Pergola & Deck

Here's how to build a shaded area to make the perfect year-round outdoor living and entertaining space

By Frank Gardner

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Pergola Photo:

This sunny poolside needed a shaded area. There are two elements to the structure, with the pergola built before the freestanding deck. Seven 90 x 90mm posts support the pergola, with the existing shed corner post serving as the eighth, front right post. Four back posts support the rear beam. Rafters span the beams, with battens fixed perpendicular to the rafters to support the bamboo roofing.

Preparing the site

Measure and peg out the deck area, removing vegetation and debris. The pergola post setout was measured from the corner of the existing shed, along the angled pool paving header course, with a post positioned on the change of angle so the shape of the deck matched the paving.

Concrete footing

Set stringlines for the back and centre-lines of the stump posts. marking post positions with pegs. Excavate the holes to 400mm-square and 600mm-deep using a posthole digger if the ground is soft, or hire a powered auger.

Concrete can be mixed on site using a ratio of four parts aggregate (gravel), two parts fine-grain sand and one part cement. Set the posts in concrete with 100mm of gravel for drainage. Concrete the deck stumps when the pergola is finished.

STEP 1

Position the front posts
To align the front of the pergola posts with the edge of the header course, lift four pavers at each front post to excavate the holes and position the posts 10mm outside the paving line. When the concrete is set, re-lay the pavers.

STEP 2

Set the pergola posts
Position the corner posts and plumb and cross-brace (see Diagram 1). Clamp 40 x 19mm braces to the posts and secure to ground pegs. Concrete around the posts, tamping and sloping the tops for drainage. Position the intermediate posts and concrete.

STEP 3

Cut the posts
Transfer the height to the posts using a straight edge and spirit level, marking a square line around the posts to cut away excess with a circular saw.
TIP Use a water level for accurate
measurements.

STEP 4

House and notch the posts
House the top of the back corner posts and the left front corner post at 190 x 45mm for the beams. Cut a 45 x 45mm notch from the outside edge so the outside rafters slot over beams (see Diagram 3).
TIP Seal all cut treated-pine surfaces.

STEP 5

House intermediate posts
Set a circular saw blade 45mm deep and make a series of cuts about 7mm apart to the height of the housing, removing the waste with a sharp chisel and hand plane.
TIP Test-fit a beam offcut to ensure it’s flush.