The west-facing deck of this house was exposed to the harsh summer sun.
Adding a pergola was the ideal solution, meaning that climbers can be grown over it to provide shade, while letting in the light in winter.
Before you begin building, make sure the timber sizes meet Australian standards and also check if council approval is necessary.
An engineer’s report to establish loads, footing requirements and correct fixing methods for your area may also be necessary.
To see the full step by step instructions for building this pergola, get the November 2015 issue of Handyman.