Building something like this has been a long time coming. But the price of wood these days makes it hard for people to afford it. Brackets and metal structures are becoming a lot more popular. So when I talked to these homeowners about customizing a wooden pergola, I was pretty eager to deliver value.
Custom Designing a Wooden Pergola.
Before writing an estimate, I wanted to get a feel for what the couple needed over their Hosta garden. After a few visits and drawings, we decided the initial 16×30′ concept was not going to work. There were in-ground planters and sprinkler lines that forced us to narrow things down.
Design Adjustments Are Unpredictable.
A smaller frame allowed me to cut down on posts – but it also impacted the design I wanted to install. I could have squeezed the boards in, but it wasn’t necessary. The wooden pergola rafters were already going to be closer together than usual. So I did my best to match my original concept. The result still looks better than a regular design.
In the end, the design phase of this project took a lot more time than I would have liked. I wanted the homeowner to be happy and confident about the build before breaking any ground. An expensive, custom build with a lot of changes can be a recipe for disaster. The last thing I want is for my customers to have regrets.
Building the Custom Pergola.
Once I began setting posts, I thought the wooden pergola was going to be a breeze to build. Installing the exterior posts went fairly well. The center posts did not. I ended up hitting two major root systems that required a bigger saw than what I brought. So that was fun. The following day, I got the inside beams up and started notching.
Some Problems Faced During Construction.
Initially, I wanted to notch every cross beam (that connected the center). However, I needed to get the structure square. Notching is pretty final. So I decided to butt up a few beams in case I needed to make some adjustments. I’m glad I did. The southwest corner post was a little warped inward. That’s one drawback of a wooden pergola.
Another Finished Custom Build.
The notched 2×6’s slid right into place and everything came together in a matter of days. The weather didn’t cooperate much and my terrain was muddy. Nonetheless, I got into a groove and started installing the designed sections. Honestly, I love the way it turned out.
I tend to overanalyze things and assume people share my same level of scrutiny. But I’m often wrong and just being hard on myself as a perfectionist. Some people don’t speak up, so you never know. But there wasn’t much to not like about this custom wooden pergola.
From Design to Built in Memphis.
It took me a while to invest into design software. It can be pretty expensive if you don’t have any experience choosing. Credeo offers some great packages for small carpentry companies. If you’re looking for a quality pro who cares about his projects, let me know. I appreciate being valued.
In the meantime, here’s a comparison between the finished wooden gazebo and the computer rendered designs.
