51 Free DIY Pergola Plans & Ideas That You Can Build in Your Garden (2023)

FAQs

What is the cheapest way to build a pergola? ›

Make use of existing garden structures to cut down on timber. Another option for your cheap pergola ideas is to make use of an existing fence or wall as part of your design. This means you end up buying less timber for your pergola project, which can make it much more affordable.

You'll find a wide variety of shapes and styles for pergolas here as well as plans for both free-standing and deck pergolas. Building a pergola can be a simple to challenging building project depending on what plan you pick so make sure you know your skill level before starting.

Concrete slab foundation

Most pergolas and pavilions can be successfully anchored to a reinforced concrete slab at least 4″ in thickness with additional depth of 12” total on the outside edge.

PVC or 'polyvinyl chloride' is plastic material that is used for varies products. Its properties make it a good option for pergolas as it is weather resistant and very low maintenance. It comes in a variety of colours including timber-like versions. It is insect and termite free as well as being fire resistant.

The main difference is that pergodas feature a solid roof made up of slats, whereas pergolas feature a sliding or louvred roof for greater versatility.

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.

As we previously mentioned, most pergolas are designed with an open-roof design that allows for sufficient sunlight and air circulation. Open-top pergolas are most often placed in the garden to create an appealing focal point and can add even more beauty to the space with the help of trailing vines.

Building a pergola yourself will be more cost-effective than buying one because you only have to pay for materials and not labor. The national average cost to build a 10 ft. traditional wooden pergola yourself is about $3,500; however, it varies depending on the project and the location.

With somewhat limited maintenance, a wooden pergola typically lasts about five years, although you can improve its lifespan to 10 to 12 years through annual cleaning, staining and sealing.

How much does it cost to build a 10X12 pergola? ›

10X12 cedar wood pergola: around $2,000. 10X16 cedar wood pergola: around $2,400.

While you might not expect it, building a pergola on grass tends to be more difficult than the other two pergola placements — however, it is still a great DIY option. When building a pergola on grass, you need to install concrete tubes in the ground and attach the pergola posts to them.

Pergolas with a roof are often referred to as pavilions. Although they are quite similar in design, a pavilion is a freestanding pergola with a fixed roof that generally completely covers the pergola.

Dig holes for all posts; these should be 30cm x 30cm (1ft x 1ft) wide and 60cm (2ft) deep.

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.

Paint can peel, but penetrating oil stains, which don't form a surface layer, cannot. Staining your pergola isn't an option, though, since stains work only on bare wood. Plus, most of the stains on the market — especially ones that give a white look — are water-based finishes that form a film, albeit a thin one.

For both style, practicality, and pergola lifespan, vinyl is the best option on the market — that's why we ONLY build vinyl pergolas. While metal can rust and wood can rot, vinyl is completely impervious to the elements. In addition, your vinyl pergola won't require any yearly maintenance to protect the lifespan.

Aluminum and steel are suitable roof options. If you want a lightweight roof that is resistant to rusting, an aluminum pergola is a better option. However, if you don't mind a heavier cover, a steel roof is ideal for resisting strong winds, heavy rain, and locations that have harsher weather.

In many ways, vinyl is the best pergola material as it will last a lifetime with only minimal maintenance on your part. However, all of these advantages come at a price — vinyl pergolas are the most expensive choice on the market.

A gazebo can provide more shade and shelter from the elements than a pergola. Given that a gazebo's roof covers the whole structure, it is easy to assume it provides more shelter than a pergola. It may, but the amount of shelter can vary considerably. Overall design makes a huge difference.

Is metal or wood better for pergola? ›

The main advantage metal pergolas have over wood is that they are maintenance-free. Aluminum pergolas are lightweight and will never rust, which makes them ideal for those living near seaside locals. Metal never splinters, sags, or twists like wood.

Yes, sunlight filters through the roof beams of a pergola, which is designed to provide varying amounts of shade, depending on the structure's style and design. A popular addition to outdoor living spaces, pergolas shade your deck or patio without impeding views or breezes.

Must be single storey with a maximum eaves height of 2.5mtrs and a total height of less than or equal to 4mtrs for a pitched roof or 3mtrs for any other type of roof. Within 2mtrs of a boundary the maximum height cannot exceed 2.5mtrs. Garden structures must have no verandas, balconies or raised platforms.

Even though a pergola is heavy and difficult to move once assembled, it has to be anchored securely to the ground for a number of reasons. Primary among them is safety.

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.

You can think of a Pergola as an outdoor room, whereas an Arbor is more of an outside doorway. Arbors are generally freestanding, although you may see them attached to fences now and then. Some Arbors come with gates which makes them even that much more quaint as an entryway to your garden.

They are anchored to a wall of your home or another structure, such as a pool house. Since the wall provides support for the pergola, this type of structure will have two posts or columns to anchor it to your deck, patio, or porch.

You can anchor a pergola to pavers by adding post footings into the ground, drilling gently into the pavers and adding brackets, using concrete to secure your post bases, and, as a last resort, you can use weighted bags to keep your pergola in place.

A typical pergola cost ranges between $2,124 and $5,968 or between $30 and $60 per square foot. This means a 12-foot-by-12-foot pergola would cost between $4,320 and $8,640. This makes it a more expensive size for homeowners to consider, though choosing a less expensive material can help lower the overall cost.

You can expect to pay around $30 to $60 per square foot on average to build a pergola, including the cost of materials and installation. Prices may vary based on materials, size, and labor rates in your area.

What to know before building a pergola? ›

Get creative and winterize a pergola by adding roof panels or a pitched tin roof to allow rain and snow to runoff. A pergola outfitted with a metal or plastic roof, treated canvas, or waterproof cover is excellent at keeping cold, rain, and snow outside.

Using post shoes elevates the posts above ground and clear of any water. This is a surefire way of avoiding deterioration. Setting the post into concrete also seems to help with its longevity.

A: The max single span of wood we recommend for both our 4x4 and 6x6 bracket is 12ft. Once you go past 12ft we recommend building a double pergola.

Pressure-Treated Wood

Through the treatment process it undergoes, the wood becomes more resistant to rot, decay, and insects, making it a durable choice for exterior applications like a pergola or a gazebo.

Pergolas tend to be easier and less expensive to build, thanks to their simple, four-post design. They are also more versatile as far as materials go, with some designs using aluminum or vinyl in place of wood. Pergolas no doubt add value to your home, plus they are more easily customizable compared to gazebos.

Kits are cheaper than a professional install.

Materials are often the largest portion of the cost. That said, DIYers can save big bucks on labor costs for a pergola project by buying a kit for less than $1,000 and building it themselves.

The best place to put a pergola is where you need shade. On those particularly hot and sunny days, a little shade is always welcome. Many folks want flowering vines planted to grow up and over their pergolas to bring a soft element to the landscape structure, adding color, as well as additional shade.

Adding a Pergola to Your Existing Deck

When building a pergola atop your deck you will need high-quality hardware, including post bases that are designed to be seen, timber bolts to connect wood to wood for your top frame, and post-to-beam support, preferably that's been hot-dipped galvanized.

How do you build a beginner pergola? ›

Joist hangers are the ideal choice for building a pergola, pavilion, arbor, or patio cover.

The pergola and pergoda are very similar concepts. Both are structures designed to provide shading in outdoor areas. The main difference is that pergodas feature a solid roof made up of slats, whereas pergolas feature a sliding or louvred roof for greater versatility.

If you are needing a pergola® awning the best fabric to use is Ferrari 602 or 502 vinyl. These fabrics are made with precontraint technology so stretch is minimal. These fabrics are opaque and also water proof. Ferrari 602 is available in two (2) colors White and Ivory and will be standard cost.

Pavilions feature a completely closed roof while a pergola's roof is constructed of open slats.

A typical 12x12 pergola will cost between $4,320 and $8,640 depending on your choice of materials and style.

As we previously mentioned, most pergolas are designed with an open-roof design that allows for sufficient sunlight and air circulation. Open-top pergolas are most often placed in the garden to create an appealing focal point and can add even more beauty to the space with the help of trailing vines.

Most pergolas are allowed under the 'permitted development' rules, so you typically won't need planning permission for constructing one. For peace of mind, we recommend checking with your local planning department if you are unsure.

Paint can peel, but penetrating oil stains, which don't form a surface layer, cannot. Staining your pergola isn't an option, though, since stains work only on bare wood. Plus, most of the stains on the market — especially ones that give a white look — are water-based finishes that form a film, albeit a thin one.

Popular sizes include 16×16, 16×20, and 20×20 pergolas. With these larger sizes, you can cover your entire backyard patio or create a comfortable spot next to a pool or lake.

How do you cover a pergola for cheap? ›

If you don't hire a pro, all you need to pay for is the pergola kit, which includes materials and instructions for building the pergola. These kits generally cost around $1,000 to $5,000, but they can cost several thousand dollars more depending on the pergola's size, type, and materials.