| Pergola plans are, in fact, hard to come by. If you | | | | simple fact is that pergola kit builders are making |
| want to know how to build a pergola yourself, | | | | a fortune from people who are unaware they |
| you may find you're up against it to locate decent | | | | could do exactly the same job, and much better, |
| advice. | | | | from easy plans and buying their own materials. |
| There is no need to panic. Several reputable | | | | For virtually anyone with basic domestic tools, the |
| companies offer pergola plans and how-to guides | | | | ability to get on the phone and place orders for |
| at very reasonable prices. | | | | materials or visit their local hardware store, and in |
| Craftsmanship, skill and an excellent detailed plan | | | | possession of a how to build a pergola guide, |
| are all essential to a good pergola design. Second | | | | there is simply no excuse for not putting up their |
| to a good selection of pergola plans is sensible | | | | own pergola to suit their own tastes and at a |
| advice on materials, which wood will produce | | | | fraction of commercial prices. |
| particular effects, how different woods are | | | | Any good pergola build guide will list all the |
| worked and maintained, and what sort of | | | | materials to purchase, how to go about dealing |
| aesthetic pleasure they bring. | | | | with suppliers, the tools required for the job, |
| But to concentrate on pergola plans, they should | | | | detailed plans and building methods. It really is not |
| be well presented and illustrated to make your | | | | complicated. |
| choice of design straightforward. You should be | | | | You will normally need an assistant, but a standard |
| able to visualize how the end structure will look in | | | | pergola done yourself should never take more |
| your individual and particular garden. | | | | than a day, possibly two. Even if you do not want |
| Let's face it, building your pergola from pergola | | | | to take on the job yourself, getting plans and |
| plans will save you up to 80% over hiring a | | | | employing a handyman and his mate will save you |
| contractor. And a pergola isn't that difficult to | | | | at least 50% off the cost of taking on a pergola |
| construct yourself, even if you've never done it | | | | contractor. |
| before. All you need are good pergola plans. | | | | To give you some idea of costs, the materials I |
| So why even consider building your own pergola? | | | | required for my own pergola amounted to a |
| When you are quoted up to $6,000 by builders to | | | | grand total of $376. (I did it myself, so that was |
| put one up, that's enough incentive in itself. What | | | | my total expenditure, apart from plans I found |
| is even more frustrating is when contractors | | | | online which cost me around $30.) I then asked |
| simply order a prefabricated kit costing 4 to 6 | | | | my much used, and very useful, handyman for a |
| times the price of ordering the materials yourself. | | | | quote to erect the pergola from the plans I |
| That normally amounts to over $1,000 just for | | | | showed him. He quoted me $370. How much do |
| making a call to place the order. You could have | | | | you think three pergola contractors quoted me |
| done that yourself! | | | | for the exact same job? $3,105, $3,900 and |
| Building contractors are turning such a quick buck | | | | $4,800. It really does beggar belief, doesn't it? |
| from erecting pergolas, they just don't have the | | | | Of course, it is entirely your own choice, but I |
| financial carrot proffered to induce them to lower | | | | would strongly advise you to check out online |
| their prices. Effectively there is no competition. | | | | pergola plans which include both designs and |
| Well, no competition from other contractors. The | | | | construction methods. |