Search with Wattson

Notifications

Clear all

Joining the Renewable Heating Hub forums is completely free and only takes a minute. By registering you’ll be able to ask questions, join discussions, follow topics you’re interested in, bookmark useful threads and receive notifications when someone replies. Non-registered members also do not have access to our AI features. When choosing your username, please note that it cannot be changed later, so we recommend avoiding brand or product names. Before registering, please take a moment to read the Forum Rules & Terms of Use so we can keep the community helpful, respectful and informative for everyone. Thanks for joining!

Pergola project

DIY

Last Post by Si Fillo 3 years ago

1 Posts

1 Users

0 Reactions

3,181 Views

RSS

Si Fillo

(@si-fillo)

Trusted Member Member

Joined: 4 years ago

Posts: 36

Topic starter 09/02/2023 10:07 pm [#823]

Hello everyone! As well as considering my home heat & energy setup after finding this forum, I wondered if anyone could impart any knowledge to my pergola build, in between sorting everyone's heating problems out!

After a couple of summers of not getting around to it, I am determined to get a lean-to-pergola erected this year. My procrastination has mainly been down to a few issues I need to be sure of before commencing. Please refer to attached images.

I want the pergola to cover the entire area of the raised patio which is 5m x 5m with a height of 2.3m to the centre of the 'decorative' brick course.

My idea is for the ledger board to be attached to the garage. I will then have 4 supporting posts (6"x6"?) against the back of

the low wall. My 1st doubt is how to secure the posts and would like advice please.

Posts 1 & 2 have a drain pipe underneath the patio so digging isn't an option. Post 1 can be secured to the bungalow wall IMO.

Posts 3 & 4 could be dug and secured with concrete(?). Post 4 I have concerns as it is right in the corner of the raised patio area and I would suspect that digging will result in the collapse of the immediate earth? (image)

Could Post 2 & 3 be secured with a kind of 'above deck' post bracket? I would suggest a bracket for Post 4 too, but as you can see the paving bricks already seem to be falling away so I have concerns about solid foundations for Post 4 if I went for a bracket.

These 4 posts would support the main beam (2"x8"?) which has a total length of 5m! The gap between posts 1 & 2 and 3 & 4 would be 1m leaving a span of 3m between 2 & 3. There would also be a number of cross rafters from the ledger board to the main beam, which raises more doubts...

1) The main beam: a 5m length of 2x8 will be quite weighty I imagine. Will I need 1 beam or 2 (1 at either side of posts)

2) the 5m rafters will have no support along their span, is this unadvised? i guess the rafters aren't as thick/heavy as the main beam(s) but still, 5m might be a bit of an ask.

-The light post would obv be removed -
- the low wall would be rebuilt to extend to hide posts.

If anyone is able to offer any advice, it would be appreciated. 🙏