What is the best way to build a pergola?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: The battens go onto the rafters. A quick way to mark the positions is to line all the rafters up and mark them at the same.

How do you make a pergola sturdy?





Some potential options:

  1. sink the front two posts into the ground several feet and surround with concrete (typically you’d want 1/3 of the post in the ground.
  2. add diagonal bracing. …
  3. metal reinforcement. …
  4. add a railing to that side of the deck and diagonal brace that (tensioned cables, wood panels, diagonal rails, etc.)

How far apart should pergola joists be?

16 to 20 inches apart

The spacing of the rafters will vary according to your visual preference and the size of the pergola. Spacing the rafters 16 to 20 inches apart is common. The most important rule in spacing is to keep the distance consistent between all the rafters.

How far apart should pergola slats be?

You want about 5 in. of space between each slat. One slat at 1-3/4 in.

What size should pergola rafters be?





Pergola rafter size:- typically the rafters size used for pergola could be 2×6 (2 inches by 6 inches), 2×8 (2 inches by 8 inches), or 1.5×7.25 (1.5 inches by 7.25 inches). The length of the rafters be as long as you desire the pergola itself to be. The longer the rafters, the more you need.

What is the best type of wood to use for a pergola?

Western Red Cedar and Redwood are the two most commonly used woods for pergolas, aside from pressure-treated wood. Western Red Cedar (WRC) and Redwood are both naturally stunning woods and often lumped together.

What angle should a pergola roof be?

We mentioned earlier that flat roofs are almost level. But flat pergolas should slope a little bit to one side so that water slides off instead of collecting on the roof. We call this angle the “pitch” and we recommend at least a 5-degree pitch.

How do you keep pergola rafters from twisting?

To keep the posts from twisting or warping (they can, especially treated posts) and to support them during construction, I screw 2-by-4 diagonal kickers. I want four of them at least 6 feet up on the post down to the middle of the sand box.

How far apart should purlins be on pergola?



about 3” apart

Rafters are spaced about 24” apart. Purlins are spaced about 3” apart. Will the unit be attached or freestanding? Attached would allow the pergola to attach to a home or building.

How far should purlins be spaced on a pergola?

Purlins are usually spaced 8” OC.

Which way should the rafters go on a pergola?



For the best shade coverage for the majority of the day with an open-roof pergola, place it so the rafters orient north and south. As the sun travels, the rafters cast wide lines of shade under the structure, except around midday when the sun is directly overhead.

Should pergola rafters be notched?

Mark on the board where the four support beams are located on your cross beam. You will need to notch out this area so that the board fits over the support beams.

How far apart do you put rafters?

Standard industry roof rafter spacing is 12”, 16”, 19.2”, and 24” on-center, however other spacing may be used by a Structural Engineer. Depending on all contributing factors though, 16” and 24” are commonly used for most buildings. The wider the space between rafters often results in rafters of greater depth too.

How far can a 2×8 span on a pergola?

In general, a 2×8 will span 1.5 x 8, so 12-feet. Based on all factors though, a 2×8 joist span is 7′-1” to 16′-6”, and a rafter 6′-7” and 23′-9”. In this guide, we’ll explain what span means in terms of construction, factors that impact the span, and how much weight a 2×8 can support.

What size beam do I need to span 15 feet?



Thus, for a 15 foot span, you will need atleast 3-2×12 or 6×12 size of wood beam. For a 15-foot spans, the wood beam has to be at least 12 inches in depth and 6″ in width (3-2×12) used for residential building, wood frame structure or projects.

Which direction should pergola slats run?

For optimal morning and afternoon shade coverage, it’s best to ensure a traditional pergola’s beams orient north and south, with an angle toward the east.

Can pergola slats be angled?

The angled slats keep rain and sun from the opening while allowing air to flow through the vent. Well, a pergola with angled slats works in much the same way.

How do you attach pergola purlins?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: About the screws from the online store called fasteners. Plus. Here I'm cutting the pergola post a link I'm doing this after I installed the beam so they make sure they're exactly where they need to.