What do you do when you've finally got the house with the yard and the big, multi-level deck but you can't enjoy it because there's not a speck of shade to be had? You build a pergola!
But not just any pergola. You want a design that compliments the architecture of your house and adds to it's curb appeal. It also needs to blend in with the existing wood features in your yard – your deck, your fencing, the location of your gardens, etc. You also want a pergola that's not going to fall down the first time the wind blows. And you want it built to last for more than just a season or two.
It should be fairly easy to meet all of those requirements. After all, a pergola is nothing but 4 posts and a lattice roof. How much work can it be? You can find plenty of plans and videos on the internet and you should be able to whip that baby up in a matter of hours, right?
Maybe so, as long as you take the following building needs into consideration:
The design – If you've already got interesting architectural features outside your home, you'll want to design your pergola to compliment those details. Especially if you're adding it to an existing deck. Should you decide you want to sell your home you'll have a much easier time of it if everything blends in your yard. For example, if your deck has a nautical feel, with roping and weathered looking lumber, then you wouldn't want to add a Victorian style pergola.
The materials – Again, if you have other wood features in your yard you'll want to match the materials, too. And that's going to be difficult. Constant exposure to the elements ages wood and even if you've kept it properly cleaned and stained it's going to be difficult to add a pergola to your deck and make it look they everything was built at the same time.
Stability – Even though it looks like a glorified grape-arbor, you want your pergola to be solidly built and stable. Which means you'll need to sink footers and use galvanized, stainless steel hardware in some cases. You'll want to use lumber that's been properly treated, sealed and stained so it's protected from the ultra-violet rays of the sun and the inclement weather in the winter.
Those videos on the internet make it look like building a pergola in a day or a weekend is so easy even a child can do it. But there's actually a lot of planning and design work that has to be done first – before you even start ordering the materials. If the only thing you've ever built is a bird house when you were a Boy Scout, you'll want to consult with a contractor first, before you start spending money on materials. A contractor can help you come up with a design that complements your existing deck or garden design and adds to the value of your home.