I have been advised to keep the deck joists a minimum of 6 inches. But, keep in mind things like ceiling fans or other accessories, head room for tall people, standing up in a hot tub or dancing on tables! A 12-inch diameter footing would suffice for footings in gravelly soil, and the depth would depend upon frost levels. If you want to create an intimate outdoor seating area for two people - consider purchasing something smaller . se a stake and a scrap 2x4 to brace the post in position until you connect it to the other posts. Most post anchors have an upper, lower and middle section, with a horizontal plate in the middle. Alternatively, you can use a lap joint to attach the rafters without the use of metal hangers. To ensure that everything is well aligned, it is important to check the level of each post as they are set in place. 28 wood is a better choice for heavier load-bearing structures since its extra width provides more stability and support. Increasing the depth or number of plies of a beam will allow you to increase the footing spacing. Use a 6x6 post for your pergola. Your deck footings have saved me countless hours and effort. Your pergola can also be as wide as you want, as long as its beams are strong enough to support the roof. Keep in mind that these figures depend on the size and spacing of . It is a hybrid helical pier and surface resting load plate. Make sure to research the appropriate materials for your particular project, talk to your local lumber store, and consider consulting with a structural engineer before starting your project to ensure maximum safety and stability. Adding a 8x10 deck attached to existing deck, 2x10's, I won an inflatable 6 person inter hot tub. So, does a gazebo or pergola need footings? Setting the posts in concrete is essential for the rigidity of the carport. The maximum span for a 28 header depends on several factors, including the type of lumber and the load bearing requirements. These pergola footings are going to be set on the Deck Foot Anchor which is a combination of a helical blade for anchoring to the soil and a large load plate that will distribute the weight of the pergola to the ground. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); Your email address will not be published. In some areas you may have to go a lot deeper due to the following factors . Very slick idea and a lot less work than setting posts in concrete or using deck blocks. As soon as the hole is properly dug, set your post or the footing. When laying out the posts for a pergola, the first thing that needs to be done is to determine the height and size of the structure, as this will determine the size and number of posts that are needed. The 8' x 8' foundation area should be in the center point of this 144 square foot space. If you dont anchor a pergola, it can be unstable and present a safety risk. The depth of your footings for a pergola will depend on the size of your pergola, the type of soil you have, the ground and the climate conditions. Pressure-treated pine or fir are good options for posts, as they are strong, durable and resistant to moisture, warping and rot. . There are 3 main ways to anchor a pergola to the ground: Burying posts. Each post will bear a static weight of 150kg-200kg. The load plate and the auger really should be perpendicular or you will have challenges getting the saddle to sit flush on the plate. Soil under slab on grade construction for buildings. For anyone considering adding a pergola to their yard, there are some key questions that should be answered prior to construction. Once these basic measurements are determined, the posts should be placed in line with the height and size of the pergola. Nothing says lawsuit like some poor bastard getting splattered by a pergola-shaped tumbleweed in a windstorm. The only thing that is going to prevent this from working for you is if your backyard is full of rocks. As the post is 4 inches wide, 3 multiplied by 4 is 12, so the hole . You can find more info and tips about pergolas on our FAQs, our Guide to Choosing a Pergola and our Pergola Styles Comparison. Put down 2-3" of small polygonal stone dust that compacts well. Planning on a 10 x 10 Toja Grid pergola using 6 x 6 posts. Legal disclaimer denying responsibility to be inserted here. Back filled with soil or cement. An extensive uplift testing program is currently underway with Intertek involving different soil types and locations across the USA. Since none of us are there, we cannot tell you the strength of your soil, but this should at least give you some idea what your are dealing with. We are going to build this pergola much faster and easier. Pass the bolt thru the posts and secure them using the appropriate wrench. If you do not create a high point in the middle of the pier, there is a risk that water may continually pool on the concrete subjecting the hardware to frequent and prolonged wet conditions. 5. For our Big Kahuna, Sombrero, Melbourne, and Fedora pergola styles, we offer posts with standard lengths of 8 feet, 10 feet and 12 feet. Fasten each corner assembly with two 1/2 lag bolts, washers, and nuts. Other Tools and Material you will need: 8" x 3 or 4ft diameter sonotube form 2-3 bags of ready mix concrete per form Wheel Barrel Building Stakes Shovel Forget digging pergola footings and use the Deck Foot Anchor as a solid alternative to common residential backyard pergolas. Anchor the remaining posts in their holes with wet concrete. 23 Can a pergola be freestanding? I used the 4x4 and would probably use the 6x6 Do not continue driving the auger or you may just churn up the soil around the helical blade. They can be built on a base of plastic, metal or concrete. Deeper than that. First, get the tools you need such as a spade for removing the sod, an impact wrench (350 ft-lb torque is ideal), a 12mm six point socket or an adjustable wrench. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Planning on a 10' x 10' Toja Grid pergola using 6" x 6" posts. The requirements can vary, depending on the area where you live. However, you may need larger or smaller rafters depending on the specific requirements of your roof and the type of materials you are working with. If you are installing on top of a wood deck (not recommended) chooseWood Lag. We also recommend if you are putting the pergola posts in ground, that you wrap the bottom part of the post that will be in contact with cement in a peel and stick roofing membrane. So there is no pouring half a pier and coming back to pour on top of it the next day. Ideally, water should naturally flow away from the anchoring hardware on the pergola footings. If you use the Rule of Thumb and make a 6' by 8' triangle with a 10' diagonal (hypotenuse) you will have a right angle to measure each footing location. Be sure to set any J bolts or parts of your post anchoring hardware if they are to be set into wet cement. Patio Stones. It is critical that the footings have a firm foundation, and in many situations, you will need to keep excavating until you reach undisturbed soil. You certainly do not want to go about it incorrectly and end up risking the safety of your new pergola. When considering porch depth, 6 ft. (1.8 m) is a desirable depth but 8 ft. (2.4 m) is ideal. For example, a #2 or better grade of lumber at the same size and spacing can reach spans of up to 11-12 feet. If youre shopping for a wood pergola kits, this pergola post information will come in handy since post length is one of the important decisions youll make. Dig holes in the locations for the pergola's posts, making each hole at least 12 inches in diameter and the depth of one-third the height of one post. People who cheat the footings will catch a gust of wind and it fails. :-) Seriously, I cant thank you enough. In warmer climates you 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 3-4 in the ground. Build a pergola Dig holes for all posts; these should be 30cm x 30cm (1ft x 1ft) wide and 60cm (2ft) deep. Another person can keep the post square and level while you drill the holes for nuts and bolts to firmly fasten the post in the floor. Step 6. For the Fedora, we recommend 10 posts on a slab or footer and 12 posts (or longer) if going in the ground. The post saddles for the Deck Foot Anchor have a lateral slide feature which allows the saddle to be moved up to about 2" to make up for any errors in the location of your pergola footings. If, however, the pergola will be supported in some way, such as by posts or walls, the span may be greater. Use a trowel and try to smooth the top and dome the perimeter edge enough that water egress is permitted. deep plunge cut on each side of the post. The size of the footing depends on the soil type under the footing. However, dont be discouraged by the additional work because fence posts usually have superior durability, due to the larger size and higher strength of the posts. Option #2 Flared bottom: For climates where the ground freezes. Start by making a 1-in. The posts are recommended to be about 1 foot and 6 inches in from the end of the rafters. Your goal should be to ensure that each footing is indeed in line with the corners of the pergola so that your structure is as close to perfectly square or rectangular as possible. Its also essential to contact any relevant utility companies to confirm if anything needs to be moved or adjusted before construction begins. Rain water can ruin all your work in a matter of minutes. The new direct Yes, a pergola can be built using 44 posts. With a header to the house and the deck was built 6, I'm putting a swim spa into an inground concrete bunker and will build a deck around it. Step 5. If your pergola is larger and you plan to put heavier items underneath it, such as furniture, youll likely want to upgrade to 28. The hole in the photo shown here was 60" deep. The minimum hole diameter should measure four times the . Could I get away with 2' footings for 10' high posts? Posts should also be anchored into preexisting footings that are solid, level and at the same depth to ensure stability. In both these scenarios, the posts are buried in the ground and therefore must be treated for ground contact. While Inters is the correct answer the old rule of thumb is 1/3 of the post in the ground; so for a 3meter post above ground that's a hole 1500 deep. Flat footing with concrete pier and common post base. Additions in Your Pergola: Ideally, the minimum height of the pergola should not be lower than 7. Step 2. The span of a 210 for a pergola will depend on several different factors, including the species and strength of the wood, the size and weight of the roof, and how the pergola will be supported. A concrete footing for a deck should be 20 inches round and a minimum of 24 inches deep. There is no third party uplift data for the Deck Foot Anchor at this time so this product may not be suitable for some projects. I'm a believer! I realized now that the footings should've been quite larger to look proper. You can look up the recommended footing size, based on the size and type of house and the bearing capacity of the soil. Both sections of the pergola must be level and perfectly squared. For example, if your pergola will be placed on a deck, you may need to use 66 posts to ensure the pergola is structurally sound and stable. This piece of metal should be flush with the top of the fresh cement. Hi all, I'm setting 2 100x100 treated pine posts on stirrups into concrete, but wondering if anyone can throw some advice to the first timer. To finish off the layout of the posts, four posts should be nailed to each post along the edge of the pergola. You may also need to use post-footing-base flares to get adequate load capacity on the bottom of your footings, depending on the soil bearing capacity (what it can hold per square inch, in pounds) and the weight of the roof and any roof loads, such as snow. The minimum depth required for gazebo or pergola footings is usually between 12 to 20 inches. Using string and batter boards to layout a right angle triangle to get started. Thus, it reduces the cost of footing in concrete as well as reinforcement. 4. For 66 pergola posts, you'll need 12" concrete forms. When deciding whether you should use 44 or 66 posts for your pergola, there is no one size fits all answer. Footings can also be sized according to beam and joist sizes instead of being calculated based on deck loads. You can extend the string along the adjacent X and Y axes once you have the 10' diagonal marked accurately because it has to be 90 degrees. Posts for this pergola pass through the deck and are supported by the Deck Foot Anchor. The working of the mixture creates fresh cement. One of the benefits of footings is it allows a concrete pad or pavers to be added at a later date as seen here on this timber frame ShadeScape pergola kit from Western Timber Frame: Common Footing Types Shallow or Strip Foundation I assume to there'll be a patio under it. The posts should also take into account the location of the pergola. Then using a spade, remove a 2' x 2' area of any sod and organic material in the top few inches of the soil. For my project I would have needed 60 bags of concrete or a lot of deck blocks. Your email address will not be published. If you move up to 4-by-8, you're usually allowed to span up to 10 feet between posts. Using ground anchors. Taking Anchor Posts In A Suitable Location. . With some extra care and planning, its possible to use fence posts for a pergola that will last for years to come. A pergola is typically between 8 feet to 14 feet in height. J. This is what was done for the job shown in this photo. In a worst case scenario silt and muck can fill up the forms or soften and destroy them. Additionally, the posts should be suitable for your local climate and weather. As a general rule, Fencing Direct recommends at least a 24-inch footing depth for a 4-foot fence, plus an extra 3 inches for every foot of height (for example, 27 inches for a 5-foot post). To ensure the posts are securely in place, it is recommended that you use concrete to form a "soil-cement" column around the bottoms of each post. 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. [5] Concrete form tubes can be purchased at most major home improvement centers. This thread is archived This data will complete a robust body of engineering data and is expected to be published later in 2021. For more information that is specific to our timber frame pergola kits, contact us or reference that information here. The bottom of these footings is below the frost line. Depending on the size and scope of the project, you may need to apply for building permits and local council approval. ground before drilling these 6 deck feet in. When selecting the size for your pergola posts, its important to take several factors into consideration. 21 Does a pergola need footings? For a small pergola, 44 or 66 pressure-treated lumber or fiberglass posts may be appropriate. You have to make each hole at least 6 8 inches in diameter. Alternatively rent a two-man twelve inch gas powered auger. Each hole should be six inches deeper than the frostline in your field. Used my 1/2" impact This pergola is a bit of a twist on the traditional style you are used to seeing. But you really can't go wrong digging a few inches deeper. The joist hangers should be attached with nails. But as soon as you have your post in place, back fill around it while plumbing it vertical. Fortunately there are some excellent ways of installing footings for a pergola that are strong, stable and durable without the need to dig, mix and pour cement. To begin, we suggest digging the post hole so it is approximately three times wider than the fence post. Anchor the remaining posts in their holes with wet concrete.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'dreamoutdoorliving_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_11',879,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-dreamoutdoorliving_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0'); Step 1. When in doubt, speak to a professional who can better help you determine the correct distance for your specific patio project. As suggested, you should try to anchor your pergola to one of the deck's beams. Answer: A2a Hi S.R. Two-story buildings require a minimum of 15-inch wide footings for 1,500 LBV soil. However, the size of posts can also depend on factors such as the size and design of your pergola, the material it is made from, and the soil type. 6 divided by 3 is 2, therefore the depth of the hole required is 2 feet. It is recommended that the pergola posts be buried into the ground at least 24 inches deep. Make a concrete mix for this by following the instructions on the mixs box. Smaller kits generally look better with a shorter post. You want the mix to be wet but not soupy. Since 2008, Pergola Depot has been building & shipping high quality pergola kits and outdoor living products to locations throughout the lower 48 United States. The easiest method of installation is to dig footings to the correct depth (below the frost line in your area) and use post mounting hardware to attach the posts to the concrete footings or existing concrete slab as follows: Order the 8 foot or 10 foot post option and add the post attachment hardware to your order. I have a large deck. Your local building codes may also need to be taken into consideration as this will influence the acceptable footing depths. Concrete and In Ground Pergola Post Guide. During the next step, the load plate will be set into place. The size of rafters you need for a 20 foot span will depend on a few factors, including the type of roof you are building, the size of the roof, and the type of materials youre working with. Generally, the minimum depth should be roughly twice the wall height of a solid wall and approximately three times the depth of a pergola in dry sand. Its a matter of choice, but you probably dont want to make the pergola too tall. Its important to determine the purpose for the pergola before selecting a height, as this will help ensure a successful end result. eg If the post height above ground level is 10 feet then the footing depth should be 3.3 feet. 1/3 the length of your pergola posts. Just remember the post will not be fully secure while standing freely. Frost heave can push posts out of the ground 3 or more if not installed properly.