Elevate Your Exterior
Transform Your Outdoors with West Hills Masonry!
Call our Professional Contractors!
(714) 519-5009

5 Steps To Complete Before Building A Pergola

March 17, 2022 / Written by: Carlos Gonzales

March 17, 2022
Written by: Carlos Gonzales

When planning any landscape remodeling project, a pergola is a quick way to beautify your home and outdoor space. While building a pergola, safety, stability, and security are the most important components to consider.

Additionally, you will need to pick the right furniture for your pergola in order to make it as functional as possible. If you intend to use your pergola for outdoor dining, you may need to choose an appropriate dining table (such as an extra large refectory dining table). As well, if you intend to spend time outdoors under a pergola, you can purchase chairs. It is possible that these requirements will arise after constructing a pergola. In light of that, let's take a look at a few things you should keep in mind when building a pergola for the first time.

Step 1: Choose The Right Location

Pergolas are designed to stand alone from a house, so you can either place them right next to your house or leave them to stand alone in your garden. A wood chip or gravel floor would also work, or you might lay a concrete slab. This allows you to avoid bothering with shifting existing gutters or matching eaves by leaving them unattached.

Step 2: Determine The Pergola Column Centers

If you want to build a pergola near your house, you first need to measure the projection of your eaves. If you want the column centers to be placed precisely by the house but not too close, keep the pergola's center posts at least seven inches away from the house.

Step 3: Pergola Attachment To Deck Surfaces

A deck properly built has enough strength to support a pergola. Every pergola pillar with 90-degree strap brackets could be attached to a wood surface. Make certain that you are screwing into the deck's beams rather than the deck's boards. If a beam is not available where you want a post, place a 2 x 6 flat under the deck planks, spanning many deck boards.

Step 4: Set Posts In Concrete

Concrete hammer set fasteners are simple to install and extremely robust. It is critical to ensure that the poured concrete has enough mass to support these fasteners. That said, if you are doing this by yourself, make sure to avoid any direct skin contact with construction materials like wet concrete. Wash off any concrete that comes in contact with your skin immediately. It is essential as concrete can harm your skin tissue if exposed for a longer period. This might be the reason why it is always recommended to use safety gloves like the ones available at Unigloves when attempting a construction project. With that in place, anchoring the post is as simple as hammer drilling the holes for the bolts, hammering the fasteners into position, and bolting down the post mounting brackets for the pergola.

Step 5: Don't Attach To Paving Stone

Although it may be tempting, you should not fasten posts to paving stones. In the long run, a pergola anchored with paving stones will likely move due to unpredictable wind loads and seasonal changes.

Let West Hills Masonry Assist You With Your Home Renovation

The exterior of the home is just as essential as the interior and needs the same amount of attention, whether you own a property or wish to sell one to company's like Ben Buys Indy Houses. Hills Masonry is here to assist you with building the pergola for your ideal outdoor deck.

Our number one goal at West Hills Masonry is to assist our customers in transforming their outside living space into the beautiful atmosphere they've always dreamed of. We love seeing the joy on our clients' faces when a project is completed, and we can't wait to do the same for you.

Contact West Hills Masonry today to receive a quote on your next landscape design project.

Carlos Gonzales
He is the co-owner and project consultant of West Hills Masonry – a industry leading hardscape and landscape contractor providing the finest in custom outdoor-scapes in Orange County, CA. Carlos and his team at West Hills Masonry have over 50 years of combine experience. Carlos is very keen on understanding client perspective and integrate their vision with professional recommendation for proper finished installation.

Schedule A Consultation

At West Hills Masonry, we believe in creating outdoor spaces that reflect your unique style and enhance your lifestyle. Let's collaborate to transform your outdoor dreams into reality. Reach out to us today!
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
West Hills Masonry Logo
West Hills Masonry
18195 McDurmott E, Suite B, 
Irvine, CA 92614
We integrate full scale design planning with finished hardscape & landscape functional living spaces.
Contractors License: 920870
Locations We Serve
Get In Touch
Working Hours:
Monday to Friday: 9:00AM - 5:00PM
Saturday & Sunday: Closed
Houzz
GMB
© 2024 West Hills Masonry. All Rights Reserved.