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From afar, it may seem that chic garden flowers are literally floating in the air, relying on invisible support. And only with closer contact can one see skillfully constructed support. These can be ornate and luxurious designs or elegant in their simplicity of support. Do-it-yourself pergola is the topic of our today’s article.
What is a pergola
Pergola – a structure that is a support for climbing plants and is located in the garden or in another “green zone” in the country. The structure can serve as a canopy on the terrace, thus creating a shadow, or connect the transitions between living spaces. In landscape design, a structure can perform several functions at once: decorate a garden, divide space into zones, serve as a support for plants and a recreation area.
For a comfortable stay, it is better to combine a pergola with a gazebo or put a bench (table with chairs). It will not work to make the structure a full-fledged resting place, since, unlike the gazebo, it does not protect from wind and precipitation, and during the dormant period of the plant – from the sun. The difference between the structures is both in purpose and in the functional load. The pergola is rather an art object that perfectly complements the overall design and at the same time allows you to grow climbing plants.
The gazebo is a place intended for relaxation, which should serve as a shelter from precipitation and contain the necessary functional details (table, chairs, stove or barbecue, etc.). The pergola is assembled by hand from separate finished parts, which, if desired, and with a diagram, can also be made. Usually the structures are made of wood, less often of metal.
Video “Garden arch-pergola with your own hands”
From this video you will learn how to make a wooden pergola with your own hands.
Variants and forms
You can build a pergola in different ways: next to and apart from the house or other premises, in a horizontal or vertical position, rounded or rectangular, wooden or forged. The most popular functional forms of structures:
- Tunnel. It is located in the garden area, performs a decorative function and serves as a support for climbing plants. It is constructed from arches (the number is optional), which are arranged in a row one after the other.
- Screen. Vertical structure in the form of a lattice wall, great for zoning and hiding other objects.
- Visor. Usually located in the form of a canopy of separate parts above the windows, so that the plants create shade and protect from the sun.
- Awning. It can play the role of an open gazebo attached to the room, which will protect from the sun and be blown by the breeze (the design is not intended for rain protection).
It is possible to classify the structure according to other criteria:
- shape: fan-shaped, rounded, ribbed (with kinks);
- type of arrangement: adjoining and individually standing;
- material: wood, metal, stone, plastic.
DIY creation
The classic version of the pergola is made of wood. However, the influence of precipitation, ultraviolet radiation and drying winds significantly reduces the life of the structure. Therefore, for its manufacture, you need to choose sustainable types of wood: oak, thuja, yew, larch. Less expensive material will be pine boards and beams specially processed under industrial conditions. Metal structures also need a special coating, otherwise, under the influence of moisture (if the plant needs constant spraying), the metal may succumb to corrosion.
For structures that are too heavy, lightweight plastic structures are not suitable – over time, they can bend and break under weight. The site should be selected based on the purpose and type of pergola. However, it should be flat and spacious if a free-standing structure is intended. To assemble the finished structural parts, you only need step-by-step instructions. For individual self-construction – a detailed diagram showing the actual dimensions.
Support elements
The beginning of the pergola installation process begins with the erection of supports. Bars are used as supporting pillars, which are inserted into a well with a depth of at least 1 m, covered with crushed stone and poured with concrete. The optimal size of the bars is 100 × 100 mm. For stone structures, pillars are built in one brick, which are built around reinforcement poured with concrete. Plastic and metal parts are attached to special bases, poured into the ground.
roof lathing
The metal parts of the roof are fastened by welding, the plastic parts are bolted. For wooden and stone pergolas, the principle is the same: first, load-bearing beams are mounted using fasteners (for example, self-tapping screws), then crates with selected quarters are installed on the cross-shaped connection. The boards are fastened with self-tapping screws along the guides at the end. The struts are also attached with self-tapping bolts. The last element of the design is the decorative footings for the supporting columns made of ten-millimeter boards.
Optionally, you can add other elements: lattices for flowers or specially attached boxes for flowerpots.
Decor
There are a lot of ideas for decorating a pergola. It can be decorated in a traditional Mediterranean style, painted, give it an airy oriental lightness with the help of various textured fabric details, place a table with wicker chairs or benches under it. Or simply decorate with a combination of different types of plants.
Pergolas can not only functionally divide the space into zones and serve as a support for plants, but also give the site a special atmosphere of comfort and romance.