Ideas for Your Backyard Living Space

Pergola Design Ideas and How to Choose

Are you sitting down this weekend to sort through all your ideas about what to do with your backyard patio? Would you like a pergola to be part of the design? There are so many ideas out there for pergola design ideas for patios and backyard areas, it’s hard to know where to start! This article can provide some inspiration, lay out some options (freestanding, attached, pergola over a hot tub or patio, long vs. square, spaced slats vs. close...

How to Build a Pergola from a Kit

Have you been scouring DIY sites trying to find the perfect set of instructions for how to build a pergola? Have you considered more of a hybrid approach to creating the perfect wood structure for your backyard? Our pine and cedar pergola kits give you the best of both worlds. Take the guesswork out of knowing whether you’ve got the right materials. The cutting and drilling are the steps that will be most time-intensive and require special tools. Let us...

DIY Spruce-ups for Wood Pergola Kits and Patio Pieces

Getting your outdoor furniture and structures ready for the season? Grab a paintbrush and do a quick spruce up of your front door, patio furniture, and other structures. The summer heat that will be here soon can crack and warp a wooden front door's surface over time. Repainting or staining doors, wooden benches, and furniture can help protect those wood surfaces from the elements. It also makes it look fresh and welcoming! Assess your larger outdoor wooden structures such as...

How to Get Started with Your Outdoor Patio Design

If you're just starting out with a new outdoor patio design, try one of the many sample outdoor patio drawings out there. Or start from scratch by creating your own rough sketch of your yard and some of the basic features you'd like to add. Your local landscaper could help you out or do your own quick drawing with pencil and paper first. This can help you figure out your space, think about the elements you'd like to incorporate, and decide...

How to Measure Pergola Dimensions

Ready to take the big leap and add a backyard pergola to complete your patio design? First step - you'll want to measure your space so you know the best size pergola for your outdoor living setup. Here are a few steps that'll walk you through how to measure and find the pergola dimensions and size to fit your space. We've outlined how to measure for a pergola attached to a wall or a freestanding pergola. For our pergola kits,...

Choosing the Best Wood for a Pergola

This easy to follow wood pergola guide offers a brief overview of two of the most popular wood types for pergolas. What are the most important factors when choosing pergola wood? We've found that durability, sustainability, and easy of installation are 3 of the top features that homeowners are looking for when shopping for a wood pergola. Two classic choices of wood for pergola kits that offer those features and more are #1 pressure treated Southern Yellow Pine and Western Red...

How to Enhance Outdoor Spaces

Looking for ways to enhance your outdoor spaces and not sure where to start? Landscaping and hardscaping can transform your backyard into a functional favorite room that can be used year-round. Define and enhance outdoor spaces with pavers for your patio and pathways, and soften the backdrop with evergreens or deciduous plants that will thrive in your climate zone. Pull it all together with an outdoor structure like a cedar pergola and you're well on your way to defining your...

7 DIY Outdoor Patio Cover Ideas For Various Space & Shade Needs

Make it easier to relax and enjoy your patio by making a protected area for family and friends. You can create your own all season DIY patio cover that will shade your deck or backyard patio. Constructed in a wide range of sizes with an optional retractable canopy, our do it yourself pergolas are a simple way to add-on to your house for year-round enjoyment! The pergolas shown here provide some ideas in freestanding and attached styles that will work...