With more time at home (like all the time in the world right now) and gearing up for warm summer weather, Justin and I have shifted our focus on home improvements in our free time. We’ve already worked on organizing our home, and it feels so good to have a place for everything. Our DIY wood pergola project was prompted by a nasty storm that destroyed our pergola cover, ripping it to shreds and throwing it all over our backyard. This is a project we have been wanting to do for a long time but it just wasn’t high on the priority list until this storm knocked our other one out of commission!
I figured I’d share our DIY project in case anyone else has been wanting to do an upgrade like this in their backyard. PS it’s totally doable with just two people and honestly my husband pretty much did most of the work on his own. I just helped him with the initial steps and design. Thank goodness for handy husbands, am I right! And as a little teaser for what’s to come, we’ve already started our next major outdoor DIY project and this time it’s an upgrade to the front, adding some curb appeal!
How to DIY a Wood Pergola –
Step 1: We measured our space and decided how large of a pergola we wanted. We changed the dimensions up from our previous freestanding one since we needed to put in posts and wanted to make that part as easy for us as possible. One thing that helped us get it right from the beginning was using wood posts and string to help measure and make sure the structure was squared up.
Step 2: After deciding on the dimensions we removed the bricks 🧱 that were in the area that we were going to be digging to put in our posts. Then dug all four posts out deep enough that our anchors would be able to sit all the way in.
Step 3: We used steel anchors to hold our 4×4 pressure treated posts. Made sure the depth that we dug would allow them to sit right in and then mixed and poured concrete to keep the anchors in place.
Step 4: We slide our 4×4’s in the metal anchors. This is where you definitely need two people since they are not only heavy but tall and you need to keep the posts stable while getting everything right. We took a second measurement to ensure that the overall dimensions were correct but also that the structure was square and the posts were level. Then we anchored them in place with bolts.
Step 5: Then we started to measure and cut our horizontal 2×6 top pieces that sandwich the two vertical posts closest to our house. Once we made sure they were level and equal distance overhanging on each side we bolted them in place. Justin used bar clamps to help hold the wood in place while making sure everything was level and where it needed to be. Then we repeated that on the back to posts.
Step 6: From there, Justin pretty much took over cutting the 2×6’s and placing them 12″ apart from each other with a 12″ overhang on each side. He notched out the boards so that they fit over the horizontal top boards. After all the planks were in place he went back with an angle saw and cut the angles. He could have cut them all before but this allowed for him to make any necessary adjustments once the boards were already in place.
Step 7: He cut more 2×4’s and made them into 2×2’s to have them running the other direction just to add a little more visual interest.
Step 8: Then he cut the angled pieces that support the four corners of the structure. Honestly, they weren’t totally necessary but definitely not only help make the structure stronger overall but also looks a lot more finished.
Step 9: We then had to cut the bricks that we initially removed so that they would now fit back in around the wood 4×4 posts. I helped him with this by making sure that any loose pieces from the concrete that we poured was removed so that when we put the bricks back in they wouldn’t be raised up higher than the rest of our brick area. We also filled in the gaps of the bricks with sand.
Step 10: Cutting pressure treated wood to cap off the bottom of the posts to make them look finished, hiding the steel part of the anchors that connects to the posts. They also help make the posts look more robust and better proportioned to the rest of the wood pergola.
Justin could definitely get a lot more detailed about this project than I really can, so if you have any specific questions I will have him answer them. But I hope overall I was able to explain to you enough of what we did to make this project of ours a reality.
PS if you’re interested in our outdoor dining furniture you can shop the exact or similar items here:
As always, thank you so much for stopping by the blog today! I hope you enjoyed the post!
