A few projects to catch up on................#5 HUGE pergola

Mark Rios

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797
Location
Central CA
Last, but definately not least, this is a pergola for the owners of the steam shower (the realtor that I work for).

Here is a before pic of the yard. The realtors wife used to have a steel framed and mesh fabric, Costco-kinda gazebo. It had the mesh fabric hanging down to the ground and was about 12' in diameter. With a couple of other things in the patio area, it was cluttered and closed in looking. So we took everything out and started over. She asked me for a clear span of the area. At the front (away from us), 11' between the posts and at the rear (near to us) it would be 23" between the posts. The left side would be 24" between posts and the right side, at an angle, the span would be 27'.

111Pergola1.jpg

These next pics are of the framing material. 28' and 32' 4x12's to support the joists and in the second pic are the 18' to 30' 2x12 joists.

111Pergola2.jpg 111Pergola3.jpg

The 8" x 8" posts were set into 2' x 5', hand dug holes with rebar cages and Sonotubes. After I got down to about 3 1/2" or so, where the hardpan started, it was comical how little material would come out in the post hole digger. At the bottom of the hole, I would have to try to keep outward pressure on the digger handles while lifting the digging end up and out of the hole to try to keep the dirt from falling on my head and back into the hole. Frustrating but funny. :D The notches will accomodate the beams and maintain the 5 1/2" spacing between the members per the design.

111Pergola4.jpg

Here is the "short" side beams in place. They are 27' long total, including the overhang. The other side of the pergola gets beams that are a little over 30'. I lifted and set every stick of material on this project, one end at a time. It takes me a little longer but I am just too afraid to work with this heavy of material with a stranger on the other end. Too much potential for miscommunication and someone getting pulled off their ladder. Nobody likes to work with me anyway. :D

111Pergola5.jpg

And....the finished product...............

111Pergola6.jpg 111Pergola7.jpg

This was the biggest freespan pergola that I've built to date. I've built them that have covered a larger square footage but not without intermediate posts. It was a challenge but it was tons of fun, which is why I do it.

Thanks for looking.
 
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Hi Mark. This is a real piece of work; it looks great and I am sure you worked your bottom side off.

Did you install any kind of counterbalance on the short ends, behind the post, or are you depending on the 8x8s to handle the entire cantilevered load?

I would have trouble sleeping at night knowing that I had so much lumber hung out in space.:doh:
 
Yep, I could tip a few in that backyard. :rolleyes: I grew up in California, I always loved the vegetation.

Great job on the pergola, it really fits the yard well. Them's some long timbers, it’s amazing that you built it by yourself!
 
The 8" x 8" posts were set into 2' x 5', hand dug holes with rebar cages and Sonotubes. You need to explain this to me in more detail. That is a hugh hole!:eek: After I got down to about 3 1/2" or so, where the hardpan started, it was comical how little material would come out in the post hole digger. At the bottom of the hole, I would have to try to keep outward pressure on the digger handles while lifting the digging end up and out of the hole to try to keep the dirt from falling on my head and back into the hole.I can't imagine using a hand held post hole digger for that large a hole.That is one manly task!Blisters?:eek: Were you mad? or upset or depressed? :rofl: :rofl: I have done about 100 post holes that way but they were only 10" X 3' :eek: .Frustrating but funny. :D The notches will accomodate the beams and maintain the 5 1/2" spacing between the members per the design.

View attachment 9427

Here is the "short" side beams in place. They are 27' long total, including the overhang. The other side of the pergola gets beams that are a little over 30'. I lifted and set every stick of material on this project, one end at a time. Good for you, you do what you need to do. :thumb: It takes me a little longer but I am just too afraid to work with this heavy of material with a stranger on the other end. Too much potential for miscommunication and someone getting pulled off their ladder. Nobody likes to work with me anyway.:D

View attachment 9428

And....the finished product...............

View attachment 9429 View attachment 9430

This was the biggest freespan pergola that I've built to date. I've built them that have covered a larger square footage but not without intermediate posts. It was a challenge but it was tons of fun, which is why I do it.

Thanks for looking.
Congratulations Mark Rios! Good job.
Shaz
 
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