Browse Forums Outdoor Living 1 Jan 14, 2011 10:24 pm Hi, I'mlooking at building a wooden pergola (covered) by myself and would like some advice. Firstly, does anyone have a link to suitable span tables to help me put together the drawings for council approval- I'm in Banyule council, Melb, Vic if that helps. As a brief overview, the pergola will be approx 8m wide by 4.6m deep. To put in into perspective, the back of the house is facing northe, and the pergola will be placed behind the house (attached/abutted), ie so when yu look outside the north facing backdoor, there will be an 8m wide pergola in front of you and 4.6m deep. Our house is double storey, brick veneer and my question relates to attaching to the back wall of the house. Should I use a beam to attach to the bricks of the house, or should I have a series of posts up against the back wall of the house holding up this beam that each of the rafters are attached to? The reason I ask this is that I'm concerned about the weight that the beam/rafter as part of the construction will apply to the brick wall and scared that some cracking through the brickwork may occur? If I put posts against the back wall, I will have a beam span along one part that will be 4m, due to an entrance, so not sure what to do about this distance if I use posts? One might say to use posts secure to the concrete pad that we have laid as part of the floor for the pergola space, but as this slab is different to that of the slab, and if differential movement occurs, I may end up compromising the brickwork? Looking forward to your replies. Thanks, JK Re: Questions about building a pergola 2Jan 15, 2011 10:33 am Hi Here is a link to some span tables which include pergolas http://www.tabma.com.au/resources.php When I built a veranda I used Vertical posts bolted to the wall and then bolted what would otherwise have been a wall plate to that. I stopped these posts about 100mm above the floor. this has provided a very secure structure while minimising any stress on the bricks. With regards to your question about the entrance if you pick a beam from tables that can span the 4m you shouldn't have a problem Regards The Harder You Try - the Luckier You Get ! Web site http://www.anewhouse.com.au Informative, Amusing, and Opinionated Blog - Over 600 posts on all aspects of building a new house. Re: Questions about building a pergola 3Jan 15, 2011 1:05 pm Thanks for your reply. Do you have any pics that shows how you have done this? I gather you bolted 90x90 posts at various height on the wall? Then I guess you placed the wall beam on the posts? did you notch out the post so that the beam sat between the post and the bricks? Also, did you fasten the beam to the bricks with dynabolts or some other method? Re: Questions about building a pergola 4Jan 15, 2011 4:40 pm Hi I seem to be having problems with loading a photo so heres a description. I bolted 90x90 timbers against the wall with 4 dynabolts each.I like dynabolts because they are easy to fix just pre drill the timber then hold it in position and the brickwork through the holes and install as you go much faster than waiting for chemsets. I then bolted the beam to the outside of these uprights with 2 coachbolts at each upright. I didn't notch the uprights for the beam because: 1. I had to notch the inside so the upright could fit over the facia board as I wanted the roof to go to the underside of the gutter. 2. Its easier to install the way I did it. I got building approval of the job and the council inspector said the finished job was one of the strongest installations he had seen. When he tried to shake it nothing moved. The Harder You Try - the Luckier You Get ! Web site http://www.anewhouse.com.au Informative, Amusing, and Opinionated Blog - Over 600 posts on all aspects of building a new house. Re: Questions about building a pergola 6Jan 15, 2011 5:57 pm Yes there is a 90mm gap although with the facia board its actually only about 70mm The Harder You Try - the Luckier You Get ! Web site http://www.anewhouse.com.au Informative, Amusing, and Opinionated Blog - Over 600 posts on all aspects of building a new house. Re: Questions about building a pergola 7Jan 16, 2011 1:37 am As you're fixing to a double storey wall and as such have plenty of wall above your plate height I'd say just fix your plate directly to your bricks. As I mentioned in your other thread if you are using a 45mm plate then I'd use either Chemset or 135mm ramplugs. The Ramplugs would certainly be quicker and easier. The fixings as you describe are really handling sheer with a small pull out load. Ramplugs would be my choice. Accessible Carpentry & Cabinets accessiblecarpentry@gmail.com accessiblecarpentry.com.au https://www.facebook.com/pages/Accessible-Carpentry-Cabinets/583314911709039 Is there a building permit? RU in Victoria? What is the value of the building contract? 1 6822 About a year ago, I embarked on a DIY project to construct an outdoor Pergola, which measures approximately 5.2 meters by 4.0… 0 29607 i think option 2 is much better with easy access to the garden without having to walk through the new sunroom which makes it a better room for guests and TV .a simple… 2 8227 |