Our Pergolas will be featured on 2 upcoming episodes of Indoors Out on DIY Network

Tune into DIY Network to see our pergolas being built with the hosts, Dean and Derrick.

Click Here to view the airing schedule for the Omaha Nebraska show!

Click here to view the airing schedule for the Orlando FL show!

Here are a few shots from the Orlando Show, where we helped Dean and Derrick install a 12X20 Rough sawn cedar Big Kahuna Pergola Kit. 

The yard before we began

Dean Squaring up the post layout

Setting the posts

Plumbing the posts

Helping the host install the ShadeFX shade system under the pergola

The Finished Product

Help Deciding Post lengths

When trying to decide which post lengths you need for your wood pergola kit, there are a few things to consider. The most important of which would be what part of the country you live in. Do live in the northern states where the ground is frozen for many months out of the year? Or do you live in the south where the ground never freezes. If you live where it freezes you will want to be sure that you set your posts deeper than the frost line. This will ensure that frost heave will not pop your pergola out of the ground like a cork. The correct depth can be determined by calling your local building code department. We also have a map that shows average frost depths across the country. This map is to be used as a reference only. Your local building code official will know the exact depth to dig to stay in compliance with local codes.  So in essence, warmer climates may be able to use 10' posts, which would be buried 2' in the ground, and colder climates will most likely use 12' posts which would be buried 4' in the ground.

If your pergola will be going on top of a patio you can order the 8 foot post option and add the post attachment hardware to your order. This will connect the posts to the patio and also hold the bottom of the post up 1" from the patio surface to keep the bottom of the posts out of water that may accumulate on the patio. Here is a picture of the post bases that would be provided.


If you will be sinking your posts into the ground you have two different options on how to pour the concrete around the posts:

Option #1. Works in warm climates where

the ground does not freeze.

Option #2 for climates where the ground freezes.

Notice option #2 has a flared bottom. When the concrete is set below the frost line and flared on the sides this prevents the frozen ground that will be pushing on the sides of the concrete from popping it out of the ground. Also the use of concrete form tubes helps this because the smooth surface of the tube will not allow the ground to grab the concrete and pull it up. If you follow these suggestions you are sure to have a shade pergola that will stay put where it was intended to be for the life span of the lumber. Take a shortcut and your bound to have a pergola that is out of level. Frost heave can push posts out of the ground 3" or more if not installed properly. 

  

Looking For a Pergola?

If you've been looking for a pergola, but are not sure about which site to order from, rest assured that Pergoladepot.com is the place. We have established ourselves as one of the top pergola builders in the industry today. Our pergola designs have proven themselves time and time again to be easy to install, and are built with only the highest quality materials available. Our customer service also sets us apart from our competition. With our live chat service and toll free phone line there is always a way to reach us right away. So be sure to check out our pergola kits, and feel free to contact us if you have any questions at all. We are always happy to help.  

Pergola on DIY Network's Indoors Out

Keep your eye on DIY Network's "Indoors Out" as we will soon be installing a 10X20 Big Kahuna Pergola for one of their upcoming episodes.

Shade FX

Pergolas are the ultimate outdoor living accessory. They define space in a way that makes it feel like a room, but without walls. They set the stage for cushioned furniture, coffee tables, ottomans and best of all, memorable parties and events. Till now, that was all a pergola provided, a defined outdoor space, leaving many wanting for sun and rain protection that just wasn’t part of the structure’s design purpose.

If you’ve been among those looking for comfort or protection from the elements at the push of a button, prepare for the awning of a new age! ShadeFX Canopies, has developed a new retractable canopy system that is designed to attach to wood pergola frames. Because it uses one beam (or track) to operate the canopy, it will not jam or bind if the wood frame shifts over time or the seasons. Only ShadeFX uses the new and patent pending ‘monorail drive’ that allows for areas up to 20’ wide and 30’ long to be protected from sun and rain. You can also order a waterproof fabric with welded seams that will protect from even heavy rain and for extended periods of time.

All ShadeFX canopies are made to order using only the finest materials like Sunbrella™ brand awning fabrics, and high strength 6063-T6 aluminum alloy components. When combined with the fact that it operates on a posted pergola frame, the result is a canopy system strong enough to take the winds of seaside locales, urban rooftops, and even Texas.

Visit www.shadefx.com to see a gallery of installations that reflect quality, performance, and outdoor living taken to the extreme in comfort and style. There are three versions available that range from affordable (operated manually) to downright indulgent (remote control motor drive). In all cases we’ll help you get the one that’s right for you. The future of outdoor living is ShadeFX. Ask for ShadeFX and we’ll do our best to make it the lifestyle decision you’ll never regret!