It has become very popular to want to build a pergola. As soon as I started doing some research, I was amazed at how many other people have tackled this project and how much information was online. Then I started talking to people and found out that a few of my local friends have built pergolas on their properties. Between talking to them, the many sites I found online, and then finally consulting with my handyman brother, I started to figure out a few critical rules that I wanted to make sure I followed.
1. Do you need a permit?
Before embarking on any construction project, you should always check with your local city building department to see if you need a permit. Now, pergolas often do not since they are not actual full outdoor rooms or buildings with no walls and and a fairly incomplete roof. However, some cities have stricter rules than others, especially in areas where severe weather is a factor so the first thing you need to do is check on your local rules for permits. Attached pergolas tend to need them more and anytime you decide to add any kind of electrical wiring, such as for a ceiling fan or outdoor lights you will almost definitely need approval first. Don’t do anything without checking! You don’t want to have to tear things down or make expensive adjustments later.
2. Check all utilities before you dig!
Perhaps an even more potentially costly mistake would be to select the placement of your pergola without first making sure there is nothing underground that could be damaged as you start digging post holes. You’ve got to know where water, sewer and electrical lines are because if you break any of those, the consequences would be quite disruptive and even more expensive than building without a permit! Thankfully, there is an easy solution pretty much no matter where you live in the U.S. Every state has a “Call Before You Dig” line which you can call and the utility companies will come out and mark lines for free. Call 811 from anywhere a few days before you want to dig and you will routed to your local One Call Center so you can request this service.
3. Know your frost level!
If you live in an area with frost, then it is important to know the average frost depth that occurs seasonally. Your local building code department would again be the best source of information on this topic. This lets you know how deep you will need to dig when you are securing your pergola posts into the ground. You will need to dig below the average frost level to prevent frost heave – which happens as the ground freezes and then thaws – from pushing your pergola out of the ground.
4. Make sure the wood you use is pressure treated.
Wood is always a beautiful, inexpensive and readily available material to use for a pergola. However, no matter which variety you choose, you have to remember that wood is very susceptible to weather and insect damage. Untreated wood will split and warp very quickly. Most lumber yards and hardware stores will have pressure treated wood in their supplies, but it is always best to ask and make sure that is what you are getting. Also, keep in mind that the preservatives used don’t penetrate all the way through, so buy some additional treatment to apply on freshly cuts ends as you build your pergola.
5. Consider a pergola kit if it is in your budget
While I will always say that I think building your own pergola is quite easy to do and I know it can be done on a very tight budget, I think it is important to at least look into the pergola kits that are available either at your local stores or else online. You can also hire a local handyman to put a kit together for you. It would probably only take him a day so it wouldn’t be terribly expensive. The pergola kits are all pre-fabricated and partially put together in easy to ship sections. They come with complete instructions for your handyman to follow. As an added bonus, you can use those instructions to submit as building plans for any permit you might need.
Follow these tips and you are on your way!
If you are NOT securing your pergola posts into the ground, then tips 2 and 3 are not needed. Using your existing concrete slab or a deck eliminates the digging issues. Also, if you choose vinyl or aluminum for your material you can ignore tip #4. And if you are on a really tight budget, then tip #5 doesn’t apply either. However, EVERYONE needs to follow tip #1 and get a permit IF you need one! No matter what, if you cover all five you will know exactly what you need to do to build your own pergola without worry.
Related Posts:
- Site Preparation to Build a Pergola
- Do I Need a Permit to Build a Pergola?
- Differences Between Trellises, Arbors, Gazebos and Pergolas
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