
Pergola
I knew I wanted this pergola to be simple, streamlined, and strong enough to carry the weight of the swing, even if the swing had adults on it.
Designing it with SketchUp turned out to be quite successful, but I had to know what I was going to do before I did it. So Max (4 Elements Gardens) and I decided on 6×6″ posts and beams and brackets, and 2×2″ cross slats.

This gave me the ability to create a perfect arc and then measure each cross slat precisely, making the cutting relatively easy. This image doesn’t show all the measurements, because with them all there, the image looks just a little busy!

Looking forward to designing more pergolas with SketchUp.
VERY nice! VERY attractive! Well done! 🙂
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Thanks. High praise indeed from the expert!
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Handsome structure. Look forward to seeing it with furniture!
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I think should be furnished by now–ordered the “conversation suite”.
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I enjoy the simple look, but worry that our dry Southern California air/sun might bow the wood extensions along the arc. Perhaps applying some type of flashing material nailed along arc might help. Thoughts?
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Love this design!! It would fit perfectly for my unique backyard patio set up.
Would you be willing to sell the design/measurements so I could use that as a reference point for mocking up my own for my backyard space?
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Sorry spencertjackson, I can’t sell you the design. But I can tell you that the dimensions are: posts 8′, 8″x8″; side beams 10′, 8″x8″. I’m totally a SketchUp novice, so if I can draw it, anyone can.
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This is brilliant! Where did you get the materials from, including the swing? We would love it if you could share some more detail. Thank you so much!!
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Not much more I can say. I designed it with SketchUp, it’s built with cedar, and the swing was bought bu the client.
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Thank you, will see if we can do something like this for our back garden. I appreciate this post because we were looking for exactly this!!
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I had a similar concept in mind for a triangle shaped Pergola. After a few years of sun and weather now has the parallel slats on top stayed straight and parallel? Any warping or twisting on the long ones that extend out near the center?
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Thanks for the inquiry Gary. I haven’t been back recently, but I haven’t heard anything negative.
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