Frequently Asked Questions

I want a lot of shade under my Pergola. Can the spacing of the roof rafters be set at 2 or 3 inches on center and what would be the additional cost?

The roofs slats can be set closer together at whatever spacing you like. However, going to just 3 inches on center will create much more shade than you are imagining—it will create almost a closed roof. The slats are 1.75″ wide each. At 3 inches on center, you only have 5/8″ of an inch of open space between the each slat. You’ll block the view of the sky completely and have over 80% solid wood on the top layer of the roof. If you then figure the 5.75″ tall rafters below are set at 18 inches on center and also block a lot of sunlight (since the sun is at an angle most of the time), you will have nearly 100% shade under the pergola at most hours of the day except when the sun is directly overhead. The extra roof slats will add 11% to the original cost estimate.

If you still would like to proceed, consider a maximum of 6 inches on center when doing the assembly (don’t screw them in—just place them at 6 inches on center) and see how it looks and how much shade it provides. Then, after a day or two, go back and either screw them in at 6 inches on center or go ahead and add more to get to 3 inches on center. It is doubtful you’ll want to place them at 3 inches on center because you’ll lose the ability of seeing up and not gain much additional shading. You’ll have over 80% shade most of the time at 6 inches on center, which is the closest together any one of our customers has ever placed the roof slats.

I don’t want any top stringers, and on the spacing of the top boards, I’d like them to be 12″ or even wider apart. [Florida customer inquiring about a large pergola that will require a local permit.]

The different levels of a pergola roof are important structural elements.

The top stringers—what we call roof slats—are important structural elements. They are notched into each rafter below to make the super-strong “web” design of our pergola roofs. Without any of the 2×2 roof slats, I think you’ll have difficulty getting the permits approved unless we make some other structural adjustments. For example, you’ll have to place metal ties at each juncture between the rafters and the roof support timbers.

The roof support timbers are precisely that—they are the horizontal 2×6’s that are notched into each side of the posts and they hold the rafters that sit atop and perpendicular to them. Each rafter is notched into the roof support timbers below it, but to really strengthen the pergola roof to resist high storm winds in Florida, I’d recommend keeping at least some of the 2×2 roof slats above them.

If you’d like to have 12″ on center rafters, we can design the structural details in a couple ways. For example, if you don’t mind some “stringers” (roof slats), we can place them either 24″ or 36″ on center to just serve as extra strengthening without creating too busy of a structure. Or, if you really do not want any roof slats in the design, we can then place metal “l” brackets atop the roof support timbers between each rafter that tie to each side of each rafter. It will barely be visible from below and should be fine for the county permit also.

Hi, I have a cut-out that interferes with the roof line above a patio where I’d like to put a new pergola. My patio roof hangs over the patio by about 1 1/2′. Can you design and build a pergola around it?

Absolutely! For an idea of how a project like this could work, take a look at the drawings below. Before we ship your pergola, we’ll talk with you to determine your exact needs, create set of AutoCad drawings for your approval, modify the plans as needed, and then build the pergola to your specifications. It will arrive at your door within 2 to 3 weeks.

(Please note: we ask for a 50% deposit before we begin work on the drawings, as it is a time-consuming process, but well worth the time!)

AutoCad Drawing for 20 x 14 Custom Pergola

AutoCad Drawing for 20 x 14 Custom Pergola

[The following is an example from an email exchange.]

In the course of remodeling our home we will be building a pergola as designed by our architect. The pergola will be placed on top of our front deck built over the garage. The deck framing is 2×10 joists, to which we would attach the columns/posts of the arbor. The upper would be bolted to the front stucco wall. [Customer sent us the detailed plans from his architect.] Can you let us know if it is possible to customize something for us? And if so, what would the price be?

Thank you for your detailed email. We can make a beautiful pergola for your second story balcony. There are many ways to do this. From the drawings, it looks like the pergola is approximately 23 feet wide and about 10 feet tall. Because you are in California, we can deliver, assemble and install it for you.

If the pergola roof exceeds 20 feet in width (it looks like it does), we’ll have to add a third post to support it. Attaching to the house shouldn’t be a problem.

Total cost including delivery, assembly, installation and sales tax will be between $6,400 to $9,700 depending on the size and the options you choose. To figure an exact quote I’d need the following:

1. The exact height, width and length of the pergola’s roof you’d like.
2. Whether you’d like the rafters and roof timbers to be spaced the standard 18″ on center or if you’d like more shade and have them spaced 15″ or 12″ on center. Going to 15″ on center spacing increases the amount of wood and the price by 7%. Going to 12″ on center spacing adds 12% to the 18″ on center price.
3. The grade of redwood you choose (read more about our grades of wood). The redwood grade you choose will lower or increase your price within a 30% range.

We will try to reach you by phone to discuss further. Once we’ve agreed on the details, we can have the set built and installed in 2 to 3 weeks. Thanks again for considering us.

I’d like to have a couple custom attached Pergolas built and installed. Can you help me with permitting if necessary? I need it to pass Florida’s code regulations. Can you provide whatever plans, drawings or specifications that I could take to the county to pull permits, or do I need to hire a architect? Is there anything you can provide as a drawing sample?

We can send detailed drawings and basic structural calculations, but you’ll best be served by taking them to a local architect to adjust to local requirements to pull the permits. Each local government’s building department approaches pergolas in a different manner. Some are easier than others and it is not practical to attempt to navigate the local rules from California. The smaller pergolas (under 120 square feet) usually do not require permits, but a large pergola likely will.

Sample Custom Attached Pergola Drawing

Once we’ve figured out what we are building—the dimensions, wood grade, finish option, and features—we’ll send a detailed invoice for your approval.

Since you want to attach the pergolas to your house, we’ll need some photos of the install areas to make sure every issue is considered ahead of time. Nothing fancy—just a couple digital photos from different angles so we’ll understand what you are doing and can make the drawings taking what is already in place into account.

After a deposit has been placed on the order, the first thing we’ll do is prepare a set of auto cad drawings and specific structural calculations for the roof and posts of each structure (3 business days). You can then review the drawings and make any necessary adjustments. We’ll turnaround the final drawings back to you within a couple business days to then take to your architect to fine tune for presentation to the local building department.

Although we normally make our own structural metal connectors for the pergolas, if you’re pulling permits for your pergola it is often best to use “off the shelf” connectors from the hardware store (like Simpson Ties, for example).