Prodigious Pergolas

When you get the opportunity to work for a big-name client,

it's an exciting and somewhat nerve-racking experience.

This project was bigger than most, and so--

working alongside some good friends, we brought in the BIG tools!

The structure we were being called upon to replace was a huge pergola;
no, 2 huge pergolas! And each had completely rotted out
within 10 years of their original installation.

First, we would need a lot of wood. Treated wood.
Beams that were as large as tree trunks, some 30 feet long.

Delivery, unloading and stacking took all day.

That's a lot of wood!

And, since it was freshly treated,
it would need to dry
for a couple of months.

My job was simple:  cut spacers for stacking.

This is what I call an office with a view :)

 

With the original pergolas removed and all rotted wood gone,

all that was left were the heavy concrete piers on which we would build:

 

And then came the crane:

 

Slowly, the boards were lifted into place and secured.

 

                                                                        Each board was slowly raised with the crane and precariously placed, until three layers were formed. The first layer was composed of 8x12 beams. Then the 6x6 beams and finally 4x6 beams carefully spaced and secured.

Once each layer was complete, the beams were supported

so that they could continue drying for several more weeks.

Without completely drying, the treated lumber might sag.

 

The second and larger pergola was created off the side of the house and garage,
creating an architecturally impressive carport and event cover.