Free pergola plans by ANA-WHITE.com

Preparation
4 - 4x4 treated posts - 8-12 feet long (depending on how much of the posts you choose to bury or place in pier blocks)
16 - 2x2 @ 3 1/2" long (short cleats)
It is recommended that you cut boards as you go on this project.
Please read through the entire plan and all comments before beginning this project. It is also advisable to review the Getting Started Section. Take all necessary precautions to build safely and smartly. Work on a clean level surface, free of imperfections or debris. Always use straight boards. Check for square after each step. Always predrill holes before attaching with screws. Use glue with finish nails for a stronger hold. Wipe excess glue off bare wood for stained projects, as dried glue will not take stain. Be safe, have fun, and ask for help if you need it. Good luck!
Instructions
Step 1
So you first and foremost need to set the posts in the ground. Make sure you space the posts exactly as shown above, and that the posts are square (take diagonals). The posts need to stick out of the ground 107" - but you may need the posts to be longer if for example you are using buried pier blocks.
Step 2
Step 4
For this plan, you must have a tablesaw to rip boards with nice square edges. Rip your 1x8s down to 6 1/2" widths and use finish nails to attach to the cleats. The trim boards should be cut so that they hide the foundation. You could get extra fancy here and actually cover these posts in stone veneer as well.
Step 6
Step 8
Step 9
The diagram above should read 22" of spacing between the boards. You will want to take a square of the project here (see step 1). When your diagonals match, rest two more 2x4s on top of the existing 2x4s, to the outsides. Screw to the posts as shown above. Then add the remaining 2x4s spaced 22" apart, using either brackets, pocket hole screws, or long screws carefully predrilled and countersunk from the top.
Step 10
Step 11
And this isn't what's done with the Pottery Barn one, but I'm a big believer in corner bracing. If you feel your pergola has any wobble or needs a little extra support, you can cut corner braces and screw on - you will be amazed at the difference the corner bracing does. Other means of "beefing up" the pergola (for example, high snow load or high winds) would be to use 2x6s boards instead of 2x4s and to notch out your boards) as done in the link given in the author notes.
It is always recommended to apply a test coat on a hidden area or scrap piece to ensure color evenness and adhesion. Use primer or wood conditioner as needed.
Comments
Nicholez
Sun, 04/10/2011 - 11:53
Perfect!
I love, love, love this! I've wanted a pergola for forever, but wasn't sure how to build it without making it look like a bunch of boards that were just thrown together. I'll be building this for sure... just need to finish a few other projects first!
algdoughty
Sun, 04/10/2011 - 12:06
Wow! we haven't really built
Wow! we haven't really built anything besides a raised garden box, but this is very very lovely! Maybe someday - need to get a few more projects under out belt. Thanks Ana!
jesse (not verified)
Sun, 04/10/2011 - 13:19
You read my mind!
You read my mind! Or maybe you saw that I was searching your site for "pergola" yesterday? Thank you!
JoyofBaking
Sun, 04/10/2011 - 14:07
Ana White!! What the
Ana White!! What the heck?!! How are you reading my mind?? I freaking love you. My family will use this for our new home. We've been searching for weeks for Pergola plans. Thank you so much for helping me and my family make our house a home. We are grateful.
Guest (not verified)
Sun, 04/10/2011 - 14:15
My savior!! My husband and i
My savior!! My husband and i have been searching every where for the perfect out door covering and the pottery barn one always calls my name but not my wallet... We have made several or your projects already and are so excited to start this one! Thanks Ana!
singinggoldielocks
Sun, 04/10/2011 - 14:50
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ditto Ditto, and DITTO!!!! We are getting ready and looking for ideas for a pergola. You're a genius!
ferbit
Sun, 04/10/2011 - 18:03
Covered?
Awesome!!!!!
So out here in the soppy wet Seattle area, covering pergolas to protect everything from the rain is huge... Is it pretty easy to cover this? Like with outdoor fabric/grommets, plywood/shingles, sheets of metal, glass or plastic? Would it need to be built at a slight angle so water can drain properly?
claydowling
Sun, 04/10/2011 - 18:15
A covered pergola
sounds a bit like a vegan steak. Could be done in theory, but misses the point.
It might make more sense to build a frame that can hold the cover you want. As for the covering, there are plenty of good materials, and very few of them are wood. Cedar shakes would be okay, but labor intensive. I've had good luck with the corrugated fiberglass panels, in that they keep off the rain but let in some light. You probably want to make a point of washing it off once or twice a year though. If the dust that naturally settles with the rain builds up too much, it can look tatty.
If you do cover it, the roof needs to fall about one inch for every six feet of run, so if you put up 6' panels, one end needs to be 1" higher than the other. Otherwise you'll get water trapped up there, and a lot of small hungry life breeding.
Guest (not verified)
Sun, 05/01/2011 - 16:01
reply to claydowling
I think corrugated fiberglass would look dreadful. Similar to those 1950's car parks on the side of houses.
Guest (not verified)
Wed, 06/15/2011 - 13:26
No, there is clear corrugated
No, there is clear corrugated Lexan these days that doesn't look anything like the "potty house roofs" of old (actually, I wouldn't mind finding some of the old stuff for free on Craig's List at all).