How To Attach A Pergola To House

Building a pergola in your backyard is something that not only contributes to the aesthetic of your home, but can also add value to it!

If you’re wondering how to attach a pergola to a house, you’ve come to the right place.

In this article, I will cover some key information about pergolas, as well as a step-by-step guide on how to attach a pergola to your house.

Let’s get started.

What Is A Pergola?

Pergolas are popular backyard structures that can either be freestanding or attached to your home. The construction consists of columns that act as a support to a roofing grid made out of a combination of beams and rafters. 

Climbing vines and flowering plants are often grown up pergolas for a simply stunning feature in your backyard.

Depending on why you’re building your pergola, the roofing grid can either be left open or covered to create an outdoor space that provides you with shelter on both hot and rainy days.

A Guide On How To Attach A Pergola To A House

Step One – Mark The Elevation And Width On Your House

To begin, you will first need to make two perpendicular lines up the side of the home, starting from your house’s soffits to your patio or outside space you want to cover in order to mark the elevation of your pergola. 

When working with a patio, you will need to make sure that you space them apart at the same width as the patio’s concrete.

Step Two – Cut The Beams For The First Roof Layer 

Next, you will need to cut three 2 by 8 wooden beams to make the first roof layer that sits parallel to your home.

You will need to create notches in the beams with a jigsaw to support four of the six beams for the second layer. Simply measure and mark the depth of the notches, then take a combination square and a scrap piece of wood to mark the width. The remaining two beams will simply fit against the ends of the first layer’s beams.

Step Three – Level The Pergola Ledger, And Attach It To Your Home With Lag Screws

Next, you will need to level the pergola ledger. To attach it to your home, you will need to pre-drill holes to make way for lag screws that will fit through the ledger and into the side of your home. Make sure that you tighten the screws with a ratchet.

Step Four – Install Post Brackets To Support The Pergola

Next, you will need to install two post brackets into the concrete of your patio or outdoor concrete.

Before using your power drill, make sure to position and mark in the center of each post bracket with a hammer and tool. Following this, drill a hole where you have made each mark. 

Once you have a hole in the concrete, insert an expansion anchor through the bracket into the concrete, and tighten it as much as you are able with a ratchet.

Step Five – Install Post Supports

Next, it’s important to install post supports inside the brackets in order to raise the posts above the concrete, as this will help to prevent the wood becoming affected by moisture and rotting over time.

At this stage, you will need to secure the bracket to the post with heavy-gauge galvanized nails and a hammer. 

Step Six – Temporarily Secure The Posts Vertically With Temporary Stakes 

Following this, to keep the post in its vertical position, you will need to hammer stakes into the ground and then attach temporary braces with screws.

Repeat this process on the other side, so both posts are secure in the vertical position.

Step Seven – Attach The First-Layer End Beams To The Posts

Now it is time to align and clamp the notched end beams in the first layer to the posts at the correct elevation to temporarily hold them in place.

To permanently attach the beams to the post, you need to pre-drill holes with a countersunk drill bit. Following this, you need to drive stainless-steel screws into the posts with a square drill bit.

Now for the inside end beam, ensure that the notches are aligned with a spare piece of wood. Following this, attach a clamp and attach the second beam in the same way as you did the first with stainless steel screws that are non-corrosive and can withstand all weather conditions.

Step Eight – Cut Your Six Second-Layer Beams And Curve One End

Next, you will need to cut the six second-layer beams, cutting a curve at one end of each beam for a decorative touch. You will also need to create notches on the bottom edges to ensure that each beam interlocks with the notches on the beams you cut out for the first layer.

These beams will need to be longer than the depth of the patio or concrete, and should run perpendicular to your home.

Step Nine – Interlock The Second Layer’s Beams To The First Layer’s Beams

Following this, you need to notch the second layer beam’s eight times in preparation for the eight beams you require for the final layer. Now it’s time to interlock the second layer’s beams to the first layer’s beams.

Make sure that you trim the tops of the two posts to fit in line with the beams with a handsaw so that your pergola is ready for the final layer of beams.

Step Ten – Cut The Third Layer Beams And Interlock Them To Finish Off The Pergola

Last, but by no means least, you will need to cut eight beams and cut decorative curves on both ends for the final layer of your pergola.

You will need to cut six notches at the bottom edges that are more shallow to interlock and nicely fit with the notches on the second layer.

Line them up and tap them all in with a mallet to make sure that they are secure.

In Summary

So, there you have it! Hopefully after reading this article you have a better understanding of how to attach a pergola to your house.

Taking on a DIY project yourself can be challenging, but is rewarding once you reach the end!

Good luck and enjoy attaching your pergola to your home!