As I was hauling stuff out of storage recently to our outdoor patio area, it occurred to me that I have never documented the construction of our pergola. It was exactly five years ago this month that we completed it, so it seemed timely to write up a quick blog post. As with most of our creations, this one started out as a sketch on graph paper. I have a hard time visualizing spaces in my head and putting a project on paper not only helps determine the proper scale, it is also useful for developing a materials list.
With the pergola being located between the barn and the house, we knew it had to be size-able enough to hold its own in the landscape and not look miniature and out of place. The patio is 16′ wide and 28′ long with an extra bump out, so we sized the pergola at 16′ wide and 12′ long, a little less than half the length of the patio. To give it more heft, we made it approximately 10′ tall.
My vision was to have a pergola covered in wisteria, so we wanted to choose a material that would weather nicely without any required maintenance. We chose to go with rough sawn white oak, the same material we more recently used to build our raised beds in our potager garden. My husband contacted a local saw mill so that we could get lumber cut to our exact specifications.
The lumber was so beautiful and fresh when we got it home. I could not resist taking pictures of it. Unlike kiln-dried lumber you buy at a lumber yard or big box store, this lumber was freshly cut and full of moisture, which made it unbelievably heavy.
This was not a one person project, so my father-in-law came down to help. The guys quickly got busy cutting the lumber to length and shaping the ends to add some detail.
They notched the posts and inset double 2″ x 10″ boards for the end beams, also securing them with large bolts. The tractor was invaluable in lifting the ends up to start assembling the pergola frame.
They made sure to set the posts in the spot where they would stay forever because there would be no moving them once in place.
The next step was to start setting the 2″ x 8″ cross-beams using exterior screws to hold them in place.
They also notched these boards in order to better integrate them into the end beam. Jesse later added galvanized angle brackets on each side for additional stabilization.
Moving on to the cross braces, they decided to inset them into the posts for a cleaner look. Jesse made cuts with a circular saw and his dad chiseled the wood out by hand to make the space for the braces.
Once the cross-braces were in place, the finishing touch was to install the top lattice of 2″ x 4″ boards.
The whole project took two days to complete. In its first summer, the pergola provided a lovely backdrop for our youngest son’s junior prom pictures in May. In June, it was a nice space to enjoy when we hosted the groom’s dinner the night before our oldest son’s wedding. Throughout the rest of summer and fall, we enjoyed numerous other days and nights under its canopy and near the fire.
Five years later and the pergola has weathered to a beautiful gray patina. Sadly, my dreams of having the pergola dripping in wisteria have never really come to fruition. There are only a few varieties of wisteria that grow here in zone 4a. I tried both ‘Blue Moon’ and ‘Summer Cascade’ with limited success. The vines have yet to survive the winter, so each year new growth starts from the base. While it usually reaches the top of the pergola, it never has time to expand across the overhead lattice. I also lost the plants on two corners last winter. Please leave any tips for success in growing wisteria in northern climates in the comments!
Last year I replaced the winter-killed wisteria with ‘Arctic Beauty’ Hardy Kiwi vines. It appears that they survived the winter and I am anxious to see how they do this year. Expect pictures of those later in the summer!
This whole space has been a great addition to our property. Day and night, it has been a great gathering place to sit around the fire, enjoy a meal, drinks and conversation. After five years of our harsh climate, the rough sawn white oak structure is holding up well and should bring us many more years of enjoyment. And hopefully it will not be too long before we can enjoy it with others again.
Stay well!
I loved this article! That last picture is dreamy.
Glad you enjoyed it! Yes, it’s a really special place at night. Even better with family and friends. Thanks for stopping by!