A Simple Pergola For a New Front "Deck"

CK
by CK
Advanced
Our house is a simple 1961 design. But we wanted to give it a little face lift :-) After a lot of drawings, looking at other's designs, and a lot of 'contemplating' we came up with a simple little pergola to top the newly constructed deck/step.
UPDATE: Spring of 2015 the front door was painted to match the pergola's color. It all works together more beautifully now. http://www.hometalk.com/diy/paint/exteriors/new-paint-to-the-rescue-8267995?scid=1306003 (Keep in mind, the 'after' color photos are taken in spring before the perennials are up. It's going to look prettier when they're all grown in again. :-) )
This is the 'before'. The cement step was sagging & covered in outdoor carpeting that had definitely seen its better days. (All installed by previous owners.) Also with the 3-sided step (all around the outer edges) we only had 4 feet on the top 'deck'. Kinda tough when entering the house with a load of groceries. (That pink thing in the window is our building permit.)
This is the "after". We constructed the new step and pergola out of maintenance free materials. Now with the step just one-sided (only on the front) we have gained 2 feet extra on the 'deck'. What a joy! Originally I'd wanted to make everything white to match the trim, but we decided on cedar look to coordinate with the cedar privacy fence on the back side of he house (visible when driving around our corner lot). We like it :-)
Simple pergola and new deck added to the front entrance.
The deck got a 'present' too! Beautiful flowers in a vintage metal pail.
Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
  2 questions
  • Maryse Robertson Maryse Robertson on Oct 13, 2020

    how is it attached to the roof? Do you have details?

  • Sherry Sherry on Jun 18, 2021

    Beautiful upgrade. May I ask, on the pergola, did you use 4x4 for legs, 2x4 for cross bars on them, then 1x4 on top? Hard to tell but I like it so much I'd like to try it. Thank you.

Comments
Join the conversation
4 of 30 comments
  • Cindy Greenwell Cindy Greenwell on Aug 19, 2014
    I think you did this house some justice, what a great idea,
  • Cheri Lentz Riggins Cheri Lentz Riggins on Aug 19, 2014
    Maybe I'll wait til spring to do mine...see how your's holds up lol
    • See 1 previous
    • Cheri Lentz Riggins Cheri Lentz Riggins on Oct 13, 2020

      It still looks great! Think I will do it in the spring before the house is listed for sale. Thank you for the update 🙂

Next