I'm in SW Houston.

I recently received a quote for a 14'x15' pergola for about $7,500. PT pine with oil based stain and powder coated connectors. 6x6 posts, 2x10 beams, 2x8 rafters, 1.5x2 top lattice. I know lumber prices have increased substantially over the last year, but I was surprised by the amount. It comes out to about $35/SF.

I'm going to get some other quotes, but any thoughts on the amount of this one? Any recommendations on builders I can get more quotes from?

In light of this, I started looking online for Gazebo/Pergola kits you can get of HD/Lowes/Costco/Sams/Wayfair, etc. On average, those are around $15-20/SF delivered and I'd install it myself with help from my teenagers. Any thoughts on the quality of these?

If you've got teenagers to help with the heavy lifting, is DIY an option? Simpson has a pretty impressive web app for Pergola design that outputs a report with a material list and general plans.

DIY is certainly an option. I consider myself to be pretty handy and have done the majority of the work around my house (plumbing, electrical, drywall repairs, tile, flooring, landscaping, woodworking, etc), but have never something structural like this.

Thanks for the link! I was actually sitting here trying to figure out what hardware I was going to need and pricing each piece individually on Lowe's website. This tool will help with that immensely.

If I DIY, I'd like to help someone else build their's before I build one in my backyard.....Get past the learning curve on someone else's property.

Wouldn't be surprised with Lumber Prices where they are...

I'm trying to price a 12x20 shed and I'm getting anywhere from $7-9K right now...

This time 1.5 years ago they were at $5-6K

A couple summers during college I worked for a GC doing remodel projects but we did a string of pergolas. Besides one we set between roofs, they weren't that hard to construct; and now with some of the hardware I see on the market, it looks even more DIY friendly.
My recommendation would be to scavenge some construction site 2x4 and 2x6 cutoffs to use for mocking up the mitered braces; then use them as a pattern on your actual 4x4 or 6x6's

Pergolas are terrible. Get a quote for a real patio cover.

Tuffshed lets you design them and print it out then you can shop it around

The Sam's/Costco/Walmart kits are not high quality. Usually has hollow posts and made out of 'Chinese Cedar'

Also fastens together cheaply as opposed to heavy gauge steel fasteners. You get what you pay for.

We use Western Red Cedar & Douglas Fir

We could probably build you something for around $6,500 out of Douglas Fir based on your size.


www.lmoutdoor.com

Just finished this one with brackets from Toja grid. I sourced and stained the Douglas fir. Under $2k for 8 x 24.

I got a quote yesterday for $37 /sf

Where did you get thee roofing materials from?

Roof is just sun shades for now. Shades and mounting hardware came with the brackets.

We are thinking about upgrading to a corrugated roof when these shades wear out.

I put an r-panel roof on my anti- China pandemic project patio cover. It looks like an old fashioned Texas rest stop. Did this as opposed to one of those prefab patio covers mostly made in China.

The metal roof is fantastic in the rain.

Also, since my pergola was DIY, did I need a building permit?

At what point do you need a building permit? I did a search, and it seems like you need a permit if it's completely enclosed.

Thoughts from anyone? Unincorporated Fort Bend county.

I would not pull a permit.

For within the city of Dallas anything unattached and less than 225 sqft I believe did not require a permit. So I bet you are ok.

What was your shade's suggested tension? We put about 200 lbs per D ring in a parabolic shape to keep the leaves and water from pooling.

I don't believe they had a tension suggestion.

jbanda said:

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Also, since my pergola was DIY, did I need a building permit?

At what point do you need a building permit? I did a search, and it seems like you need a permit if it's completely enclosed.

Thoughts from anyone? Unincorporated Fort Bend county.

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https://www.fortbendcountytx.gov/government/departments/county-services/engineering/permits

I think you're interpretation is right, but just in case, you might try calling them - should take about 2 minutes to be sure.

Engineering

281-633-7500

Quote:

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Permits
MyGovernmentOnline

Technical Issues
1-866-957-3764, Option 1

Permits@fortbendcountytx.gov

• Submittal of permit applications and supporting documents, release of power requests and inspection requests.

• How to fill out the permit applications and permit application status.

• Questions about permit requirements, associated permit fees, and what permit types you need for your proposed improvements.

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