My wife wants a pergola

[vtframer]

so my wife wants me to build her a timber-framed pergola - it needs to be about 12x16 and i intend to use some tamarack.  does anyone have any plans???

Thanks!

[Brian_Weekley]

A friend of mine was just asking me the other day if I'd help them make a pergola.  They look nice, but I asked them, "are you sure you don't want a roof on it"?  Pergolas have a lot of surfaces to keep sealed, stained, or painted and they are always exposed to the weather.  My parents have a pergola-type structure made out of PT attached to their house over the garage doors and I hate having to clean and re-seal that thing every few years.  However, you have to keep SWMBO happy.

[kettleviewtimber]

I just finished mine for my wife. It's 12' x 24' sitting on top of my deck.  I can send you pdf's of the drawings if your interested.

 



  

[Czech_Made]

Wifes and garden structures  ;D

Following.

[vtframer]

kettleviewtimber - yes please! I would love to see your plans... that pergola looks fantastic!

[chopper2]

I just used the Sobon shed frame, except with flat beams on top instead of a pitched roof.

[Ox]

I've never understood the reasoning behind one of these structures.  Who was the first one to say, "Hey!  Let's build a framed building but never put a roof on it!  Then we'll sit under it and look up at the sky!"  Granted, they look nice and they take time and energy and money to build and I'm not trashing anyone or anybody's wife.  I'm just wondering about the idea.  Similarly, who was the first one to say, "Hey!  I'm gonna eat the next thing that comes out of that chicken's butt!"

[Czech_Made]

I think it is originally mediterranean - minimum rain but you need shade to feel comfortable.

What kills me when people build them for looks, not for the sun - in my book if it works good, it looks good - but sometimes especially in big house subdivisions, they line the shade boards to the house so it looks purdy  ;D

[Brian_Weekley]

This brochure shows a lot of examples and provides some useful information on wood choices, finishes, anchoring, etc.

https://www.foreverredwood.com/media/pdf/ForeverRedwood-Brochure-EverythingPergola.pdf