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Weatherly Pergola

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Free pergola plans by ANA-WHITE.com

photo from taylorgdaddy

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Weatherly Outdoor Collection

Build your own pergola! 

The first and most important part of this project is to set your footings properly.  There are several different means to do this - if you are setting your pergola on a wood deck or concrete patio or other stable level foundation, you can simply screw the post brackets to the deck as done here by Popular Mechanics.  It's a good idea to review this link regardless, as there is lots of good information in there.
 
Now if you don't have a foundation in place, you are going to have to make one for the pergola.  This can be done to whatever degree you see fit, and depends on what type of soil is on your lot (hopefully gravel  :)  )
 
 
Diagram is from Ramp Foundations.  
 
 
 
 

Dimensions
Dimensions are shown above.

Preparation

Shopping List

4 - 4x4 treated posts - 8-12 feet long (depending on how much of the posts you choose to bury or place in pier blocks)

4 - brackets or pier blocks or other foundation as necessary
8 - 2x4 Treated - 12 feet long
9 - 2x2 Treated - 12 feet long (if you can't find 2x2s, buy 3 - 2x6s treated and rip the 2x6s into three 2x2s per board using a table saw)
2 - 2x2 @ 8 feet long (these could be furring strips)
2 - 1x4 Treated @ 8 feet long
3/4" x 3/4" moulding, exterior preferred
3 - 1x10  treated @ 8 feet long
3 - 1x8 treated @ 8 feet long
(if you can't find treated 1x8s and 1x10s, these boards will be covered and are vertical, so you can use properly sealed boards if necessary)
Common Materials
2 1/2 inch screws
3 inch screws
1 1/4 inch finish nails
2 inch finish nails
2 1/2 inch finish nails
Elmer's Wood Glue
Elmer's Wood Filler
120 grit sandpaper
primer
wood conditioner
paint
paint brush
Cut List

16 - 2x2 @ 3 1/2" long (short cleats)

16 - 2x2 @ 6 1/2" long (longer cleats)
8 - 1x8 ripped to 6 1/2" width @ 30" - cut to length
8 - 1x10 ripped to 8" width @ 30" - cut to length
16 - 1x4 @ 9 1/2" (longest point, both ends mitered at 45 degrees off square, not parallel)
3/4" Moulding cut to fit
8 - 2x4 @ 140" Long, ends cut in decorative pattern
9 - 2x2 @ 140" long, ends cut in decorative pattern
Cutting Instructions

It is recommended that you cut boards as you go on this project.

Tools
Tape Measure
Speed Square
Pencil
Hammer
Safety Glasses
Hearing Protection
Drill
Jigsaw
Miter Saw
Table Saw
Brad Nailer
Power Sander
Level
Drill Bit Set
General Instructions

Please read through the entire plan and all comments before beginning this project. It is also advisable to review the Getting Started Section. Take all necessary precautions to build safely and smartly. Work on a clean level surface, free of imperfections or debris. Always use straight boards. Check for square after each step. Always predrill holes before attaching with screws. Use glue with finish nails for a stronger hold. Wipe excess glue off bare wood for stained projects, as dried glue will not take stain. Be safe, have fun, and ask for help if you need it. Good luck!

Instructions

Step 1

So you first and foremost need to set the posts in the ground. Make sure you space the posts exactly as shown above, and that the posts are square (take diagonals). The posts need to stick out of the ground 107" - but you may need the posts to be longer if for example you are using buried pier blocks.

Step 2

Now on all the posts, attach 2x2 cleats as shown here with 2 1/2" galvanized finish nails and glue. The bottom cleat should sit just above the brackets that hold the posts to the ground.

Step 3

And now simply complete the cleats by adding the other 2x2s as shown above.

Step 4

For this plan, you must have a tablesaw to rip boards with nice square edges. Rip your 1x8s down to 6 1/2" widths and use finish nails to attach to the cleats. The trim boards should be cut so that they hide the foundation. You could get extra fancy here and actually cover these posts in stone veneer as well.

Step 5

Step 6

And now a little cap for the posts. Just miter 1x4s at 45 degrees around the bases as shown above. Use finish nails and glue to attach.

Step 7

And measure and add the moulding for a little extra touch. Use 1 1/4" finish nails and glue.

Step 8

Okay, now comes the fun part - where we start seeing results. First cut all of your pergola top board ends into a fancy pattern of your choice. Then screw (3" exterior screws) the first boards up as shown above. Use a level to make sure that the boards are level.

Step 9

The diagram above should read 22" of spacing between the boards. You will want to take a square of the project here (see step 1). When your diagonals match, rest two more 2x4s on top of the existing 2x4s, to the outsides. Screw to the posts as shown above. Then add the remaining 2x4s spaced 22" apart, using either brackets, pocket hole screws, or long screws carefully predrilled and countersunk from the top.

Step 10

And now the final 2x2s. Space these out and screw to the 2x4s and to the 4x4 post when present with 3" exterior wood screws and glue. Make sure you fasten to all of the 2x4s for the most support.

Step 11

And this isn't what's done with the Pottery Barn one, but I'm a big believer in corner bracing. If you feel your pergola has any wobble or needs a little extra support, you can cut corner braces and screw on - you will be amazed at the difference the corner bracing does. Other means of "beefing up" the pergola (for example, high snow load or high winds) would be to use 2x6s boards instead of 2x4s and to notch out your boards) as done in the link given in the author notes.

Finishing Instructions
Preparation Instructions
Fill all holes with wood filler and let dry. Apply additional coats of wood filler as needed. When wood filler is completely dry, sand the project in the direction of the wood grain with 120 grit sandpaper. Vacuum sanded project to remove sanding residue. Remove all sanding residue on work surfaces as well. Wipe project clean with damp cloth.

It is always recommended to apply a test coat on a hidden area or scrap piece to ensure color evenness and adhesion. Use primer or wood conditioner as needed.
Project Type
Outdoor Projects
Buildings
Room
Outdoor
Style
Cottage Style Furniture Plans

Comments

Nicholez

Sun, 04/10/2011 - 11:53

I love, love, love this!  I've wanted a pergola for forever, but wasn't sure how to build it without making it look like a bunch of boards that were just thrown together.  I'll be building this for sure... just need to finish a few other projects first!

algdoughty

Sun, 04/10/2011 - 12:06

Wow! we haven't really built anything besides a raised garden box, but this is very very lovely! Maybe someday - need to get a few more projects under out belt. Thanks Ana!

jesse (not verified)

Sun, 04/10/2011 - 13:19

You read my mind! Or maybe you saw that I was searching your site for "pergola" yesterday? Thank you!

JoyofBaking

Sun, 04/10/2011 - 14:07

Ana White!!  What the heck?!!  How are you reading my mind??  I freaking love you.  My family will use this for our new home.  We've been searching for weeks for Pergola plans.  Thank you so much for helping me and my family make our house a home.  We are grateful. 

Guest (not verified)

Sun, 04/10/2011 - 14:15

My savior!! My husband and i have been searching every where for the perfect out door covering and the pottery barn one always calls my name but not my wallet... We have made several or your projects already and are so excited to start this one! Thanks Ana!

ferbit

Sun, 04/10/2011 - 18:03

Awesome!!!!! 

So out here in the soppy wet Seattle area, covering pergolas to protect everything from the rain is huge...  Is it pretty easy to cover this?  Like with outdoor fabric/grommets, plywood/shingles, sheets of metal, glass or plastic?  Would it need to be built at a slight angle so water can drain properly?

claydowling

Sun, 04/10/2011 - 18:15

sounds a bit like a vegan steak.  Could be done in theory, but misses the point.

It might make more sense to build a frame that can hold the cover you want.  As for the covering, there are plenty of good materials, and very few of them are wood.  Cedar shakes would be okay, but labor intensive.  I've had good luck with the corrugated fiberglass panels, in that they keep off the rain but let in some light. You probably want to make a point of washing it off once or twice a year though.  If the dust that naturally settles with the rain builds up too much, it can look tatty.

If you do cover it, the roof needs to fall about one inch for every six feet of run, so if you put up 6' panels, one end needs to be 1" higher than the other.  Otherwise you'll get water trapped up there, and a lot of small hungry life breeding.

Guest (not verified)

Sun, 05/01/2011 - 16:01

I think corrugated fiberglass would look dreadful. Similar to those 1950's car parks on the side of houses.

Guest (not verified)

Wed, 06/15/2011 - 13:26

No, there is clear corrugated Lexan these days that doesn't look anything like the "potty house roofs" of old (actually, I wouldn't mind finding some of the old stuff for free on Craig's List at all).

claydowling

Sun, 04/10/2011 - 18:29

This is a beautiful plan, but the foundation is going to be the challenging part.  I live in the midwest, where we get tornadoes.  Tornadoes are very exciting when there are outdoor structures, especially if they are not well anchored.  My pergola could easily become my neighbor's pergola.  I've seen heavy wooden playscapes relocated.

The last time I needed a good outdoor footing, I found it was worth my while to rent an auger from Orange.  Generally takes two people to use, and can be intimidating, but I'd still be digging if I tried to get through the dense roots in my area with a post hole digger.

Orange also sells cardboard tube for concrete forms (get your auger sized to the tubes).  U.S. construction code says you actually need to be putting your footings for posts 48" deep, to prevent heaving with frost in my part of the country, so we went nuts, but 24" would probably put you deep enough.  We cut our tubes down to size and started mixing concrete.

Orange sells great galvanized steel brackets for setting into this concrete and securing a 4x4.  We dropped one of those on top of each of our footings, and came back a couple of days later once the cement was set up. The deck we put on them is rock solid and won't be going anywhere soon.  Unlike the one we pulled out, which was on significantly shallower footings and wasn't all that stable any more.

kimber (not verified)

Mon, 04/11/2011 - 07:28

This is soooo stinkin' fabulous!!!  So excited.  Yay.  I'll keep in mind the foundation issues...but I love this....maybe not at this house...but I'm making this at our next one!  Thanks so much!

Anonymous Coward (not verified)

Mon, 04/11/2011 - 08:15

Beware. Be very ware!

If you plan to grow vines up and over your pergola, you may need to have stronger (or more) posts, better fasteners, and sturdier crosspieces. Any vine that does not die to the roots every year in your climate can develop a weight of stems, trunks and foliage that can rip trellises apart. Look at the description of the vine in a reliable gardening book and look at some established specimens in your area, then decide whether to plant it or not.

Lightweight vines: Sweet peas, scarlet runner beans, "queen's wreath" (Antigonon leptus), many gourds,

Medium vines - Armenian cucumbers, large-fruited squash or pumpkins, some climbing roses

Monster vines - Wisteria, grapes, Arizona cat's claw (Macfadyena unguis-cati), bougainvillea, Algerian ivy, English Ivy, Boston ivy, Lady Banks Rose, many climbing roses)

Aviva (not verified)

Tue, 04/12/2011 - 22:46

Any chance you'll be posting the plans for those chairs that are pictured?  They're gorgeous!!  :) 

Thanks for all you do, Ana!

amanda.leonard

Wed, 04/13/2011 - 15:56

Does anyone know if this is considered a permanent structure and need to be behind the building set back line?  I am in an urban area with a garden out front that would love this.  But we have maxed our building foot-print.  If this is considered a temporary structure, then the city can't make me remove it.

Guest (not verified)

Wed, 06/15/2011 - 13:28

Every municipality and even county can have completely different codes. I plan to make some trellises, myself, that happen to be set up in a square...

CelesteC

Thu, 04/14/2011 - 14:56

Please put up plans for the seats also? I'm sure I'll be able to figure out how to make comfortable cushions with slip covers for them.

This plan is brilliant beyond words!!!

molivi311

Thu, 03/28/2013 - 13:15

are there any plans on how to do the seats? I would love to add these.

thanks

Preston (not verified)

Fri, 04/22/2011 - 13:08

Another option for setting the post is to use a oz-post.  You hammer them into the ground and then attach the post to them.  Since that keeps all of the post above the ground you don't need to worry about wood rot that can occur when water sits between the concrete and the post.  Plus they sell them at the Big Orange Store.

gnee (not verified)

Wed, 05/11/2011 - 04:34

Congratulations, your Weatherly Pergola made this week's top hits @ singingwithbirds.com. Thanks for all of the amazing plans posted here. We are currently working on pergolas and will be back for more ideas. You do a great job!

Southern Cal Gal (not verified)

Thu, 05/19/2011 - 22:17

How hard would it be to put power (an electrical outlet) into this pergola?

Mandeel (not verified)

Thu, 09/29/2011 - 06:42

Perfect!! It seems that you have done the drawings using Google Sketchup. If yes. could you please send me a copy :)

Mandeel (not verified)

Thu, 09/29/2011 - 06:42

Perfect!! It seems that you have done the drawings using Google Sketchup. If yes. could you please send me a copy :)

Colorado Rachael (not verified)

Wed, 03/28/2012 - 06:47

This is probably a dumb question but I want to build this to go on our back patio. Only problem is the concrete is already there--is there anyway to set them in concrete on top of our already existing patio and then maybe hide the concrete footings in the casing you put around the bottom of the legs? Dont want to have to drill through the patio if I can help it. It does get pretty windy here (in Colorado) but no tornados or anything.

rach5200

Wed, 05/15/2013 - 15:27

What's the estimated cost of this project? I have been dying to find a cheaper way to spruce up my rural yard and add some privacy instead of a full out privacy fence. I would LOVE to build this pergola and add some outdoor curtains this weekend if I could figure out about how much I'd be spending. Gotta prioritize based on overall cost of all of the projects I want to do!

BTW, I absolutely adore all that you do. You're the ultimate role model for DIY beginners like myself!

johnc510

Sun, 01/17/2016 - 21:51

Hi Ana,

 

Thanks for sharing all these cool project plans on your site!  I'm currently following your plan for my a 12x10 pergola and the pergola is looking amazing so far.  I'm working on lower 30" 8x8 base posts and I think I found a small error in the plan with regards to the 9 1/2" 1x4 used for the cap posts.  The plan says to cut the (2) 8' 1x4s into (16) 9 1/2" sections, mitered at 45 degrees.  However, with the 1x4's 3 1/2" width, two of those 1x4s nested up to the 3 1/2" thickness of the 4x4 post = 10 1/2".  So what I had to do was rip the 1x4 to 3" wide in order to make the (16) 9 1/2" mitered pieces properly fit (3" + 3" + 3 1/2" of the 4x4 = 9 1/2").

 

Thanks again for all the cool project plans!  I'm really looking forward to building some furniture from the plans on your site!