A wooden pergola is interesting and functional addition to any property. If you want to create a nice and basic shaded area in your garden, we recommend you to pay attention to the following information.
In most of the cases a patio pergola requires a building permit, so make sure you read all the building codes before starting the backyard project. There are so many plans to choose from, that we really recommend you to study several alternatives before choosing the final instructions. Don't be afraid to modify the design of the pergola, in order to ensure a better transition from the look of your garden to the design of the patio pergola.
In order to get the job done in a professional manner, we recommend you to work with attention and to use quality tools.
Don't forget to set the posts into concrete, especially if you live in a area with strong winds. Plumb the posts with spirit level before locking them into place.
Always pre-drill the lumber before inserting the screws into place, in order to prevent the wood from splitting. Align the components at both ends and add waterproof glue if necessary. The glue will most likely enhance the bond of the components and the rigidity of the structure.
As you can easily notice in the video, you have to lay out the pergola in a professional manner and to lock the components together tightly. Invest in high quality materials if you want to build a durable pergola. Ask a friend who is aware of the main woodworking techniques to give you a hand with the wooden construction.
Don't forget to check out the rest of our projects, if you want to learn more about how to build pergolas and gazebos. The more space you let between the rafters the more light will get through to your patio.
Any wooden gazebo is a wonderful addition to garden, taking into account it increases the living space and it creates a great place to spend the summer afternoons with your family and friends. Generally speaking, gazebos come in many sizes and designs, starting with a basic square shape up to complex hexagons and octagons.
If you want to keep expenditures under control and still obtain a great result, follow our tips and tricks. Firstly, you should obtain a building permit (some regions require a building permit, while others ask it just for gazebos over a certain size). Nevertheless, we recommend you to always contact your local building codes before starting the project, to comply with the legal regulations.
Choosing the gazebo plans
An outdoor garden gazebo is one of the best choice for relaxing and leisure purposes, taking into account its advantages and the way it complements your garden and house. Moreover, if you choose to undertake the construction process by yourself, you can keep the total expenditures under control and still obtain a professional result.Nevertheless, you should plan thegazebo designs, location, shape and size, from the very beginning, as a proper preparation will save you from common problems. Make sure you emphasize on the planing stage, as the gazebo should reflect your personality and fit perfectly with the rest of your house and garden.
If you have the opportunity, it would be better to talk to people that have built a gazebo recently, as there are many things you could learn from their experience. There are many things can go wrong, therefore it is always a good thing to prevent the issues, as much possible, from the incipient stages.
You should consider adding a cooking area to your gazebo, like a barbeque, several outdoor cabinets and stainless steel appliances, especially if you are a fan of barbecues. If you really enjoy making barbeques quite often, you should also invest in a small sink near the cooking area, otherwise you would have to make many trips to your kitchen.
Building a gazebo
The gazebo designs, shapes and sizes vary a lot, therefore it is a true challenge to plan the ideal gazebo, from the first attempt. That is why, you should draw several sketches, until you find the shape that best satisfies your needs and budget. Read many specialized books, magazines or search on the internet different models. In addition, if you see a gazebo you like in your neighborhood, you shouldn't be afraid to ask the owners various questions. In most of the cases, they would help you and share their experience with you, pointing out the main obstacles and the issues that have hardened their work. Take notes and make a few pictures, to help you when designing the wooden gazebo.
On the other hand, technically speaking, the gazebos, even different in design and shape, share many things: the posts are installed in the same manner, the floor frame is built similarly, as well as the railings and balusters. In the case of octagonal gazebos, building the roof is more complex, as you have to install many rafters. Moreover, taking into account its shape, you should work with great care and attention, making sure the components are aligned and locked into position properly.
Ways to build a gazebo
On one hand, you can get the job done by yourself, if you have the right tools, enough time and master the basic carpentry techniques. On the other hand, you could also hire a contractor specialized in this field, or you could buy a gazebo kit..
If you hire a team of qualified builders, the total costs would be higher, but at least you have the guarantee of a well done job. Nevertheless, if you buy a professional gazebo kit, you could also assemble it by yourself in just one weekend, as it comes with pre-cut parts and step by step instructions.
If you want a nice shaded area in your garden, but a gazebo isn't exactly what you are looking for, we recommend you to consider making a wooden pavilion. In this project, we will show you how to choose proper free pavilion plans for your needs and how to keep the costs under control.
A wooden pavilion can take almost any shape, but the most common are the rectangular ones. In addition, we recommend you to align all the components at both ends and to pre-drill them before inserting the screws. The open structure will add value to your garden and liven-up all your weekends.
Always choose the right outdoor pavilion plans for your needs, before starting the actual construction. This is a real challenge for most of us, as we all know how hard is to choose from many options, in terms of designs and shapes. Nevertheless, you should make a short list, by excluding the alternatives that exceed your budget. Strange as it might seem, building a garden pavilion is expensive, especially if you invest in quality materials and you add many features.
Plan every aspect of the woodworking project form the very beginning, making sure you adjust the plans to your needs.
Dig deep holes in the ground and set the posts into concrete. Plumb the posts with a spirit level and secure them with braces, before building the roof of the pavilion.
If you want to create something unique and exquisite, we recommend you to build a small barbeque and a wooden bar. Although these features will increase the total costs of the project, we recommend you to consider what benefits they will bring to your woodworking project for you family and friends. A proper planning will mean less time and lower expenses for yoru project, so focus on all the preliminary stages of the project.
If you want to create a charming place in your garden but you don't want to invest a high amount of money in the venture, we recommend you to build a simple garden arbor. We have a rich experience in these kind of garden projects, so we will share a few tips with you, as to prevent mistakes and to get a professional result.
First of all, we recommend you to study all the shapes and designs, before choosing the garden arbor plans. If you don't have a large expertise in the woodworking field, we recommend you to start with a small scale project. Use 2x2 lumber to build the legs of the of the arbor and attach 2x2 trims to both sides of the construction. In addition, if you want to add style to your arbor, you should attach 2x6 lumber to the top. Drill pilot holes trough the shade elements and fit them to the support beams with galvanized screws.
Grape Arbor
Alternatively, if you want to create a privacy screen or you like climbing plans, you could choose proper grape arbor plans. These constructions are similar in many ways, but you just need to adjust their design as to fit your needs and tastes. While the construction techniques are the same in all these garden projects, you need to use your creativity to create something unique that will fit the style of your house.
Last but not least, we cannot emphasize enough on the importance of securing the posts into place tightly. There are several alternatives that you could choose from. On one end, you could dig 2' deep holes and set the posts into concrete. This will provide a lot of support to your construction, but you won't be able to move it to another location. Alternatively, you could pour concrete footings and use metal anchors.
When building a gazebo in your backyard, there are a few things that you should take into account, in order to prevent costly mistakes and to keep the expenditures under control. We have built dozens gazebos and we have learned throughout the years that a good planning doesn't have any substitute.
Therefore, you need to use the old-fashioned technique: write the plans of a white sheet of paper. You need to wrote down several things, such as the total budget of your project, the materials you want to use and the size of the gazebo. Afterwards, you need to go to the local building department and see general requirements, such as the distance you need to let from the property line, the depth of the footings or if you need a building permit.
After getting done with all these bureaucratic paperwork, you need to search on the Internet plans for your needs. If you want to keep the costs under control and to build the gazebo by yourself, a square construction is the good choice. Otherwise, the best compromise between looks and costs is to choose quality rectangular gazebo plans. An octagonal shape will add style and character to your backyard, but it requires a significant investment and a high amount of work.
Free Gazebo Plans
Generally speaking, a gazebo construction consists of four main components: footing, flooring, roof and railings. In order to create a rigid frame, we recommend you to dig deep holes in the ground (6" under the frost line), fit tube forms and lock the posts into concrete. Plumb the posts and lock them temporarily with braces for a couple of days.
Afterwards, attach the 2x6 joists to the posts and lock them tightly with lag screw. It is essential to level the components and to secure them into place with screws, before attaching the decking slats. Space the 2x4 decking slats by placing a nail between them. In this manner, you will get consistent gaps and the water will drain properly.
Building the roof of the gazebo is a complex task, maybe the most difficult of the whole project. In order to get a professional result, we recommend you to plan everything form the very beginning and to use a good miter saw, as the roof requires many angle cuts.
As far as the railings are concerned, you need to choose the design that fits your needs and tastes. Basically the railings consist of bottom and top railing, cleats and balusters. There are many options that you could choose from, so make sure you work with attention and choose a model that fits your needs.
Rectangular Gazebo Plans
A rectangular gazebo is not difficult to build, provided you use proper plans and quality materials. As you can easily notice in the plans, the most difficult part of the project is to build the roof. A roof for a rectangular gazebo requires proper plans and many angle cuts.
