Growing Daylilies Together

We've been talking about building a pergola on our deck ever since we bought this property in 2005. It always seemed to get moved to the bottom of the project list every year for some reason.

Our back deck is the center of most of our activities from April to late October unless the weather is lousy. We have our morning coffee out there before we start our day and seem to find ourselves relaxing out there before we end our day. And then there are the cook outs, family and friend gatherings and the taking-a-break-from-working-in-the-garden times.

Our deck is in full sun most of the day. The shade just starts to creep over the house after 4 pm, so until then the only shade we have on the deck is sitting right under the umbrella attached to our patio table.

With the return of my hubby's cancer this past April and his resulting chemotherapy treatments, now more than ever, we needed more shade on the back deck for his comfort. I was determined one way or another, we were going to move the pergola project to the top of the list.

My hubby drew up the modified plans for a small, detached-from-the-house pergola that sits on top of our deck (posts attached to the support beams under the deck). Our plan was to wait until his son could come and help me do the labor while my hubby supervised.

It was stretching into weeks and I was anxious to get started so I went ahead and pulled off a couple of deck boards that were rotted and needed replaced. (Well, it was more than just 'pulling' them off. It was a little bit of drilling, sawing with a jig saw, crow-barring the pieces off, a few splinters and lots of cussing. )

Then I decided while I was waiting that I might as well go ahead and re-stain the one side of the deck where the pergola was going to go. Finally I made a trip to the lumber store with my list in hand of just the first four side posts and first four support beams for the top. They had to dry a week in the garage before they were dry enough to even sand.

After alot of discussion and convincing my husband that I could do it myself, I actually managed to get the first post in myself. YIKES! Now I know why it would be better to hire a professional to do this kind of thing. It took several days of discussion, researching, more discussion, a little cussing and lots of huffing and puffing. Those post suckers are heavy!

We had to cut pieces of the deck boards out in order to bolt the posts to the support beams under the deck, which will have to be pieced back. I don't know how that is going to look in the long run. Hopefully, it won't look too noticeable.
Here are a couple of pics of the first post in. I know it probably sounds so crazy to be so proud of getting just ONE post in, but I am!

By the end of the first day, we finally had all 4 posts set. My husband held the posts and directed me while I did the drilling/attaching of the posts.



I got three coats of stain/sealer put on the posts the next day and then we had a week of bad weather and another stay in the hospital for my husband. During that time, my husband was talking to his cousin (in the construction business) from Indiana on the phone and happened to mentioned that I was trying to build this pergola myself. He and his wife showed up two days later, with overnight bags, a toolbelt around his waist and a big grin on his face.

In just one afternoon, he had the whole rest of the thing built (except for the very top layers of 2x4's, which are light enough that I can finish them as soon as the boards dry out enough for me to sand, stain and attach.) I can't tell you how much it meant to both of us that they came to help.

The plan is to get a black shade cloth to attach across the top. I plan on sewing Velcro around all 4 sides so I can easily take it off for winter storage. I haven't actually gotten that far yet but that at least that's the plan. We've had a week of rainy weather to contend with that has put any further work on hold. I'll post more pictures as we get the project finished...

This looks great Becki and you should be proud of yourself for managing as much of it as you did. I felt your pain while reading this and know how heavy those posts can be. Glad to see you got some help. It is worth it in the end. I love our pergola/patio we did last year.

Looking forward to seeing the finish.

Julia

It's beautiful!! I know it was so hard on you both. It sure was a blessing for your family to come help out. Now maybe the rest will be easier.

I've always wanted a porch to set on when it's raining and when it's so darned hot like it's been this summer. Maybe, one day. I will pray that ya'll have many many years of pleasure and hapiness under your new pergola.

Blessing to you and yours, Mona

Great job, Becki. There's not like the power of action to get things done. I really don't think I could have drilled and attached those posts.

Here is an easy tip I saw for curtains using S hooks to hang the rod. I was thinking how easy this would be, if only I had a pergola...

allthingsplants.com/thread/view/4832/