Timber Pergolas

 

This is an article on tips for building a timber pergola. For our product gallery showcasing timber pergolas, click here.

 

Looking to add value to your house, or just extend your entertainment areas?

A timber pergola and archway is a fantastic way to do this without too much fuss, and without getting into a massive building project (which can go on for months or even years for similar effect).

To simply cover your braai area or patio, or to have some shade near the pool, or just to protect your wooden garden furniture from the elements, we highly recommend building a timber pergola.

Centrecore Timbers can handle the whole project for you (feel free to contact us for a quote) or you could plan out your own project starting with raw timber, good guidelines, well-drawn plans and some patience.

Before building your timber pergola, remember to lay good foundations. (Check out our other articles about timber structures and good foundations). Also when securing your timber pergola to your house, check out our guidelines on good foundations and joinery – in our article about “Timber decking”

Also, remember that the area covered and shaded by your pergola changes as the sun moves across the sky. Check your angles and which way your house faces using a compass. Ensure your timber pergola gives you and your guests the maximum amount of shade, and protection for your garden furniture and timber decking.

Drawn your plans? Sure this is the timber pergola you want? Good, lets get started.

Mark out and measure your timber pergola’s intended territory and attach the timber support beams and poles securely to the ground / timber decking / brick paving. Since the poles will be supporting the timber beams above, and can be top-heavy, you will do well to secure the timber poles with additional braces on the ground.

Your poles can be concrete or other materials – they don’t have to be timber poles.

Now that your poles are up, double check they are perfectly level using a spirit level. If your timber pergola is top-heavy and your timber pergola is at an angle, you are placing unnecessary strain on your timber and building materials.

Now add your timber cross beams. This is just another example of what a fantastic building material we have in timber. Light, aesthetically pleasing, strong and very workable timber!

Bolt your crossbeams securely onto the supporting timber poles. We mentioned that you don’t have to use timber for your support beams or poles, but timber is easier to work with when it comes to bolting, joining, drilling etc. You may need someone to help you here, an assistant, labourer, gardener, wife, son maybe… You can also double up the timber cross beams by attaching one timber cross beam either side of the supporting timber poles.

Now that you have bolted your cross beams onto all adjacent timber support beams, you have the basic timber pergola structure up. Poles and supporting beams. Now, we need to cover it for shade.

You have a choice in ways to cover and roof your timber pergola. You can make indentation in your cross beams to later fit and rest the timber roofing beams on – simple lap-joints will do (please see articles on timber joinery), as the timber will be held in place largely by its own weight – and of course your craftsmanship and excellence in making the lap joint secure and snug. Its ok to use a little bit of wood glue to have that extra assurance that your timber beams are going to stay put. Also, screws and nails can further secure your joints.

If you don’t want to use joints, screws in timber should be considered before nails in timber. Nails are best used as finishing touches, not as structural foundations.

To accurately measure where your roofing beams should lie on your timber crossbeams, you may want to place your timber roof beams on top of your timber cross beams, and then clamp them (a simple timber C or G clamp will do) down to ensure you can mark them (using a simple timber marking pen or pencil) without them moving around and muddying your measurements.

Right, now lay the roofing beams across your pergola, and your project is nearing finishing stages.

I always recommend adding timber support beams to places where you have exact 90 degree right angles in yoru structure. You can do this with simple timber chunks used as wedges, and bolted in, or as sort 45 degree support beams between each right angle joinery. These will eliminate the possibility of swaying and compromising your timber’s angles and strength.

Your timber pergola is now up, but offers very little shade, as your roofing it just a few cross beams. Fill in the gaps using whatever you would like. Suggestions and common fillers are plants (such as creepers), shade netting or secured bamboo rods. Thatch can also be used, but we do not recommend plastic sheeting as this tends to fill up with rain and stretch under the weight of the water that is not able to drain.