Are you about to start a pergola build?
Safety is the most important part of construction, you need to be certain that a structure won’t harm anyone or damage property. For this reason, you must know how to properly anchor a pergola.
This article will talk you through every aspect of building a pergola with strong foundations. Read on below to learn all about anchoring pergolas to pavers.
Do You Need To Anchor A Pergola?
You do need to anchor a pergola. But depending on location and usage, the anchoring could be slightly different.
For example, if you are building a pergola as a temporary structure in the middle of a field, you won’t concrete posts into the ground. Instead, you might opt for a removable ground screw or weights. On the other hand, if it’s permanent, your best bet might be to anchor your pergola to concrete.
But no matter what the use and location of a pergola is, it is really important to build it securely. Secure building means strong foundations. Pergolas are heavy structures. If a pergola is not anchored correctly, the structure could move and cause the timbers to collapse. As you can imagine, this is extremely dangerous.
Anchoring a pergola can be done in a few different ways, including ground screws, directly cementing the posts into the ground, as well as fixing the posts onto slabs.
Can You Anchor A Pergola To Pavers?
Yes, fixing a pergola to pavers is one of the most common ways people build pergola foundations. There are a few different ways people do this, but the approach is broadly the same. The main reason people might fix pavers slightly differently is the hardware and tools available to them.
How To Anchor A Pergola To Pavers
Below, we explain how to anchor pergolas with one of the most widely used techniques.
Step 1: Create a Plan, Drawings, and Components List
The first stage is planning out your pergola. You need to know how big an area it needs to cover, how high you want it, what the shape and style of it is, and what type of wood you will make it out of.
With these questions answered, it’s really helpful to draw out the pergola in both plan and front elevation view. With these drawings, you can then mark on the dimensions and start to work out the components and hardware you need for the build.
For example, a simple pergola shape might have 4 posts, 2 beams and 6 joists. Depending on the dimensions you want, you would add up the length of all of these wooden components to give you a purchasing list from the lumber yard.
Alongside the purchasing list, from the plans you can also work out that you need 4 pavers to go under the posts, and 4 matching pieces of hardware to join the post to the paver. We’ll talk more about the hardware in the next section.
Step 2: Assemble Tools, Materials, Hardware, and PPE
Now is the time to assemble all of the tools and equipment for the build. For safety, the PPE you’ll need is steel toe capped boots, ear defenders and safety glasses. The tools you need are a pencil, a strong drill, masonry drill bits, wood drill bits, and a hammer. You also need a set of wood screws and screws or bolts with compatible masonry plugs.
There are a few different types of hardware you can use to fix a pergola to pavers, but in this situation, we will use large 90-degree strap brackets.
Step 3: Mark Out the Holes for Masonry Plugs
With the posts in place on top of the pavers, take the 90 degree strap brackets and place them against a face of each post. Make sure that the brackets face outwards so one half covers the masonry and the other half covers the post. Then, with a pencil, mark the holes in the bracket on the masonry. Then move the bracket away.
Step 4: Drill and Insert the Masonry Plugs
Put a masonry bit into the drill, make sure it’s the right size for the masonry plugs you brought as well. It will say on the packet of the plugs what size screws it’s compatible with and what diameter hole it will fit into.
With the correct masonry bit in the drill, align the bit with the pencil markings on the concrete slab and drill a hole. Make sure the hole is deep enough for the plug. Then tap the plug into the hole with the hammer. Repeat this for all of the marked holes, for every post.
Step 5: Screw the Brackets to the Pavers
Place the brackets back onto the pavers and align the holes with the plugs you just inserted. Then change the masonry drill bit for a screwdriver head that’s compatible with your masonry screws. Fix the metal plate to the paver and repeat for every post.
Step 6: Screw the Brackets to the Posts
Now is the time to fix the bracket to the pergola. To avoid splitting the wood, it’s advisable to pilot a hole into the wood through the bracket holes. Some people will skip out drilling a pilot hole, this makes the process faster but on some woods this is quite risky.
The pilot hole should be drilled with a wood drill bit that has a smaller diameter than the wood screws. Also try to drill the pilot hole at a lesser depth than the length of the wood screws. With the pilot hole drilled, change the wood drill bit for a screwdriver and fix the screws through the bracket and into the wood.
Mistakes to Avoid, Tips & Tricks
With a bit of extra knowledge, securing a pergola can be much easier and safer.
Use the Right Screws
Using the right screw for the situation will make your job so much better. For example, with the wood screws, you will get a stronger fixing if you use cup heads instead of self countersinking. Similarly, ensuring you have the right diameter screws to match the masonry plugs is the difference between success and failure.
Get An Extra Pair Of Hands
Working with large timbers can be really difficult, they are heavy to hold whilst also working with them. If it’s possible, ask a friend to help, it’s safer and quicker.
Summary
Anchoring a pergola to pavers doesn’t have to be a difficult job. However, it is essential to create a safe structure that won’t damage anyone or anything.
Using brackets, you can simply join the posts to a paver with screws. If you create and follow a clear plan, you will have the pergola anchored in no time at all.