of your house, or to stand on its own. Measure out the size your pergola will be and mark the 4 outer corners of the measured area as where you will place your 4×4 posts. Use the post-hole digger/two-person auger and hollow out holes 24 inches deep and 9 inches wide for the 4×4 posts. Throw a couple inches of the gravel inside each hole to help with drainage and then put the 4×4 posts within the hole, making sure they are level and straight with each other.

Use the 2×4 bracings to hold the poles in place, combine and throw the fast-drying cement into the holes around the poles and let it to set for at least 24 Silagra hours prior to doing anything else.
Then cut joist beams out of the 2×10 pieces of board, long enough to span the 4×4 posts. If you wish you can use the jigsaw to cut a decorative design into the ends of the joist beams still this is not a stipulation. Use the clamps to hold the joist beam in place while drilling a hole through the beams and the posts, use the 3-inch lag bolts to fasten the beams to the posts.

Lastly, cut stringers out of the 2×6 boards, long enough to hang over the joist beams. Once more you may use the jigsaw to cut a decorative design into the stringers if you want. Evenly space the stringers apart and fasten them in position using the 3-inch galvanized deck screws.

Tips cialis c10 and Warnings
The amount of materials you will need will differ based on the size of your pergola, smaller pergolas may require just 4 main posts, while larger pergolas will require further support.

If you do not wish to hollow out holes for your primary posts or you just do not desire it to be noticeable that you did, you may do one of two things. First you may bury the posts and then purchase hollow-core columns to place over them, or if you are building on a concrete pad, you can affix the posts to the concrete using steel post-base anchors.

See to it that all the wood you use to build your pergola is thoroughly treated and strong or your pergola will rot fast and will not stand very long.

There are numerous variations to building a pergola therefore it would be a good idea to view some of the designs available online to find one that suits your requirements.

Author Bio: Please visit these links for more information on: How To Build A Pergola and Build A Pergola.

Category: Home/Gardening
Keywords: Build a pergola, gardening, home improvement

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