Pergola build with Cedar & Steel

[hefnerconstructionlc]

I have made various pergolas for customers over the years and decided I needed one for my home. The sun setting in the west really hits the dining room and the patio area hard. We have a massive oak in the front that does a good bit of shading, but the afternoon sun is harsh. I also wanted to hide my utility lines. I think this is a good compromise, it hides the utilities and should provide some shade in the afternoon/evening. Soon I will install a sliding canopy on the underside with cables to help with the shading. But these pics do a good job of the frame construction.

Deck was sinking on the corners and not really anchored well. These 4x4 steel posts should help.

 

[hefnerconstructionlc]

Here is the fabrication of the steel support posts.

 

[hefnerconstructionlc]

Then a nice couple coats of fresh gloss black paint.

 

[hefnerconstructionlc]

Posts set, patio leveled, and posts ready for rough cedar framing.

 

[hefnerconstructionlc]

Cedar framing going up.

 

[hefnerconstructionlc]

Project wrapped up with lighting installed.

 

[Kaizen]

Interested as I have a similar situation. Why did you go with steel as opposed to wood? No crossbracing for racking support at the top? I’m torn as I would love skeeter protection.


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[hefnerconstructionlc]

It is not going anywhere. I don't like busy cross braces. I like working with steel and could get it on the secondary market for about $30 per post. Which is cheaper and stronger than equivalent rough cedar. There are cedar 4 x 6 timbers all the way around in the top of the frame. I have no concerns the thing will twist or fall over. Mostly I just think mixing the two is more interesting.

 

[PugetDude]

Nice! I like the mix of steel and 4x wood; definitely more interesting than a pile of 2x's and a nail gun.

 

[Git]

I am impressed. I had a similar situation and finally found a good engineer and contractor to get it done - it was beyond me.

The steel plate on the end of the post is to prevent uplift. The posts were set in 4' square x 5' deep holes with a rebar cage and filled with concrete - they ain't going anywhere, but this is SoCal - earthquake country

 

[hefnerconstructionlc]

Thanks! Holy cow, 5' no those are not going anywhere for sure. Makes sense where you are at though. Those look great. Good idea with the pads on the bottom. I just bolted mine to the side of the deck and sunk about 3' deep. Nice brackets on top too.

 

[Git]

I forgot I still had this pic. The contractor who did this came recommended, did work for our neighbors, was licensed, etc etc. Not sure what happened, but he decided to use a 6x6 post concrete blocks and then filled the void with concrete... Ended up going to arbitration at the Contractors State Licensing Board and he tried to tell the arbitrator that I cracked the concrete blocks by using a winch or something to pull on the post... (I guess he wasn't smart enough to figure out that wood expands when it gets wet). Anyways, got all of our money back but lost quite a bit of time getting things straightened out. No one wants to come in and finish a job that someone else started, so I ended up ripping it all out and starting over. Like I said, I am really impressed with yours

 

[bullnerd]

Beautiful job Hef! (related to Hugh? lol!)

5' deep of concrete! HS! Utility poles around here barely go that deep! At least you have a nice spot to mount a jib crane now!

Git, that's odd, I've seen many posts set like that and have lasted a long time. I think you had another issue, like the cap should have been pitched more.

 

[Git]

It was actually for a pretty heavy roof - 20' x 20' with concrete tile. Here are the rebar cages that they used to get an idea

 

[Txjack]

Hefner, Any other pictures of your projects? For inspiration. I like the idea of metal and cedar.

 

[Whiskeymike]

Very nice. I want to do something similar away from the house to have the bbq grills and smoker. Would like to see more pics from Hef and Git.