How to Make a Pergola
A pergola is very much similar to a gazebo, but it has a free-standing open design. It is a very attractive focal point for your outdoor landscape. You can save money and build one yourself without hiring a contractor.
Things you will need:
- Shovel
- Gravel
- Tamper
- Concrete
- Lumber
- Circular saw
- Jigsaw
- Carpenter's level
- Steel wood screws
- Electric drill
- Table saw with dado blades
- Dig holes for the posts. Add a layer of gravel and pour it inside the hole and compress it. Position the post down in the hole and fill it with concrete. Complete this same procedure for all of the support posts. Let the concrete dry for 48 hours.
- Measure the lumber to use for your beams. Cut an arch design at the end of each piece of wood for decorative flair. Attach the first beam to the support post with three screws. Screw the beams on the rest of the posts.
- Cut the pergola slats. Using the circular saw, cut the two-by-four lumber and make it the same size as the beams. Next, carve notches into the slats with a table saw with a dado blade attachment. Drill pilot holes in the slats and secure the beams with screws.
- Finish off your pergola. Now that you have completed the construction of your pergola, you can use paint or weatherproof stain to finish it. If you have an outdoor patio or deck, make sure that you select a finish that will match the decor.