Pergola with Planters
This airy, yet sturdy, structure is a terrific way to finish off a concrete slab, making a wonderful trellis for climbing plants and a perfect place for enjoying the outdoors.
Materials List
These plans will build a 16 x 20-foot pergola. Use rot-resistant lumber, either pressure-treated or the heartwood of cedar or redwood.
What You Need:
- Eight 4x4 posts, 10 feet long
- Two 2x6 framing members, 20 feet long
- Four 2x6 framing members, 12 feet long
- Three 2x6 framing members, 8 feet long
- Thirty-one 2x6 rafters, 16 feet long
- 2x4 braces, 8 feet long
- Thirty-two 1x4 pieces, 8 feet long (for planter boxes)
- Two 2x2 pieces, 12 feet long (for planter-box frames)
- 4 galvanized U-brackets
- 1/4x3-inch galvanized lag screws with shields
- 2 pounds of 3-inch galvanized deck screws
- 2 pounds of 1-5/8-inch galvanized deck screws
- 1 pound of 1-inch galvanized deck screws
- Wood preservative
- Hurricane ties
- Galvanized 3-sided corner brackets
- Hammer drill for boring into concrete (optional, but it will make the job easier)
- Handheld power drill
- Two 12-foot stepladders (While you are building, the structure will be unsteady, with nothing solid on which to lean an extension ladder.)
- 1 or 2 helpers
- Level
- Miter saw (a power model will make the job easier)
- 4 mm plastic sheeting
- Soil (for planters)
- Plants as desired
- Large sheet of fabric (optional)
