How to build your own pergola

Bring your garden to life or create a peaceful pause area with this simple wooden structure.

• wood glue
• 8.0 x 75mm screws; 8.0 x 50mm screws
• 120- and 240-grit sandpaper
• wood filler
• universal undercoat and top coat
• 20mm pin tacks (nails)
• drill and pilot drill
• jigsaw
• pencil
• measuring tape
• screwdriver
• water level
• hammer
• large square

Cutting list

• six 3m lengths of 114 x 38mm planed all round pine (PAR) cut to:
• four 2100mm legs
• four 1500mm support beams
• four 3m lengths of 38 x 38mm PAR pine cut to:
• four 1200mm trellis supports
• five 1000mm top beams
• fifteen 3m lengths of 30 x 10mm cover strips pine cut to:
• thirty 750mm lengths
• sixteen 1200mm lengths (for the trellis)
• one 3m length of 228 x 38mm PAR pine (for the corner braces)

Step 1

Beforehand Cut a detail on both sides of the top lateral beams. You will fit these later. Attach the four trellis supports onto the four legs, drilling a pilot hole and using 50mm screws; position them 240mm from the bottom and 30mm from the side – you will need two lefts and two rights.

Step 2

Position a left and a right leg on the edges then lay out 15 cover strips (750mm) with equal spacing onto the trellis supports. Fix with glue and pin tacks.

Step 3

Now fix eight vertical cover strips in place and then repeat on the other side.

Step 4

Cut four corner braces out of the 228 x 38mm pine using a jigsaw.

Step 5

Lay one support beam on the ground, then position the trellis sides spaced in from the edges to show the detail; check using the square.

Step 6

Counter bore the corner braces to get the screw in deeper, using a bit larger than the head of the screw.

Step 7

Install corner braces which will be sandwiched in-between two support beams. Turn the structure over and repeat on the other side.

Step 8

Now fix the other support beam over this to hide the screws.

Top Tip

Ask someone to help you hold the structure upright while you attach the corner braces.

Step 9

Install the top beams on top of the support beams.