Creating a pergola to shade your backyard is the wrong approach. This is because the roofs of pergolas are always open with some trellis or mesh on them that provide little shade. It will allow the elements and sunlight to go through it.
Pergolas have for some time been well known options to a home since they add style and character to the outside living space. They can change in size and configuration to fit various scenes, and have the additional advantage of separating the daylight (yet not all that much) in spaces of the yard where individuals like to unwind and engage.
The primary purpose of the pergolas is to provide an intimate and special area where you can spend quality time with your friends or families, chatting and dining while enjoying the natural landscape. In short words, pergolas transform an empty area into an attractive place.
You might be building your pergola thinking about what you could do there. You must think about the space of the pergola as it will contain some seats and tables that will shape the structure. However, planning the location as well as the uses of the pergola is a little complicated.
In this article, we will discuss the top 4 things that you need to remember before you build a pergola.
Do You Need a Permit?
Always discuss with your homeowner’s association and local city building department to know if you need any type of approval or permit before building your pergola.
Even though pergolas don’t require approval, since the structure of the pergolas isn’t complete, some cities have strict rules regarding them. This is true in areas where severe weather is a common factor. So, you need to see if your local authorities have some rules regarding pergolas. Don’t do anything without checking the approval list. This will save you from tearing down or adjusting your pergolas later.
Check the Utilities
This is one of the costliest mistakes you should keep in mind while building pergolas. Before you build a pergola in your backyard, make sure there is nothing underground that could be damaged once you start digging the holes.
Hence, make sure you know the pipes or sources of water, electrical lines, or sewer. If you don’t check these utilities before you dig, you might end up damaging them. And if you damage these, the consequences could be severe.
Know the Frost Level
This is extremely important especially if you live in a cold climate. If your backyard contains frost, you must know the average depth of the frost areas that occur seasonally.
Frost depth is known as the level where the ground or soil of the area freezes every year. It’s extremely important to know the frost depth because you need to dig below the average frost level while securing or placing your pergola’s posts. If you don’t check the frost depth, your ground might push the pergolas up. Additionally, you also need to purchase pergola covers to protect the materials from snow.
Choose the Perfect Materials
Wood is always an expensive and beautiful material for pergolas. Cedar wood and redwood are insect resistant and naturally beautiful, but they are more expensive due to their scarcity. In this case, you can choose pressure-treated pines and they are inexpensive and easily available in the market. Most suppliers use pressure-treated pines for their pergolas. As per Understand Construction, wood is perfect for any construction need.
Apart from that, you can also choose pergolas with more modern materials such as aluminum for the posts and vinyl for the roof. They are maintenance-free.
Conclusion
These are the top 4 things you should keep in mind before you build a pergola. If you have a higher budget, consider a pergola kit as it will make your job easier.
