Do-it-yourself pergola: step by step instructions with a photo

2024 Author: Sierra Becker | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-26 03:47

To decorate a personal plot, to create a recreation area, the owners of a summer house or a cottage decide to build a pergola. It may have a different configuration. This design is decorated with grapes or other climbing plants. Here you can create a cozy gazebo, put a dining table. Even a novice master can create a pergola with his own hands. To do this, he must follow the step-by-step instructions that will be presented below.

Design variations

To create a pergola with your own hands (a photo of one of the design options is presented below), you need to create a project. At the initial stage, the owners must decide for what purposes such a structure is being built. After that, it will be possible to make the right decision about the optimal location of the pergola on the site, as well as the choice of its design.

Such a building can stand at a certain distance from the mainbuilding. In some cases, it is more expedient to build a pergola next to a house or other building. In this case, correct zoning can be performed. A beautiful, shaded place will appear where it will be pleasant to relax on a hot summer day.

There are several options for how to make a pergola with your own hands. You need to choose the best option. One type of pergola is overlapping. This is one of the most common designs. It can be mounted over a recreation area, swimming pool, playground, car park.

You can also make a screen. This allows you to decorate the territory of the site, as well as delimit it, perform zoning. Screens will protect plants from drafts. If you need to hide outbuildings from view, you can also install this type of pergola here.

Another design option is a visor. This is a small canopy that shade the most lighted wall of the building.

One of the popular types of pergolas is the arch or tunnel. Such designs are suitable for a site with large dimensions.

Metal structures

To build a pergola with your own hands (photo below), you can choose a free-form design. It is necessary to correlate its size with the dimensions of the site. You should also choose a place for construction, where the wind will not bend the structure. It must be less than 2m high.

The choice of material also needs to be approached responsibly. One option is metal. It makes strong, durable pergolas. However, the disadvantages of the metal must also be taken into account.

It will be required to connect rods and other elements of this design by welding or bolting. In the first case, not every master will be able to handle the inverter. However, not everyone has such equipment. If a bolted connection is used, it will be necessary to drill holes for fastening.

Structure can loosen under the influence of wind. It will require constant attention. When the frame is entwined with dense vegetation, it will be difficult to do. With a high degree of probability, the stems of plants will be broken. They will lose their beauty.

It is also worth considering that do-it-yourself arches, metal pergolas, require periodic painting. Changes in temperature, weather conditions and sunlight destroy the paint layer. Every year the metal will require additional restoration. However, this will be difficult to do if there are plant stems on the frame.

Given that the metal is quite expensive, you can understand why this material is rarely used. There are many other options.

Plastic and wood

More often do-it-yourself pergolas made of wood or plastic. These materials differ in a number of features. Shield pergolas are not built from plastic. In this case, the windage of the material will be high. However, a plastic canopy can be built.

The structure is made of plastic or metal-plastic pipes. This material bends well and is easy to cut. Therefore, arched structures made of metal-plastic pipes are often built. The sheathing of such a frame is often made of polycarbonate sheets. Installation does not take much time. This type of construction will be assembled even by a master without experience.

Do-it-yourself wooden pergola is also built quite quickly. This material for the construction of such structures is used more often than others. A well-made pergola will last longer than plastic and metal structures.

Pine is most often used for such construction. It must be well dried and properly processed. A bar is used to build a pergola. It must be treated with an antiseptic. A wood pergola will not require restoration for many years. This allows you to grow various climbing plants on them.

You can make all the details for the canopy with your own hands. This can be done even by a master without experience. Assembly also does not require much effort and time.

Foundation

Do-it-yourself pergolas and arches for summer cottages can be built using different technologies. If the canopy is small, you can not make a foundation. The pillars are simply driven into the ground. To prevent wood from rotting, it is treated with used engine oil at least 2 times. Also, before deepening the supports, they are covered with tar.

However, a structure built on a foundation will be more durable. The supporting structure must be strong if a hinged pergola is being installed. A beam is laid at the base. Racks are fixed on it.

This design is suitable for a pergola made of plastic or wood. This allowscreate a solid pergola. Plastic frames are installed in metal glasses. You can also do it differently. Pins are driven into the beam, which are made from pieces of reinforcement. Frame pipes are put on them. In some cases, pergolas are dismantled, so they are not installed on special supports. If you install a solid harness, it will be difficult to disassemble or move the pergola.

Design

Knowing the recommendations of experts, you can begin to consider the methodology for building a pergola with your own hands. Step-by-step instructions involve designing at the beginning of the work. It is necessary to draw a future design on a piece of paper, indicating its actual dimensions. The pergola consists of supporting pillars, a roof and decorative elements.

Roof and walls should provide adequate shade on a hot summer day. However, under such a building should not be too dark. It is better to develop a design that will create penumbra. However, it should not cast a shadow on nearby plants. They will not develop under such conditions.

It is recommended to place the pergola from north to south. At the same time, it is necessary to make a sufficient distance between the supports so that in the evening and morning the sun's rays penetrate the area around the building.

When developing a design, it is worth considering that a pergola for relaxing or for climbing plants is somewhat different. A decision is made on the need to bring additional lighting here for evening gatherings. You can also install a brazier here, makea small fountain or even equip a summer kitchen under such a canopy. For a summer residence, a small pergola is suitable. If the plot is large, the resting place can also be made spacious.

You need to create harmony in the arrangement of landscape design. To do this, take into account what other buildings are on the site. The plan indicates the exact configuration of the future structure, creating a pergola with your own hands. Step-by-step instructions allow you to build a canopy correctly.

Procurement of materials

A beginner will be able to build a durable, solid structure by following the step-by-step instructions. Do-it-yourself pergola is being built according to a previously created plan. On the basis of the developed drawing, materials are purchased. If the structure is used for growing garden plants, its height does not exceed 1.5 m. For recreation, the pergola will be slightly higher. Its height can reach 2.5 m.

The main dimensions of the building should be marked in the plan. You need to specify the distance between the supports, calculate the size of the roof. Also, the width and length of the pergola are not ignored. When choosing materials, preference should be given to durable wood or plastic that is easy to assemble. The pergola should look light.

To build a recreation facility, you will need to purchase a beam (4 pcs.) 10 × 10 cm thick. You will also need longitudinal beams. There will also be 4 of them. They should be thinner than the supports. Cross bars will be required in the amount of 7 pcs. To create a decorative finish, you will need about 10 slats. For trellis (battens) you canuse thinner materials. So the structure will look more elegant.

To create a foundation, you will need sand, crushed stone, cement mortar. You can also use screw piles. Wood must be treated with fire retardants, antiseptics, resin, waste oil. Roofing material is used as a waterproofing for the foundation. You should also purchase varnish or paint. Self-tapping screws, screws, metal corners are suitable as fasteners.

Building the foundation

According to the instructions, do-it-yourself pergola can be installed on the foundation. This design will be more durable. It will not warp in winter. To create it, you need to mark the site, level it and dig a recess in the corners of the future structure (about 60 cm). Pergola for flowers does not need a support base.

The columnar foundation will allow you to install a canopy in almost any part of the site, regardless of its topography and soil type. 10 cm of crushed stone is poured into the prepared recesses. The same amount of sand is poured on it. Each layer is carefully compacted. Next, roofing material is lined inside the hole. Bricks are laid on it or piles are poured into cement. After that, the recess along the edges is sprinkled with earth. After checking its level, a structure is installed on the created base.

If the site already has a prepared base, you can install the pergola with anchors. Such fasteners enhance the stability of the structure. The canopy will not deform under the influence of wind and otheradverse weather conditions.

Installation of supports

After creating the foundation for the pergola in the country house with your own hands, you need to install vertical supports. The lower trim is attached to the prepared posts. A support beam is mounted to it in the corners.

If the foundation has not been created, recesses are made on the site using a drill. Moreover, the depth of such pits should be 1/3 of the length of the support bar above the ground. Before installation, the timber must be treated with antibacterial impregnations. Resin or other similar substances can be used.

At the top of the support create grooves. With the help of such cutouts, the installation of the roof will be carried out. To keep the supports firmly in the pit, you need to fill it with sand. Such a pillow will prevent the structure from warping in the future. Next, a support is installed in each recess. Its position is checked using the building level.

Further, concrete is poured into the recess. It should dry well. To do this, the surface must be covered with a film and periodically moisten the concrete. Otherwise, it will crack. When the concrete dries, you can proceed to subsequent work. This will happen no earlier than 3 weeks after pouring the cement.

Assembling the structure

When assembling a pergola with your own hands, you need to properly mount its frame. Experts recommend using a spiked connection. First, the roof is tied along the upper edge of the supporting pillars. Next, lay the crossbars. This will be the roof of the building. Spaces are made between them.

If necessary, cover the roof with a tarpaulin. This will save the innerspace from bad weather. On a warm, bright day, the canopy can be removed. Next, form the walls of the pergola. They will be made in the form of a trellis. To do this, thin slats are stuffed across. Sometimes wire or ropes are used instead of wooden slats. Self-tapping screws are used for fasteners.

After that, the surfaces are polished again in the places where the fasteners are installed. Next, all wooden elements must be varnished. It is better to use waterproof, high-quality compounds for this. It is necessary to cover the pergola with varnish in several layers. Do it sequentially. Let each layer dry well.

You can also use waterproof paints. The choice of shade depends on the taste preferences of the owners. The white color of the pergola is considered a classic. However, other options may work.

Decoration

When creating a pergola with your own hands, you need to pay attention to the decorative finish. When the paint or varnish is dry, you can bring light inside the building, hang a light fabric that will create additional shading. If space permits, beautiful statues can be installed inside, a fireplace or a barbecue can be built. Also, often a place to relax is complemented by a small fountain or waterfall.

Climbing plants are planted next to the canopy. You can choose from a wide variety of ampelous plants. They can be both the most familiar and exotic. With proper care, such vines will entangle the trellis, creating a cozy place for summer outdoor recreation.

Pergolas decorated with potted plants look spectacular. Next to such a canopy, you can plant a palm tree, plantornamental bushes, etc. Many flowering plants that will grow here will decorate the entire garden.

Having considered how to mount a pergola with your own hands, you can quickly and easily make a cozy place to relax. A canopy or arch will be strong and durable if you follow the step-by-step instructions.