My big summer project this year was to build a Pergola next to my house. I had the area concreted over last October to make an area where we can sit out and enjoy the view and get a bit of shade in summer (be aware, this post will contain gratuitous pictures of the lovely view from my house). I haven't taken pictures of every step but here is the general build.
So, I bought a pile of wood.
Then I started processing it, cutting it to length and planing, routing a mitre on the edges and sanding it.
I cut the braces all at once from a 6m length of 150mm x 150mm.
I managed to arrange my workshop so that I could run the 2.5m posts over my planer.
Then they were stained.
All the other components were cut to size and stained.
All that processing took quite a long time as the wood was rough sawn to begin with and, because of the lengths involved, I was restricted to working outside mostly. There were also a lot of summer storms which meant delays while waiting for the wood to dry out.
So, on with the build. I started by fixing a supporting piece to the garage wall which I notched to accept the side beams. I then fitted the metal 'feet' and put the posts in place and braced everything together.
I had a little help from a friend who helped me get all the cross beams up and fixed in place.
It was at this point that I realised my first error. I had orientated the metal feet in a way that I thought would provide the most resistance to the wind (probably unnecessary considering the size of it) but I hadn't accounted for fixing the lower rail to the post which I now couldn't. It was too late to change so I just plowed on regardless.
I had previously made some decorative frames for the house balcony rail and I decided to use the same design to compliment it.
Joined with half laps and third laps (no idea what the correct name is).
So, I bought a pile of wood.
Then I started processing it, cutting it to length and planing, routing a mitre on the edges and sanding it.
I cut the braces all at once from a 6m length of 150mm x 150mm.
I managed to arrange my workshop so that I could run the 2.5m posts over my planer.
Then they were stained.
All the other components were cut to size and stained.
All that processing took quite a long time as the wood was rough sawn to begin with and, because of the lengths involved, I was restricted to working outside mostly. There were also a lot of summer storms which meant delays while waiting for the wood to dry out.
So, on with the build. I started by fixing a supporting piece to the garage wall which I notched to accept the side beams. I then fitted the metal 'feet' and put the posts in place and braced everything together.
I had a little help from a friend who helped me get all the cross beams up and fixed in place.
It was at this point that I realised my first error. I had orientated the metal feet in a way that I thought would provide the most resistance to the wind (probably unnecessary considering the size of it) but I hadn't accounted for fixing the lower rail to the post which I now couldn't. It was too late to change so I just plowed on regardless.
I had previously made some decorative frames for the house balcony rail and I decided to use the same design to compliment it.
Joined with half laps and third laps (no idea what the correct name is).
