Complete your outdoor experience with the right combination of a pergola on top of an existing deck. Say goodbye to the old, boring deck or pergola alone as you learn about how they can be matched into one beautiful piece for the perfect outdoor living space. A pergola’s shade will protect you all day long, while the deck beneath it will be the best relaxation area for your entire family. Sounds great, right? Below are the steps to build a pergola on a deck which will take your backyard to the next level.
Steps for Building a Pergola on a Deck
Before anything else, it is necessary to pick the right hardware to build a lasting, durable pergola on top of your deck. This includes the fundamentals that guarantee the safety and sturdiness of your pergola no matter what happens outdoors. Regardless of what design or style you choose, the list below contains the hardware you’ll need for this project.
Base supports
In order to stay safely connected to the deck, your pergola needs to have four base supports that are securely fastened to it. They will serve as the pergola’s anchor and sustain the entire structure’s weight. These walls or supports may be hidden from your sight, but they are often exposed, which offers faster installation. You may choose to have the traditional silver-colored, industrial-looking galvanized metal or a unique material such as hot-dipped galvanized post bases, which do not easily rust over time.
Timber bolts
When building the top structure that will support the roof of your pergola, you’ll need timber bolts to connect the wood. Because you’ll most likely be utilizing treated wood, use fasteners that are designed to function with ACQ pressure-treated lumber. Again, even with something as simple as a timber bolt, the appearance must be considered. In our opinion, the best-looking ones are also smartly built to save you time and effort and work perfectly in this application. Because it works from the inside out, this timber bolt allows you to conceal the ends of your bolts inside the beam. This also prevents you from trimming any bolt ends. The bolts feature a corrosive-resistant black coating, making it moisture-resistant and visually appealing as well. However, this kind of bolt is not widely available because only one company makes them.
Beam support posts
Along with bolts, you’ll need hardware to secure your posts to the beams that will form the roof of your pergola. These beam support posts are required to keep the construction stable during high winds, so choose something made of robust steel, ideally hot-dipped galvanized. However, because these fasteners are an essential design feature, pick visible post-to-beam supports that are meant to be seen and not concealed.
Ways to Keep Your Deck Pergola Strong and Sturdy through the Years
After learning how to build a pergola on your deck, you’ll need to know how to maintain it over the years.
1. The best material to use is pressure-treated wood.
2. Add railings for safety.
3. Avoid putting a roof on that’s too heavy.
4. Ensure properly-attached supports to your deck.
These steps to building a pergola on a deck were proven and tested by experts in deck building that you can trust. So when you plan to add one to your home, let this serve as your guide for a safe and successful project.
