Table of Contents
What kind of wood should I 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.
Is pine wood good for pergola?
Pressure treated pine, the most affordable pergola wood option, is also very rot and insect resistant and able to withstand severe elements. Pressure treated pine has chemicals added to give it those properties. This wood type comes with a green appearance.
How much does it cost to build a 12×12 pergola?
A typical 12×12 pergola will cost between $4,320 and $8,640 depending on your choice of materials and style.
What material do I need to build a pergola?
Supplies Needed (6) 6×6 x 10′ exterior posts. (5) 4×6 x 12′ treated boards. (4) 2×6 x 16′ treated boards. 2×4 x 8′ boards for support. 4×4 blocks. (24) 3” x 3/8″ lag bolts. 3/8″ socket bit. drill.
Is Douglas fir a good wood for pergola?
Douglas fir wood pergolas are better at withstanding strong gusts of winds, thunderstorms, and earthquakes.
How long will treated pine pergola last?
Wood and Treated Wood Even if you choose treated wood, your structure is still vulnerable to fading, warping, rot and – gasp! – termites. With limited maintenance, expect a wood pergola to last about five years. You can improve its lifespan to 10 to 12 years with annual cleaning, staining or sealing.
What is the best roof material for a pergola?
Vinyl or plastic will look great at first, but will eventually fade and distort. Metal louvers, like aluminum, are the ideal material for a pergola roof. Aluminum is strong and lightweight, making it possible to automate their controls with quiet electric motors.
Is it cheaper to build or buy a pergola?
The cost of building a pergola is cheaper than buying a pre-fabricated one or hiring a professional to construct one. However, you will need the tools, expertise, and time to properly execute the project to ensure that it lasts and adds maximal value.
Does a pergola add value to a home?
Here’s what we tell our customers: yes, a pergola will add market value to any house. Since outdoor living has become more popular than ever, the value of properties with a pergola or a comfortable outdoor space has been on the rise. A safe gauge for a deck or backyard improvement is about 50% — 80% for your ROI.
Why are pergolas so expensive?
Conclusion. Pergolas are expensive because they are large structures that you want to last. By choosing a high-quality pergola made of fiberglass, steel, or aluminum, you won’t have to worry about replacing it every couple of years.
What size timbers do I need to build a pergola?
For the uprights you will need at least 75mm x 75mm (3” x 3”) timber, and 100mm x 100mm (4” x 4”) is better if it is to be a sizeable structure. The uprights need to be around 3m (10ft) long, as they will need sinking into the ground by 0.5m (2ft) to give a firm foundation.
Can you build a pergola with 4×4 posts?
For a very small pergola with only 4 to 6 feet between posts, 4×4 supports will work. Most pergolas are constructed square to the nearest building structure. Dig the post holes according to the depth determined by your local building codes to get beneath the frost line in your area.
Do I need footings for a pergola?
A pergola doesn’t need footings or concrete to support itself, but its posts will need to be buried into the ground or anchored with heavy-duty concrete anchor bolts to prevent them from toppling over in high winds.
Are pergolas easy build?
A pergola is basically an open roof, set on posts or columns. You can buy pergolas in kit form, but they’re quite easy to build from scratch using treated softwood. Make sure you paint the cut ends of the timbers and the feet of the posts with wood preservative before you start.
How tall should a pergola be?
How Tall Is A Standard Pergola? The standard pergola height is 8 to 12 feet. But that doesn’t always have to be the case. For example, if you want an 8-foot head clearance, the beams will take it up to 9 feet at least, and then the rafters will total 10-feet easy.
Does Cedar wood last in Arizona?
Durable and weather resistant: Cedar shingles aren’t babies; they’re tough, resistant to strong winds and are durable enough to survive severe storms, including Arizona haboobs.
What is Cedar wood?
Cedar wood is a versatile and durable domestic hardwood that grows on both the East and West coasts of the US. Cedar is prized for many reasons. It is naturally weather and insect resistant, gives off a pleasing and recognizable scent, and is aesthetically attractive to look at.
What is pressure-treated wood?
Pressure-treated lumber is the result of a process that uses high pressure to inject a preservative into the wood. The chemical preservative used in the process makes lumber resistant to insects and moisture, and it can even protect the wood in severe weather climates.
How much wood do I need for a pergola?
Estimates are based on cedarwood, one of the most popular materials used to build pergolas today, at an average cost of $30 per square foot.Pergola Cost Per Square Foot. 1 2 8 x 8 $2,000 10 x 10 $3,000 12 x 12 $4,350 20 x 20 $12,000.
What size should pergola rafters be?
Geoff, a builder friend, once said that for a smaller sized pergola, with 4″ x 2″ rafters, the pergola beam span should be no bigger than the width of a standard fence panel, or 6ft. Good advice! Try to keep as near to that as possible.
