How to Build a Pergola
Want to know how to build a pergola, complete with a finished floor deck? Join landscape design expert and Done-In-A-Weekend Extreme Projects host Doug Scott as he walks alongside professional builder Mike Jones of Jones Refinishing through a two-day pergola build to see how it’s done. Whether you’re ready to hire it out or tackle it yourself, this project is more achievable than you might think.
Click here to download the free pergola build plans.
Why Build a Pergola? The Benefits Are Hard to Ignore
A pergola does more for your backyard than just look good (though it absolutely does that, too). Here’s why so many homeowners are adding one:
- Expands your outdoor living space—a pergola creates a defined, comfortable gathering area that feels like an outdoor room.
- Adds architectural interest—the structure injects visual character into your yard while complementing your home’s existing features.
- Increases property value—functional outdoor improvements consistently rank among the best returns on home improvement investment.
- Versatility—hang potted plants, string lights, shade curtains, or climbing vines to make the space entirely your own.
Day 1: Setting Posts and Framing the Pergola
Step 1: Layout and Squaring the Base
Mike’s first move is one of the most important of the entire project: squaring the base before a single hole is dug. Using grade stakes and masonry twine, the footprint of the pergola is laid out and squared precisely.
Step 2: Digging Post Holes and Setting Posts
With the layout confirmed, all four post holes are dug. Posts are then placed and temporarily set (not cemented yet). This initial placement allows the team to adjust, plumb, and brace each post before anything is made permanent.
Step 3: Squaring, Bracing, and Pouring Concrete
Once all four posts are perfectly plumb and squared at both the top and bottom, cross-beams are permanently bolted into place. Concrete is then poured into all four post holes and allowed to set for approximately one hour. Rather than wait idle, the crew uses that hour productively, cutting and notching rafters so they’re ready to install the moment the concrete firms up.
Step 4: Installing the Rafters
With the concrete set and posts locked in, each notched rafter is secured across the top of the pergola structure. The notching ensures a tight, professional fit against the cross-beams.
Day 2: Finishing the Pergola Top and Building the Deck
Completing the Pergola Top
Day two kicks off with the installation of one final rafter that was missed on day one. Mike jokes someone miscalculated the lumber order, and that it “could have been him.” Lesson learned: always double-check your cut list before the crew arrives. With that rafter in place, 2x2s are cut and secured across the top of the pergola, completing the classic open-roof look that defines the pergola aesthetic and provides that perfect balance of sun and shade.
Building the Pergola Deck
Next, the team shifts focus to the decked floor—the feature that transforms this pergola from a standalone structure into a true outdoor room.
The deck framing uses 2x10s and 2x8s, with 5/4″ decking boards for the finished walking surface. Once the deck is fully built, decorative corner bracing is installed at the base of each post. This final touch serves double duty: it adds structural rigidity to the completed structure and gives the pergola a polished, finished appearance.
The Finished Result
With the last piece of bracing secured, Doug and Mike step back to take it in, and the result speaks for itself. A beautiful, functional 10×12 pergola with a full deck floor, built in two days by a skilled crew. The homeowners are thrilled. Mike’s proud of how it came together. And if you’ve been on the fence about adding a pergola to your own backyard, this project is proof that it’s well within reach.
Ready to build your own? Click here to download the free pergola build plans—complete materials list, cut list, and step-by-step instructions included.
To learn more about Jones Refinishing, visit the company’s Facebook page.
Frequently Asked Questions About Building a Pergola
For a standard residential pergola, this build uses 6×6 posts, 2×6 cross-beams and rafters, and 2x2s for the decorative top. Deck framing uses 2x10s and 2x8s with 5/4″ decking boards for the surface. Always verify sizing against your specific span and load requirements.
Yes, concrete-set posts are the standard for structural stability and longevity. In this build, posts are temporarily braced and squared first, then concrete is poured once everything is perfectly aligned. Skipping the concrete (or pouring before squaring) are two of the most common pergola building mistakes.
Pressure-treated lumber is the most common and cost-effective choice for structural elements like posts and beams, as it resists rot and insects. Cedar and redwood are popular upgrades for their natural beauty and resistance to weathering. Always use lumber rated for ground contact on any posts that are set directly in concrete.
