Pergolas are ... How to make a pergola with your own hands from various materials

All people tend to make their sites exquisite and cozy. For these purposes, designers who design the exterior, often recommend the creation of pergolas. Such designs can become a real highlight of the site. However, not all people know what pergolas are. These are the most amazing designs that allow you to create shady, mysterious places in the garden. And sometimes they bring a special note of romanticism to landscape design. Let us consider in more detail what the pergolas are, how such amazing constructions are created.

What is a pergola?

Initially, let us examine in more detail what the given construction is. Pergolas are small architectural forms that have been used since ancient times to decorate landscape design. They look spectacularly in the garden, marvelously shade the paths, amazing romanticism is attached to places of rest.

Pergolas are light structures consisting of several arches, which are fixed by means of transverse fasteners. They are a bit like an arbor.

Such constructions were used even in Ancient Rome. With the help of pergolas, heavy vines were maintained. But over time, the structure has undergone a transformation. Today they are used as an arbor, a place for rest.

Application of pergolas

Lightweight designs are often used in landscape design. They perform several functions: give an aesthetic appearance to the site, create a shaded area. The design of the pergola (photos allow you to get acquainted with the magnificent options) can be designed in different ways. It totally depends on your imagination and desire.

Experts recommend the following options for using such structures:

1. Pergola allows you to equip the entrance to the site. With her help you can beautifully arrange the transition from the gazebo to the house. It can be an excellent outbuilding to business or residential premises.
2. Pergola can be a separate structure. In this case, it will become a cozy, exquisite living room on the street. Such a vacation spot will appeal to all family members, especially if you place there sun loungers, light furniture.
3. Perfectly looks arch-pergola. Usually it is a lattice construction designed to support vines or flowers. Such a pergola can be located above the paths, paths. With the help of it connect various design forms. Special functionality is acquired by the pergola, created on the inner courtyard and adjacent to the house. This gazebo allows you to design a great place for entertainment, family meetings, friendly gatherings.

Variety of forms

The word "pergola" is translated as "canopy" or "extension". It is quite obvious what functionality is envisaged. Pergolas - a set of structures, consisting of repetitive sections (pillars, arches, columns), which are connected together.

However, in modern landscape design, such structures can acquire a variety of forms, depending on the objectives:

1. Awning. This design is still known as a canopy. The main function of this facility is to protect a certain area from the sun. That is why the upper part is significantly compacted. Pergola can serve as an excellent gazebo. This is a great place to meet friends, read books, eat meals. Often, such a design is built over the parking lot or a playground. Canopy can be issued near the house. In this case, the pergola will look more like a veranda. The stand-alone design looks great.
2. Screen. This is an excellent design, allowing you to zonirovat area. It allows you to create secluded corners. Very often such structures are installed along the border of the manor. In this case, they protect the property from extraneous views. Pergola-screen is able to disguise the farm buildings. In addition, it splendidly separates the rest area from other sites.
3. Tunnel. This is a construction with a general orientation. Very often it resembles an arch. It is placed, as a rule, above the path or above the path.
4. Visor. This canopy is a characteristic detail of the exterior of the southern house. It performs not only a decorative function. The visor, twisted by various climbing plants, closes the southern part of the house from the sun's scorching rays. Due to this function, the thermal load on this side is significantly reduced. This approach is quite common in recent years in energy efficient homes. Pergola, installed along the southern wall, significantly reduces the load on the air conditioner.

If you are interested in how to make a pergola with your own hands, you must first determine which material you want to create the design from. There can be several options. Consider the most common of them.

Construction made of wood

These are the most popular and beautiful gazebos. For designs, solid hardwoods are perfect:

• Noble oak;
• Pine;
• spruce.

Be sure to pay attention to the supporting columns. The width and length of the entire structure depends on their thickness. In addition, it is the bearing bars that play a crucial role in the stability and reliability of pergolas. If your canopy is extended in length by about 4 meters or more, the supporting columns should be at least 90 x 90 mm in cross section.

However, you should not take all the details so massive. The wooden pergola should be associated with airiness, lightness. Therefore, the remaining bars (those that are not carriers) should be of a small cross section.

Also, take care of the reliability of your canopy. To do this, all wooden parts are treated with special solutions that protect the material from pests and moisture. You can use varnish or paint for such purposes.

Metal constructions

Such architectural forms can be combined or integral. Metal pergola is a durable and strongest construction. Of course, it is quite expensive. But if you know how to handle metal (cutting, welding), then you can easily create in your garden a beautiful structure on your own.

The only thing you need not forget is the treatment of the iron structure with anticorrosive compounds. To increase the period of operation of the architectural structure, it is recommended to paint it.

Elegant and romantic look forged pergolas. Most of them form beautiful arches or tunnels. This is a real way to the wonderful world of dreams and fairy tales. Such constructions are the most complex kind of pergolas. But at the same time they are the most beautiful.

Plastic construction

This is the easiest option. Such pergolas are easy to assemble. They perfectly tolerate any weather changes. These are stable structures. Modern technologies allow to choose the most diverse design of pergolas for the owners. Some variants do not differ from wooden structures in their appearance.

It is easy to take care of plastic. Such designs do not rust and do not rot, unlike those described above. If you have chosen this option, be sure to purchase high-quality plastic. Only in this case the pergola will be an ornament of your site for a long time.

Brick or stone construction

These materials allow creating pompous, luxurious pergolas. These designs will be an excellent decoration for a large manor. They will harmoniously fit only in certain styles of landscape design. Stone or brick structures are more suitable for the classical direction, oriental or English.

Preparing to create a pergola

Before constructing a structure, it is necessary to carefully consider the image of the future structure and choose a place for construction.

Optimal dimensions of the arbor :

• Height - does not exceed 2.5 m;
• Width - corresponds to 1.4 m.

You will learn that a tree pergola with its own hands is created quite easily.

Initially, you need to stock up with such tools and materials:

• Wooden supports (section 70 x 70 mm);
• Hammer;
• Staples;
• Bracket;
• Shovel;
• Screwdriver;
• Transverse beams (section 50 x 50 mm);
• Nails;
• Self-tapping screws;
• Tapestry panels;
• Horizontal beams (section 10 x 100 or 50 x 100 mm);
• Cement mortar.

Manufacturing of pergolas

Now you can proceed to create a design:

1. Installation of supports. Mark the future structure on the site. In the corners, dig 4 pits. At the bottom of each of them, pour a brick battle or gravel. Insert the support bars from above. Thoroughly induce them. Top the beams with cement mortar. To completely dry it will take about 24 hours.
2. Fastening of horizontal beams. While doing erection work, be sure to use brackets and staples. Use self-tapping screws and nails. Do not forget that the bars must be secured securely.
3. Fastening of cross beams. For such details it is better to use nails. To make the structure look beautiful and harmonious, place the beams from each other at the same distance.
4. Fastening of trellised panels. This is the final stage of creating a small pergola. For fixing the panels you can use self-tapping screws with a step of 10-15 cm. Do not forget that the finished structure must be opened with antiseptic impregnation. A longer service life and aesthetic appearance will ensure the construction of a decorative varnish.

Features of metal construction

If you are interested in this kind of pergola, then its creation, subject to the ability to work with metal, will not cause any special difficulties. Most often, pipes with different diameters are used for the design.

Remember, metal pergolas should not be tall or narrow. After all, such structures are extremely unstable.

Selection of plants

One construction of the structure is not limited to the work of creating an architectural structure. Most often the building is decorated with climbing plants. The latter perform not only an aesthetic function. They create excellent protection from the sun. So, pergola for climbing plants is ready. Now consider how to choose the right vegetation.

Designers recommend listening to these tips:

1. Choose plants with the same terms of development and growth. This will ensure a monolithic and beautiful canopy. In addition, they will grow at the same time.
2. Use no more than 2-3 species of vegetation. Too mottled the pergola stands out in landscape design.
3. Use plants adapted to our climate. Most often planted grapes, honeysuckle, climbing roses.

Pergola is a magnificent structure that can harmoniously fit into any landscape design. Such a construction will be the highlight of your manor and will provide a lot of pleasantly spent hours.