This custom-built Pergola Kit has extra rafters and roof timbers, and the support timbers are fatter. Most of our smaller Pergola Kits are made with 4" x 4' post timbers and 2" x 4" rafters and roof timbers. This custom design features 5 1/2" x 5 1/2" post timbers and 2" x 6" roof supports and roof rafters.

Triangular Pergola

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Triangular Lattice Pergola

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Most pergolas are assembled to a height between 8 and 9 feet. Standard pergola columns ship 9-feet long. For example, a 9-foot high pergola will give you a "ceiling" clearance of 8'4" with 7'10" clearance under the roof supports on the two lower sides. If you prefer a taller pergola, just let us know.

Smaller pergolas can be assembled freely without being bolted to existing decks or to new concrete work. Larger pergolas (10' x 10' and larger) should be bolted. If your set is to be attached to an existing deck/patio/concrete slab, use metal "Simpson Ties" from the local hardware store. If you are building over undeveloped ground, dig 24-inch deep narrow holes with a post hole digger. Add 6-inch diameter cardboard sonotubing and rebar then pour concrete (in snow areas go 30 inches deep). Attach your metal "Simpson ties" at the top at about one inch above ground level. Then, bolt the pergola posts to the tie. All pergola kits ship with trim pieces to hide the metal ties at the base of the posts (see photos of 15' x 15' pergola posts).

Our Pergola kits are fully planed, pre-cut, routered, notched, sanded. They are sealed with a tung and linseed oil based product called Superdeck (http://www.superdeck.com). We use a combination of transparent sealant No. 1905 (Heart Redwood) and No. 1910 (Natural). Superdeck has UV protection that helps keep the surface color of the pergola looking supple for a few years. If you are planning to add another stain or sealant, let us know and we will ship the pergola "unfinished." All of the bolt holes pre-drilled. All pieces are notched to fit together tightly. There are dozens of notches in the pergolas. This is a labor intensive process but results in a very strong structure. All hardware is included and it is stainless steel. You only need to add the fasteners (if being attached to an existing deck) or the concrete (if being installed on bare ground).

All pergolas are built with extensive use of notching for beauty and structural strength. Each roof support timber is notched into both of its posts. Then each rafter is notched at four points into both its roof support timbers below it. Finally, each 2 x 2 roof timber is notched into every rafter below it to create an interlocking "web" that is structurally strong and attractive.

The pergola roof has 3 levels. The top level is either the lattice panels or the 2 x 2 timbers (the standard open roof option) depending on your roof choice. Below the top level is the roof rafters (either 2 x 4's or 2 x 6's depending on the size of your pergola) and the lowest level is the roof support timbers. The roof support timbers are perpendicular to the roof rafters above them and they create the two sides of the pergola that have 4" to 6" less clearance (depending on the size of the pergola) when you walk underneath the set.

The two sides that have the roof supports are usually considered the "sides" of the pergola, while the other two sides with taller head space are considered the entry and exit sides. Please specify when ordering a rectangular shaped pergola whether you prefer your roof supports on either the short length of your set or the long length.

We ship only the parts that belong in the kit, but if any part arrives broken, we will quickly ship a replacement part.

Assembly is best done by two people and usually takes about half a day. If it is to be bolted to an existing deck or assembled above ground without concrete, add another couple of hours. Take a look at our assembly instructions for more specific details. If you plan to pour concrete, the project will require an additional half day (prior to assembly) to square the corners and let the concrete dry.

And remember - we can deliver and install your pergola if you are in California, Arizona or Nevada. Installation costs vary depending on the size of the pergola and your specific location.

The pergolas all ship in boxes that are strapped to a pallet. At the time of delivery, the trucking company will bring a truck with a lift gate to your home. They will slide the pallet with a pallet jack onto the lift gate and lower it onto your driveway. Once on your driveway, you can cut the straps and lift the individual boxes. The individual boxes are usually under 100 pounds.

Sometimes the trucking company shows up at your driveway unprepared with either no lift gate or no pallet jack. But, it really is not a big deal. Just cut the straps while the pallet is still on the truck and unload the boxes from the truck instead. A 12 x 12 pergola will probably weigh around 700 pounds and ships in eight or nine boxes.

Many of our customers have been requesting redwood poles to use in building all sorts of rustic outdoor structures. These poles are the result of thinning the redwood forest as part of our restoration work. We thin out young and overcrowded re- sprouting rings of redwoods to leave the best formed and most vigorous to grow to maturity with less competition. We are selling these "sprouts" with the bark on, and depending on the amount of sun exposure, the bark will remain intact for ten to twenty years. Many of the photos shown here were sent in by our customers. Let us know what you're doing! Using poles is a rustic do-it-yourself way to create a pergola and save money. You can build your own pergola (or any pole structure) like the ones shown here. We recommend that you notch the poles with a small chain saw. This will increase the strength of the structure. Then fasten the poles together with carriage bolts and lag bolts. Please click here to visit our Pole section for more information. Pole Pergola at the California Indian Museum Please click on photos for pricing and more information.	Please click on photos for pricing and more information.   Pole Trellis Pole Fencing Around Deck   Pergolas made from Poles!

Want to find out more before buying? You can click on the photo to download our catalog in PDF format. This is a large file, so please be patient while it downloads. Please be aware that the prices shown in the printed catalog may differ slightly from those online. (The online prices are the current prices.) You can also order comparative samples of our three grades of wood so you know exactly what we're talking about. Please click here to order wood samples - $10 plus shipping - all of which will be refunded on your first order. Or, click to order our printed catalog, $7 plus postage - which will be refunded on your first order. You can order a set of wood samples and a catalog together for $15 (also refunded upon placing your first order).