The first phase of this project was determining the design. I think the homeowner knew what they wanted – but, weren’t sure of the cost. So they gave me a few pictures to glean from. After a few missed emails on my end (I have to admit it because they were great), we were able to make this beautiful venetian style pergola work.
Disclaimer: I give my reasoning for the classification at the end of the blog.
The Steps to Building This Pergola.
The first thing I needed to decide was if it was worth building a sloped covering. The customer told me they didn’t have a plan to ever roof their pergola. But since I was already installing L flashing over the header, I wanted to be sure. In the end, we kept it square. It would have been a lot more work to angle this venetian style pergola.
Here are some pictures prior to the backyard renovation in Collierville, TN.
Installing the First 2x8" Headers.
The next step was determining the actual size of the back patio structure. My original estimate marked off 10×12 feet, roughly 9 feet high. But with this venetian style pergola design, I had a bit overhang to work with. The posts didn’t necessarily have to be 10 feet off the house. So I chose to go a little over 9 feet to try to square off the patio.
The bottom of the siding was right at 9 feet tall. So I kept the height, took the old pergola down, and started building. The first cedar header beam was installed at exactly 12 feet wide. I anchored it to the house. The second header was cut at 11’8″ and went over the top with 7″ lag screws. This gave me a good corner to mount and bracket.
Cuttin' a Custom Overhang.
Once I was able to get some wood up, I wanted to start working on the curves of this venetian style pergola. I had a good idea how I wanted to cut the overhang, but I still wasn’t sold. After a couple adjustments and confirmations, I created a few stencils and got to cuttin’! The last picture shows the side joist square with the patio.
Piecing Together the Pergola Frame.
Before I could install the front header, I needed to make sure my side joists were 90 degrees off the house. I built a ledge on the house and the post to help me make a few minor adjustments. Once square, I made sure it measured 11’8″ from the outside of each post. Then I anchored both down to the patio.
Solidifying the Corner Posts with Notches.
The hardest part of building this venetian style pergola is now done. All I needed to do was get the corner secure and wrapped in cedar cross beams. I didn’t want to notch anything until I knew the size was right. I was pretty happy when the headers slid right into the slots. The structure in Collierville was finally taking shape.
Cutting Up 6ft Arched Supports.
I already had a good idea how I wanted to style the corner arches. The problem was deciding how to install them. Since most of the design hung off the front, I thought this was the best look.
Custom Cuttin' More Cedar Curves.
I knew cutting the remaining cross beams was going to be time consuming. But I’m glad I worked through the stencils. It gave me certainty. Despite the weather delays, I was able to get in a pretty good groove at this point of the project. I was determined to get this venetian style pergola done!
Measuring and Notching Joists.
As soon as I thought I was done with jigsawing slots, I realized I still needed to notch the joists. I’m glad I already had them marked. All I needed was a little more patience. Getting the cross beams up was definitely a milestone for me. The little details of a venetian style pergola are tiresome – but rewarding.
Building an Arbor Style Covering.
The last step of this backyard build was decorating the top with a trellis-like design. I carried the curves from the side joists and left a ledge on the overhang. All of the curves really play well into each other. The goal was to also create somewhat of an arch from side to side.
Getting them all nailed on took some time. But mainly because of the balancing act. Another milestone completed.
Venetican Style Pergola Complete!
The last step of the build involved finishing and staining. I used Olympic Water Guard to seal up the cedar and 2 gallons of Pecan stain by Ready Seal. The project took about 5 full days to complete and material costs were around $3500.
If you live near Memphis and want something custom built, let me know! Building this venetian style pergola was a lot of fun. It challenged me but showed I’m capable of creating unique craftsmanship that people are proud of.
Why I Think this Pergola is Venetian.
When it comes to building pergolas, there are plenty of options. Standard designs, with closely spaced 2×6″ lumber, are pretty common. Slopes, curves, and other angles come with basic terminology. But from what I’ve gathered, a venetian style is pretty distinct.
Originated in Venice, the structure was first categorized for its design intricacies and the high end materials used to built them. Carved details and reliefs made them more of a feature than just shade. The style was more of a centerpiece of a garden that encouraged growth with trellis, arches and curves.
In America, cedar is sort of the prize for backyard structures. So, I feel as though this build classifies.
