Building A Pergola On A Raised Deck – [Styles, Cost & Installation]

A pergola is a great way to add some style or a bit of shade to your yard. A pergola is a series of beams supporting a roof, but there are many different types and styles.

Pergolas are a great way to beat the heat, but you need to decide what type of pergola you want. People frequently use pergolas to cover a deck to provide shade or privacy or just look good.

The short answer is to join four equidistant support beams to your deck support joists. Connect crossbeams between the tops of each support beam. Place rafters on top of the crossbeams starting from the center of the crossbeams.

Styles of Pergolas

There are many styles of pergolas, but three of the more popular styles are: traditional, arched, and pitched. These styles each have different advantages:

Cost of Building a Pergola

The cost of building a pergola can vary considerably considering the style chosen and whether or not you purchase a kit. Buying a kit can make building the pergola easier, but it costs more. Overall, the average cost of building a pergola is approximately $3,600.

Hire a Contractor or DIY?

Building a pergola yourself would generally save approximately $500 to $1,000, the cost of labor. However, labor costs will be higher for more elaborate structures. So, if you have the time, building it yourself could be worthwhile.

Tools Needed

This is an advanced DIY project, expect to need a power drill, a saw, a screwdriver, and hex bit sockets. Make sure you have safety gear such as gloves and safety goggles. Someone to help hold materials in place is an excellent idea as well.

Measure Your Area

You will either need two or four supports at a minimum to support your pergola. If you are connecting it to your house on one side, measure a length of support board to hold your cross beams. If you are supporting with four beams, measure four places to join to deck joists.

Choose Your Size

This decision probably rests on what you intend to use your pergola for. But some limiting factors are the placement of support joists holding your deck floor and the weight it can support.

Choose Materials

A pergola typically has a light rafter often complemented with a cloth or other light materials with four or more crossbeams strong enough to hold the rafters. Support with strong beams is essential, 8×8 is good, made of pressure-treated wood or cedar to prevent termites or rot.

Fasteners

These depend on the weight and thickness of your support beams and joists. Lag screws and carriage bolts are common choices. Make sure they are designed for wood and have matching washers.

Placing the Supports Beams

The supports must be connected to the joists that support your deck, not the deck itself. To do this, place the beam you will use to support your pergola where you will connect it to the joist. While a friend holds the beam in place, mark around it. Now, cut out the hole so you can just fit the support beam through.

Joining the Beams

Have a friend lower the beam in place, and while it is held, drill two holes through the beam and joist. The exact size may change depending on the size of pergola you chose, but (2) 1/2″ x 6″ lag screws and washers are good choices to connect your support beam to the joist. Repeat this for every support beam.

Connect the Crossbeams

Crossbeams need to support the weight of rafters, so they need to be connected to the support beam well. Do this by cutting an indent the width and thickness of the crossbeam into the top of your support beams. Set the crossbeam into the indent, drill, and screw the crossbeam into place.

Joining to House

If your pergola is connected to your house on one side, follow these steps, if not skip to the next step:

Connect the Rafters

The rafters of your pergola will overhang the crossbeams, but they still need to be centered. So, lay them each in place before fixing them down. Start with the central rafter and put each to either side starting from there.

Finishing the Look

You may want your pergola to blend evenly with your deck; therefore, consider staining your pergola the same color. If you are using composite deck material, the same stain can likely be used. If you are considering making repairs to a composite deck, the process may be a bit different.

Congratulations!

You have a pergola you can decorate with cloth roofing, plants, and trellises. The possibilities are endless.