Pergola

Phase 1 - The Posts

My original vision for the backyard was three-fold. A stone patio, sheltered by a large wooden pergola, with stone planters framing it. With the patio completed earlier I was ready for part 2 of the overall project.

First phase was digging holes, mixing cement, and making sure some very tall 4x4s were going to stay in them. This was the messiest and most time-consuming of all the phases, and I had some help from friends to make it happen.

Phase 2 - North-South Beams

The insanity that was trying to transport 16-foot long 2x6's in my car prompted the purchase of a roof rack, which was then used for all future lumber runs.

Installing the north-south beams was a little tricky since they were long, heavy, and had to be leveled with nothing to rest them on. My dad came over to help and we got the 4 of them in place with a little elbow grease.

Phase 3 - East-West Beams

This was the first phase I tackled entirely on my own. Once I had the lumber home, I cut to length, and then cut the angle for the edge. Hoisting the beams up was a two-ladder, one end at a time process. Once they were resting on the already installed north-south beams, bolting them in place was easy.

Phase 4 - Angled Beams

Measuring and cutting the first angled beam was a process, but once it was done it served as a template for the rest. These were a similar approach to the east-west beams, there was just a little more balancing to do during the installation process.

Phase 5 - The Slats

Laying the slats down was considerably easier than previous steps. Mostly because they were small and lightweight to handle. This phase was the first time I had to climb around on top of the structure and work looking down. Previous steps mostly involved looking up and standing on a ladder.

Phase 6 - Glass Roof

Originally my intention was a polycarbonate or polyvinyl plastic roof. After lengthy research and weighing pros and cons for each, I ultimately didn't like the way either looked. I made the unusual decision to attempt a glass "patchwork" roof comprised of wooden storm windows.

The End Result

The finished product is stained, and I've installed LED lights in the roof, which illuminate at night. As of this writing, the glass part of the angled roof is halfway completed. I was unable to locate enough windows before winter, and I intend to complete that phase once spring is here.

The Table and Other Extras

Once major work was completed, I transformed an old dining room table into an outdoor table. I tiled it to match the general earthy color scheme.

The clearing of some trees in the neighbors yard, prompted the construction and installation of the "ghetto filter", which thankfully helps to reduce the visibility of their goings-ons.

I've also experienced some minor nature-integration, such as a neighborhood cat and the occasional squirrel enjoying the view from the top.