The Handmade Home
During the summer months, the backyard is where we spend most of our time. I’ve been obsessing over gazebos and pergolas lately, and stumbled upon a really great tutorial for building one yourself! It took less than 15 hours and was so much cheaper than hiring a contractor to come and build one for you! Â Â Â
Not only did they build that gorgeous pergola, but Jamin and Ashley of The Handmade Home made other exterior updates that really brightened up their patio. For around $500, you can have a gorgeous and custom pergola dressing up your backyard. The idea of building something this large may seem daunting, but when broken down into a few simple steps, it’s totally doable!
Here are the basics:Â
- Buy posts and planks to fit the size pergola you desire. If you’re planning to paint, pine is a great choice. For the natural wood look, stick with cedar.
- Anchor your posts by setting them to conrete or placing them in cement-filled holes. Make sure you use a level!
- Add end beams and knee-braces to those beams. The knee braces are those diagonal supports that stiffen the structure and add extra support.
- Add cross beams. If you are planning to have vines or another plant grow on the pergola, place the beams closer together.Â
- Add top beams.
- Paint and seal!
To see step-by-step photos and read more detail, visit The Handmade Home for the complete how-to!
How To Build A Pergola by [The Handmade Home]
