Wood for a small pergola

[britishboy7]

I want to build a basic pergola attached to the back of the house, approx 3.8m from the house, and 2.8m wide. Ive decided on 6x6" uprights and across, and 6x2" for the rafters from house to the crossbar.

What wood would be best please? Oak is so expensive (been quoted £380 for the 3 main parts, the 'goalpost' part). What other wood options do i have please?

 

[blup]

English oak, properly dried, is incredibly durable.

Otherwise, treated pine is most commonly used for pergolas. Western red cedar looks beautiful new, and is also very durable, but fades to a silvery grey if you're happy with that.

Blup

 

[britishboy7]

English oak, properly dried, is incredibly durable.

Otherwise, treated pine is most commonly used for pergolas. Western red cedar looks beautiful new, and is also very durable, but fades to a silvery grey if you're happy with that.

Blup

thanks Blup, I think we want to paint it either grey, or black, so would treated pine/softwood be best?

 

[big-all]

3 or 4" fence posts carefully chosen ??

 

[blup]

Pine would take exterior quality paint and is fine for your budget

Blup

 

[britishboy7]

3 or 4" fence posts carefully chosen ??

Thanks big-all, we did try with a couple of 4" fence posts (held in position where the uprights would be) but it didnt look 'chunky' enough, so ideally want something a bit bigger

 

[britishboy7]

Pine would take exterior quality paint and is fine for your budget

Blup

Thanks Bulp, and pine would stand the test of time if it was painted with an exterior paint?

 

[big-all]

rip down a length off 6x2 [i assume 143x45mm ish] into 3x2"
affix as an "L" shape to give you a 6x5" corner post
or indeed 8x2" ripped to give you 6x6

 

[Tigercubrider]

Mine is 6x6 posts and 6x2 timbers from a garden supplier. Tanellised timber

 

[blup]

Yes, something like dulux trade weathershield would do fine and comes with a 6/9 year warranty depending on the finish.

Blup