Workshop Pergola, Part 2 – The FINISHED Pergola!

Right here’s a have a look at the way it turned out.

You’ll be able to see the entire course of, begin to end, right here…

Once I left off in Half 1, I had completed the brackets and put in them. So then subsequent step was to construct and fasten the rafters. For my 31-inch pergola, I made three rafters. These are the elements that usually have an ornamental design reduce within the ends, so to make that beautify finish, I used a sanding disc as a sample. I used a chunk of painters tape to mark the place I wished the circle to line up on the sting of the board.

After which I lined that up on the finish of the board and traced round it.

Then I moved it to the opposite aspect of the board, made it contact the primary circle, and traced once more.

As soon as I had erased the additional traces, that is the design that was left.

And as soon as I reduce that out utilizing my miter noticed, that is the ultimate design.

These boards have been very tough, in order that they wanted quite a lot of sanding to get them easy and fairly.

As soon as they have been sanded, I used two coats of Zinsser B-I-N shellac-based primer, adopted by two coats of exterior paint from Sherwin Williams.

For the again rafter, I wished so as to add one thing to maintain rainwater from coming off of the roof and being funneled instantly onto the entrance porch. So I used some PVC boards that I had leftover from earlier initiatives, and I reduce three strips.

After which I glued these collectively in a stack utilizing PVC glue and 2-inch nails.

And I hooked up these to the bottom of the again rafter in order that it shaped an angle, peaked within the heart and sloping down on the edges.

With that hooked up, the bottom regarded like this.

Right here’s one other view of it from the aspect.

After it was hooked up, I caulked the place these PVC boards met the board. I did this earlier than portray the boards. Additionally, this solely reveals two items of the PVC strips, however I did use three strips to get the suitable depth.

Earlier than attaching that again rafter, I added a thick bead of silicone caulk alongside the again fringe of that PVC strip, and pushed it up towards the fascia board actually tight to kind a seal.

Subsequent, I put in the entrance rafter, after which I may mark and measure the middle between these two to put in the middle rafter.

With all three rafters in place, it really began to appear like a pergola!

Right here’s a have a look at how that again PVC extension meets the fascia board. You’ll be able to see the height within the heart and the slope in direction of the edges.

The ultimate piece of the pergola was the purlins for the very high. I used 2″x2″ lumber for these, and I wished to chop a beautify angle on the ends. So I reduce the primary one, and marked the tip of that board on my miter noticed to make use of as a information for the remainder.

Utilizing that mark as a information, I may rapidly reduce the opposite 15 purlins with that very same angle.

Right here’s what the ends regarded like with that angle reduce.

I used a 3-inch curler to prime and paint these utilizing the identical merchandise I had used on the opposite items.

Earlier than putting in these, I went forward and began the screws on the again aspect of every purlin.

I additionally reduce a 3.75″ spacer in order that I wouldn’t need to measure and mark placement for every purlin whereas I used to be up on the scaffolding, and I additionally marked the middle of that spacer in order that I may use it to search out the location of the primary purlins (since I used to be utilizing a fair quantity and wouldn’t have a purlin proper within the heart of the rafters).

Having these screws began within the again aspect of the purlins saved me a lot hassle as a result of this was the toughest a part of the entire venture. Since I’m so quick, I couldn’t attain over the rafters to screw in these again screws. As a substitute, I needed to attain up and thru the rafters to get to these again screws.

And as soon as I had that first one on and began working my approach in direction of the left aspect of the pergola, I used to be just about working blind. I couldn’t see what I used to be doing in any respect, so I simply needed to really feel for proper placement. There’s no approach I may have executed this had I not reduce a spacer and began these screws. I wouldn’t have been in a position to see to mark and measure every one with a tape measure, and I wouldn’t have been in a position to maintain a screw in place whereas additionally holding the purlin in the suitable place and screwing it on.

As soon as I acquired the again screws on, I may rise up on my scaffolding and attain excessive to get to the center and entrance screws.

This is able to have been a lot simpler had I constructed the pergola first, after which constructed the steps. However I made it work. However because it was, I needed to put my scaffolding upon the highest step, so there wasn’t a complete lot of room for shifting the scaffolding into the right place. I had no choice however to be caught in that one place. And sure, this was very secure. These wheels are locked and turned perpendicular to the constructing, and the brackets held the scaffolding very nonetheless and durable.

I lastly managed to get the entire purlins hooked up, and with that, the pergola was completed!

It’s not usually {that a} completed product seems similar to a mock up, however this one does! And I’m simply thrilled with the way it turned out.

Since this constructing is principally an enormous shed constructed by a shed firm, I didn’t actually have any choices for including curiosity to the entrance of the constructing. However I feel that is the right contact.

When it rains, the steps will nonetheless get rained on, however that wasn’t a priority that I had. My solely concern was that I didn’t need rain pouring instantly off of the roof onto the entrance steps. However with the addition of that PVC extension, that’s now not a difficulty.

And sure, it really works! We’ve had a downpour since I hooked up that again rafter, and I went out within the rain particularly to see if it was doing its job. I’m very happy to say that it labored simply as deliberate.

There are nonetheless these 6-ish inches on either side the place the rain can come off of the roof and are available straight down, however I don’t assume that’s an enormous difficulty.

I used to be already planning to place some potted crops on both aspect of the steps anyway, so now they’ll get watered every time it rains.

This venture would have been a lot simpler with a helper, however I’m a really impartial particular person. I just like the problem of doing issues myself.

That usually implies that I’ve to construct issues in place, which provides to the problem. However I’m at all times up for a problem. And there’s simply one thing about with the ability to say that I did a venture all on my own.

So with this venture executed, I’m going to show my consideration to the bed room suite for now. I wish to get the flooring put in and completed, however then I’ll want to offer the flooring a couple of days to remedy after it’s stained and sealed earlier than persevering with any work on the bed room suite.

So I would use that point (relying on the climate) to complete up the caulking and portray of the entire PVC initiatives and get the world across the workshop mulched. However for now, I simply love coming exterior and seeing my cute little workshop in our again yard.

So simply as a reminder, right here’s how the workshop regarded proper after it was constructed final fall.

And right here’s what it seems like now.

It’s shaping as much as be the little yard cottage workshop of my desires!