| Adding a pergola to your house is great both for the | | | | last, you probably want to set it in concrete. for |
| practical benefits and for the resale value it will add. | | | | mine, I simply dug four holes as indicated on the plans |
| However, if you have ever had a contractor in to | | | | to a depth of 24 inches and set the four corners in |
| give you a quote for this sort of work, you know it | | | | cement. I used bracing to hold them in place until the |
| doesn't come cheap. doing it as a DIY construction | | | | cement was solid (generally 24 hours or so). |
| can be a great project if you follow a plan. | | | | I used a simple system of cross-beams drilled and |
| A pergola looks great in any yard or garden. although | | | | held in place with brackets during the build. Again, you |
| it doesn't protect, it defines an outdoor space and is | | | | could get more decorative with this, but to my mind |
| used by many landscape gardeners. Over a patio, for | | | | a simple pattern is best. The plans I used |
| example, it will look absolutely fantastic. It is | | | | recommended a cross-beam every 12 inches (30cm), |
| something that can be easily adapted to the | | | | which looks great when finished and is simple to do. |
| dimensions off your garden as well. | | | | Once you are done, it is important to protect the |
| To build your DIY pergola, you will need a fairly basic | | | | wood from the weather. I considered painting the |
| range of tools. A circular saw will save you time | | | | whole structure white, but eventually settled on |
| cutting through the support pillars, but isn't actually a | | | | varnish. I built a picnic table as well which has the |
| necessity. Remember that the pergola isn't any | | | | same colour and one under the other they go very |
| better than its foundations, so depending on where | | | | well together. |
| you are going to put it and how long you want it to | | | | |