Our Post and Beam Pergola is our most popular pergola design.
Main benefits of the post and beam pergola:
* Clean, simple, graceful design
* Fully customizable to any size or shape
* This pergola can be Attached to your home
* Designed for easy assembly with minimal tools and experience.
* No exposed fasteners – Mortise and tennon craftsmanship
* Lowest priced pergola in Baldwin Pergolas cedar collection
Anatomy of a Post and Beam Pergola:
Our maximum span from center of post to
center of post in width is 20’ feet. This requires 2x8
main beams. Our maximum span from center of post to center of
post in depth is 20’ feet.
Rafters are 2x6s that provide the majority of the shade. A pergolas architectural style is determined by the cut on the end of the rafter known as the rafter tail.
The rafters determine the overall depth of the pergola, from front to back. You take the posts center to center measurement and add the front and rear overhangs. Overhangs are measured from the center of the post to the tip of the rafter. Standard overhangs are 18” and 24” inches.
Rafters are notched on their bottoms for the main beams and on their tops for the purlins.
The purlins are the top layer and they provide
support for climbing vines. They also serve to tighten the overall
matrix of rafters and beams.
Purlins determine the overall
width of the pergola from side to side. You take your posts center to
center measurement then add your overhang on each side.
Purlins
are notched on their bottoms for the rafters and get screwed and
plugged at each intersection.
Our standard pergola is made with 8’ posts which gives you as much as 91” to the bottom of the main beam. A tall pergola is made with 10’ posts which gives you 115’ under the main beams. Your footings or post locations need not be level with each other as the posts get cut to length during installation.
The lower the pergola, the more shade you will get under it. Tall pergolas are sometimes necessary to clear windows. If you need a tall pergola, consider adding head beams to lower the visual height to a more human scale.
Straight Gusset:
Arched Gusset:
Craftsman Gusset:
The images to the right show the dramatic difference between an 4x4 post on the left to an 8x8 post on the right. Review our slideshow to see real life examples of our pergolas and consider how the leg size effects the overall appearance. This is a major design choice you will be making.
We carefully chamfer the corners of the posts which adds to the
beauty and craftsmanship of a Baldwin Post and Beam Pergola.
When your pergola gets installed, the posts must be cut to length
to ensure the top is level and the posts are plum. We’ll work with
you to make sure the chamfers start and stop at the right heights
to match your site.
Using our CNC router, we can cut slots into the posts to conceal
speaker wires, wires to electrical outlets or even a water line. If you
would like a light switch or an outlet cut into a post, that is no problem.
We even supply the hardware and instructions.
Our design team has the capability to render an image of your pergola, with shadows, over an image of your home.
We use this tool to verify that the pergola is going to match the style and scale of your home.
We can also incorperate shade systems and verify that all the parts and pieces will work together. If a custom solution is needed, design works with production behind the scenes to ensure easy of installation for you.
THE PERGOLA ORDERING PROCESS:
Start at the site
Determine where you want the center of your posts. Measure distance in width and depth. Determine how much overhang you would like on each side. Overhang is measured from the center of the post to the tip of the rafter or purlin. Standards are 18” and 24” inches. Rafter length is your depth from center to center plus your front and rear overhangs. Purlin length is your width from center to center plus your left and right overhangs. Consider height and sight lines. Remember, short pergolas give more shade under the pergola. Consider the time of day you will use your pergola and the angle of the sun at that time. Take a few photos in case you decide to send them to us for computer modeling of your pergola.
At your computer
We have an online pergola pricing tool you can use to configure your pergola. When you are using the pricing tool, you will need to select your options such as:
Choose a post size and height. We do not recommend using 4x4 posts for pergolas taller then 8’. Head beams make a tall pergola look lower. They also make the rope lights possible. Choose a main carrying beam size. Large pergolas get large beams.
The pergola pricing tool will give you a price for the pergola, your electrical options, drapery and even a trucking quote. It’s easy to modify your pergola until it is exactly what you desire. You can feel comfortable using this no dicker, always accurate pricing tool. We do reserve the right to adjust prices due to lumber costs without notice.
If the pergola you desire cannot be built using our system, please enter the pergola as closely as possible then describe what you would like done differently in the notes section. You can also call our sales team during business hours at 800 344-5103x1 and they will do all of this for you.
When you are pleased with your pergola and are ready to talk to one of our designers, click the “Submit information” button. Your data gets sent to us.
On our side
We review your pergola choices and call you to answer any questions you might have. We suggest making changes that would either make your pergola more useful or more beautiful, but we also look for ways to reduce the lead time and your cost.
Along the way you can request a computer generated, life-like image of what your pergola will look like. Based on this visual tool, you may request changes. We adjust your file and explain the change in price. We also create another visual for your approval. We do require a 50% deposit before working plans are created. When you get your plans, you confirm every detail and we begin production.
During production you may get a call or email from the production team asking about your ceiling fan height or what color light switches you want.When the pergola kit is complete, we require final payment before shipping. If you are within 300 miles, we offer you our in-house, white glove delivery service. Other then that, we use Yellow Freight as our over the road trucking company.
Installation
Baldwin
Pergolas are designed to be very easy to put together, but there are
still difficult aspects such as using a level to determine the lengths
of the posts, cutting the posts to length, drilling the concrete and
anchoring the mounting brackets. If this sounds like more then you want
to do, we can suggest experienced pergola installers in your area.
"I have been meaning to send you these pictures of our pergola, showing the Shade Tree awnings, for over a year now. The pictures were taken in September this year, about a year after the pergola was first assembled. My brother and I had just finished washing the pergola with Murphy Oil Soap, and it had that wonderful, like new, honey glow." - Joe and Terry Mitlyng
