Pergola Options

Anchoring Your Pergola

All pergolas posts should be attached to the ground. If your set will be attached to an existing deck/patio/concrete slab, you can use metal "Simpson Ties" anchors from the local hardware store. Or, purchase our anchoring kit, which includes everything you need for $125: the metal anchors, lag bolts to attach the posts to the metal anchors, the anchor bolts to attach to the concrete, plus wood trim pieces and the deck screws to attach the trim to the base of the posts to cover the metal for a finished look. Click on the image at left for anchor kit photos and ordering instructions. If attaching to a wood deck, please let us know so we send lag bolts for the wood deck instead of anchor bolts for concrete or stone (make selection at checkout).

If you are building over undeveloped ground, you can do it in one of two ways:

1. Dig 30" deep x 8" diameter holes with a post hole digger. Add cardboard Sono tubing and some rebar, then pour concrete (in snow areas go below the frost line). Attach metal anchors at the top of the concrete pour (to keep the posts out of the weather, pour the concrete about two inches above ground level) and, after drying, bolt the pergola posts to the tie. If you order the anchoring kit, the trim pieces will hide the metal ties at the base of the posts.
2. If you order your pergola in our Mature Redwood (20-year decay warranty) or Old-Growth Redwood (30-year decay warranty), you can order your posts 12"L and bury them directly in the ground with concrete and some rebar. This is structurally stronger than attaching at ground level, but placing pergola posts underground is not recommended if ordering in Young Redwood or Douglas-fir, both of which will decay within 12 years in constant contact with the soil. The Mature and Old-Growth Redwood will be fine underground for decades. (Learn more about our wood grades.)

If you order the anchoring kit, you don't need anything from the hardware store if you are attaching to an existing deck. If going underground, just add the concrete and a bit of rebar.

Read more in our FAQ, including the best grade of wood to choose for your climate.

Pergola Roof Options

All pergola roofs have 3 levels. The top level is either the 1 3/4" x 1 3/4" roof slats in the open roof designs or the lattice panels, depending on your choice. Below the top level are the roof rafters (either 2x4's for Small Pergolas or 2x6's for Large Pergolas) and the lowest level is the double roof support timbers (lintels). The roof support timbers are perpendicular to the roof rafters above them. We notch the roof support timbers to either side of each post for additional structural strength (there are 4 roof support timbers on a 4-post pergola).

The support timbers create 4" to 6" less clearance (depending on whether it is a Small or Large Pergola) when you walk underneath, so these two sides of the pergola are usually considered the "sides" of the pergola. The other two sides with the slightly taller ceiling are usually considered the entry and exit sides. You will be able to specify when ordering a rectangular shaped pergola whether you prefer your roof support timbers on the short length (widthwise) or the long length (lengthwise) of your pergola.

Lattice Privacy Panels

You can add privacy panels to your pergola for a small additional charge; see drawing at right. The lattice is 1 3/4"W slats with 1 3/4"W holes. There are several options in configuring the panels:

• The panels are 48"H each. We can make them a different height if you require—please note that taller panels will require two stacked on top of each other, increasing the price. We'll contact you with a quote.
• The panel(s) will be made long enough to fit between the posts (up to a 16' distance). You'll have the option of adding 1, 2, or 3 panels and choosing the long or short side(s), where applicable.
• When you order the panel(s), please write in the provided comment box during checkout at what height from the ground you'd like the top of the panel(s) to be—we'll drill installation holes in the posts to achieve the height you specify. If no height is specified, we'll ship your posts without the holes so you can determine at installation.
• You can also choose whether you'd like the lattice going vertical-horizontal or diagonal (same cost).

Attached or Stand-Alone

There is no extra charge for attached pergola projects. Pergola pricing is based on roof size. Attached and stand-alone pergolas of the same size are priced the same. Choose your preference in the shopping cart. If you would like an attached pergola, we will contact you to verify the details before finalizing your order.

Attaching Pergolas to Your House

All the hardware is included except the anchoring hardware for the ledger board you'll be attaching to your siding. Since we are not on site and don't know what will work best, we leave that for you to decide. If we do the installation for you, we usually use lag bolts every other framing timber (32" on center in most cases).

Standard Ledger Board vs. Custom Metal Anchors on Attached Pergolas

Please note that the method of attaching the roof support timbers directly into a custom made metal anchor, as shown in the photo at right, is a variation on the standard method which uses a ledger board along the siding to hang or attach the rafter to. If you prefer to attach the pergola with our custom metal anchors, you'll need to locate the framing studs and give us the spacing so we can build the pergola around these dimensions. If you have any questions, just email or give us a call.

Custom Pergolas

We can make pergolas to fit just about any size requirement, and any pergola shown can be customized. Just give us a call or use our contact form to let us know what your vision is, or have your architect get in touch with us. For more information on the process for custom designs, read our FAQ entry that addresses one customer's questions about this and permits.

Pergola Questions?

Have questions about our pergolas? Need to know about customization options? See our Pergola FAQs.

Large Pergola Dimensions

Corner posts are 5 1/2" x 5 1/2" and are recessed 12" in from roof dimensions (This can be adjusted to meet your needs— contact us). Roof support timbers (lintels) and rafters are 1 7/8" x 5 3/4". Please contact us if you don't see exactly what you want.

Standard pergola posts ship 9-feet long. The 9' post height makes the top of the roof 9' also since the top roof timbers line up with the top of the post. It gives you 8' 4" clearance ("ceiling height") under the rafters. About 80% of our pergola customers go with the default 9' post height. We can change the post height if you'd like something a bit taller or shorter— just let us know.

The maximum roof span is 20 feet in either direction with a 4 post structure. The maximum span our design allows is 18' 6" on center between posts. Structures over 20 feet in any direction are built with an additional posts to support spans from 20 to 36 feet. For example, a 30' x 20' pergola will have a total of 6 posts.

Our Pergola kits are completely assembled in the shop prior to shipping to be certain everything fits together perfectly. All timbers are notched into one another to fit together tightly. There are hundreds of notches in the larger pergolas. Notching is a labor intensive process that results in a very strong "web effect" that distributes wind and weight stresses throughout the structure.

All hardware is included and it is stainless steel.

Pergola Assembly and Shipping

Assembly is best done by two people and usually takes about half a day to a day, depending on size. Take a look at our assembly instructions below for more specific details. If you plan to pour concrete, the project will require an additional half day prior to assembly to square the corners and let the concrete dry.

Pergolas ship in double cardboard boxes strapped to a crate. UPS Freight or another LTL carrier will call a day or two before delivery to set up a 4-hour delivery window. They will deliver the crate with a lift gate truck to your driveway. Once on your driveway, you can cut the straps and lift the individual boxes. If the trucking company shows up at your driveway unprepared with either no lift gate or no pallet jack, it's really not a big deal. Just cut the straps while the pallet is still on the truck and unload the boxes from the truck instead. The individual boxes are packaged under 100 pounds for ease of movement.

If you have assembly questions, email or call us (see pergola assembly instructions below). And, in the unlikely event a part arrives broken, let us know and we will quickly ship a replacement part.

Assembly Instructions for Freestanding Pergolas

Assembly Instructions for Pergolas Attached to Structures and/or Extra Large

Local Delivery and Installation

We can deliver and install your pergola for an additional fee if you are in California. We can also go as far as South Arizona and into Nevada. Please email or call us, or if ordering online, just write in the comment section that you'd like help with the assembly or installation of your order. We will have our assembly team bring your pergola and assemble it on-site. Assembly/installation adds between 8 and 15% to the cost of your order (depending on size, complexity, and distance involved).

Large Pergolas
Old-Growth Redwood   Mature Redwood   Young Redwood   Douglas-fir
L x W in Feet
10 x 10 Large Pergola			$4230		$3600		$3180		$2750
12 x 10 Large Pergola			$4770		$4060		$3580		$3110
12 x 12 Large Pergola			$5410		$4600		$4060		$3520
14 x 10 Large Pergola			$5300		$4510		$3980		$3450
14 x 12 Large Pergola			$6060		$5160		$4550		$3940
14 x 14 Large Pergola			$6810		$5790		$5110		$4430
15 x 10 Large Pergola			$5570		$4740		$4180		$3630
15 x 12 Large Pergola			$6390		$5440		$4800		$4160
15 x 15 Large Pergola			$7590		$6460		$5700		$4940
16 x 10 Large Pergola			$5850		$4980		$4390		$3810
16 x 12 Large Pergola			$6710		$5710		$5040		$4370
16 x 14 Large Pergola			$7570		$6440		$5680		$4930
16 x 16 Large Pergola			$8430		$7170		$6330		$5480
18 x 10 Large Pergola			$6390		$5440		$4800		$4160
18 x 12 Large Pergola			$7360		$6260		$5520		$4790
18 x 14 Large Pergola			$8320		$7080		$6240		$5410
18 x 15 Large Pergola			$8810		$7490		$6610		$5730
18 x 16 Large Pergola			$9620		$8180		$7220		$6260
18 x 18 Large Pergola			$10260		$8730		$7700		$6670
20 x 10 Large Pergola			$6920		$5890		$5190		$4500
20 x 12 Large Pergola			$8000		$6800		$6000		$5200
20 x 14 Large Pergola			$9080		$7720		$6810		$5910
20 x 15 Large Pergola			$9610		$8170		$7210		$6250
20 x 16 Large Pergola			$10150		$8630		$7620		$6600
20 x 18 Large Pergola			$11230		$9550		$8430		$7300
20 x 20 Large Pergola			$12310		$10470		$9240		$8010

Extra Large Pergolas (6 Posts)
Old-Growth Redwood   Mature Redwood   Young Redwood   Douglas-fir
L x W in Feet
25 x 15 Extra Large Pergola			$12400		$10540		$9300		$8060
25 x 16 Extra Large Pergola			$13100		$11140		$9830		$8520
25 x 18 Extra Large Pergola			$14100		$11990		$10580		$9170
25 x 20 Extra Large Pergola			$15000		$12750		$11250		$9750
26 x 15 Extra Large Pergola			$12900		$10970		$9680		$8390
28 x 15 Extra Large Pergola			$13800		$11730		$10350		$8970
28 x 18 Extra Large Pergola			$16100		$13690		$12080		$10470
30 x 18 Extra Large Pergola			$17600		$14960		$13200		$11440
30 x 20 Extra Large Pergola			$19300		$16410		$14480		$12550
35 x 20 Extra Large Pergola			$21700		$18450		$16280		$14110

See our Small Pergola Prices »

Anchor Kit
Anchor Kit for Two-Post Pergola— includes 2 Metal Anchors, 4 Anchor Bolts, 4 Lag Bolts (to secure posts to concrete) and 8 Matching Wood Trim Pieces (to hide metal hardware with trim)		$70
Anchor Kit for Four-Post Pergola— includes 4 Metal Anchors, 8 Anchor Bolts, 8 Lag Bolts (to secure posts to concrete) and 16 Matching Wood Trim Pieces (to hide metal hardware with trim)		$125
Anchor Kit for Six-Post Pergola— includes 6 Metal Anchors, 12 Anchor Bolts, 12 Lag Bolts (to secure posts to concrete) and 24 Matching Wood Trim Pieces (to hide metal hardware with trim)		$175

Pergola Finishing Options

All of our pergolas are fully planed, pre-cut, routered, notched, all holes are pre-drilled, and every timber finely sanded. After sanding, there are different finishing options you can choose from:

• We can seal each timber with our standard sealant, a tung and linseed oil based Superdeck sealant. We use a 50/50 combination of semi-transparent sealant no. 1905 (Heart Redwood) and no. 1910 (Natural). Superdeck has UV protection that helps keep the surface color of the pergola looking supple and beautiful for a few years.
• If you are planning to add another stain or sealant, just order your pergola "unfinished."
• Do you want to paint your pergola to match your house? We’ll add 2 coats of oil-based primer to all the timbers so all you have to do is add one coat of color. Choose the primer option that best suits your needs during checkout: if you plan to paint a dark color, order the gray primer, or if painting a light color, order the off-white primer.

Wood Grade Options

Old-Growth Redwood 30 Year Warranty

Mature Redwood 20 Year Warranty

Young Redwood 10 Year Warranty

Douglas-fir 8 Year Warranty

Wood Samples: If you'd like to experience the quality of our wood before placing a furniture order—or if you'd like to see first-hand the difference between our four grades of wood—we offer a set of wood samples. For $20 we'll expedite your samples anywhere in the continental US (or $25 to Hawaii, Alaska, and Canada). The purchase price will be refunded on your first furniture order.

	Wood Samples - Continental US (price includes shipping) - $20
	Wood Samples - Hawaii, Alaska, and Canada (price includes shipping) - $25

Finish Options

Your furniture can be finished in one of six ways (select during checkout):

• Standard Sealant

  If you want to keep the natural wood tones with a quality semi-transparent linseed & tung oil based product. This finish will hold the surface color for an average of 2 years. (Young-Growth will be stained to appear like Mature-Growth; learn more.)

• Premium Sealant

  If you want to keep the natural wood tones with a translucent Alkyd oil based product. This finish will hold the surface color for an average of 4 years.

• Unfinished

  Lets you apply your own stain, or let the wood fade to a "weathered look" in a few months.

• Off-White Oil-Based Primer

  If you're going to paint in a light color. (We apply two coats.)

• Gray Oil-Based Primer

  If you're going to paint in a darker color. (We apply two coats.)

• Wax Finish

  If you plan to use your furniture indoors and would like to keep it looking great without sealant or paint.
• Learn more about our finish options and how to care for your Forever Redwood furniture.