Make the most of your backyard during the day and at night with this transformative pergola. Simpson Strong-Tie had the opportunity to work with DIYer Jen Woodhouse of The House of Wood on building a transformative outdoor structure for her backyard. Learn how she built this multipurpose pergola with the help of our Outdoor Accents® decorative hardware.
In planning this build, Jen made sure to check with her local utility company before digging her posts. This was to ensure that she wasn’t going to hit any underground utility lines or cables. Jen also used our Outdoor Accents® Mission Collection® decorative hardware to build her pergola structure.
This hardware gave her outdoor structure a touch of southwestern flair with the arched mission-style profile of the post bases, straps and angles. When assembling the pergola, Jen installed her Simpson Strong-Tie hardware with the Outdoor Accents structural wood screw and patented hex-head washer, the only approved fastener solution for Outdoor Accents connectors (sold separately). The black powder-coated connectors made this outdoor structure easy to build and added both beauty and strength to the project.
Tools:
- Tape measure
- Augur, post hole digger, and shovel
- Manual tamper
- Level and string
- Cordless impact driver
- 1 1/2-inch Forstner bit
- Mallet
- Clamps
- Wood chisel
- Circular saw
- Reciprocating saw or chainsaw
- Bandsaw
- Jigsaw
- Safety glasses, hearing protection, dust mask
Materials:
- (2) 12′ 6×6 posts
- (1) 8′ 6×6 post
- (4) 16′ 2×12 boards
- (1) 10′ 2×12 board
- 2×4 studs and wooden stakes
- Wood screws
- Paver base and concrete mix
Simpson Strong-Tie APDJT Deck Joist Tie Being Installed
Simpson Strong-Tie Outdoor Accents Mission Collection
- (4) 5-inch ZMAX Deck Joist Tie for 2x Lumber
- (22) 5 1/2-inch Black Structural Wood Screws
- (22) Black Powder-Coated Hex-Head Washers
- (4) Black Powder-Coated Decorative Washers
- (18) ZMAX 90º Angle for 2x Lumber
- (18) #10 x 1 1/2-inch Black Connector Screws
- (2) Decorative 6×6 Post Bases
- (1) Bottle Opener
DIY Transformative Movie Screen
Below is an outline of the steps Jen took when she built this transformative pergola. She goes further into depth on the build process on her blog which you can read here.
Steps to Build
1. Set the posts in concrete.
2. Cut the beams.
3. Cut the rafters.
4. Trim the post height.
5. Cut the angled knee braces.
6. Paint or stain the pergola parts
7. Assemble the pergola
8. Attach the knee braces
9. Install the hammock hardware and retractable projector screen