Design/Build: A nearly infinite range of profiles are possible. Here are four common designs.
A pergola is a decorative shade structure. Pergolas are often used to connect buildings, similar to a breezeway but without full cover from the elements. They are also found as freestanding garden follies, providing a focal point to terminate a vista or a quiet corner for reflection. Perhaps most commonly, they are erected as an extension of a home similar to a covered porch.
Four parts of a pergola
Traditional pergolas have four primary building blocks: the columns, or elements of support; the beams, or spanning elements; the rafter tails, or shading elements; and the purlins, which link the rafters together (and create still more shade). Within the various uses for a pergola and through the many possible variations of the building blocks, you will find endless opportunities when designing a traditional pergola.
Column and beam alignment
When using tapered round columns, the alignment of the neck of the column…