How to build a pergola?
You've made up your mind! You're going to install the pergola of your dreams to protect you from the elements and the sun. There are several ways of doing this. You can build it yourself or hire a builder. The choice depends on the time you have available, your budget and your DIY skills. So what's involved? How do you build a pergola? What materials are best?
Prepare in advance to build a pergola
A pergola in your garden
If you're thinking of building a pergola in your garden, you probably have a specific idea in mind. The first thing to do is to put your sketch on paper. You can call in a professional to do this, or you can do it yourself. In any case, even if you're still deciding whether to build the pergola yourself or go through a builder, the sketch will be a great help when it comes to choosing materials or drawing up an estimate. There are two types of pergola:
- the lean-to pergola, which is fixed to the front of the house;
- the freestanding or island pergola, which is free-standing and can be placed anywhere.
Once the plans have been drawn up, you need to prepare the ground
You've determined the length of your pergola. Now you can mark out the area of your garden to be shaded.
A pergola is essentially made up of posts (four for a freestanding pergola, two for a lean-to), a roof and components such as screws, corner angles and connectors and gutters. Start by marking out the surface area of the pergola and where the legs will be. Then dig holes deep enough to accommodate ¼ of the length of the pillars. Start building your pergola by securing the pillars using post supports or a mortar mix. Next, use a level and a chalk line to check that the legs have not moved. If all the legs of your future pergola are no longer at the same height, you can readjust them by sawing off the longest ones. If you have chosen to build a lean-to pergola, you will need to fix a plank to the front wall. You will then screw other planks to either side of the pillars and between the two to secure the assembly. For a freestanding pergola, you do the same thing on each side, without attaching it to the house. All that's left is to assemble the crossbeams perpendicular to the planks. Once the pergola is built, you can fit a gutter to collect rainwater and polycarbonate sheets for the roof, for example.
The main materials for building your pergola
Choosing the material for your pergola's structure and roof is not just a question of aesthetics. The time you have available and your budget are also essential criteria in your decision. If you choose to build a wooden pergola, it will need careful, regular maintenance. Aluminium, on the other hand, is one of the cheapest materials on the market. It requires little maintenance and has a very contemporary design. For the roof, polycarbonate is the material of choice, as mentioned above. The sheets are highly resistant to UV rays and easy to install. You'll also need, among other things, a fascia, fascia profiles to finish the roof properly and a joint to join the sheets together. Once it's in place, all you have to do is fit out your pergola, maintain it and enjoy it with your family and friends! Not sure whether to install your pergola yourself or hire a builder? We'll look at your project for free!
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