A magnificent
mahogany or red cedar pergola you can build
yourself.
A natural mahogany or
cedar pergola will
be a wonderful feature of your garden decor, which
you’ll enjoy for many years to come. Mahogany and
red cedar pergolas come in a fantastic variety of
shapes, sizes and designs.
Your pergola may
include natural cedar or mahogany benches where
you can relax in the shade and enjoy your garden,
and you can even grow vines and climbing plants
over the pergola itself.
It’s very easy to build
a red cedar or mahogany pergola, providing you
have a few basic skills and tools, a spare weekend
or two, and preferably a few willing helpers. To
get you started, you’ll find some great pergola
plans and design guides you can download from the
internet.
If you’re a complete DIY novice, or
you’re a little short on time, you may prefer to
build your pergola using a kit. Natural mahogany
or cedar pergola kits come with all the components
of the pergola already cut and drilled, so all you
need to do is assemble. Just follow the links from
this site for more information on pergola kits,
plans, design guides and materials.
Alternative materials for
building your pergola.
For many people, the classic look of natural red
cedar or mahogany is impossible to beat. However,
there are some much more economical alternatives for
pergolas which have a very similar look to real
timber.
Wood composite materials are manufactured
from natural wood fibers combined with a high tech
polymer material, so they have a natural timber look
at a much lower cost.
Composite materials also have the advantage that
they don’t splinter or rot, and they never need to
be repainted. If you have a pergola built from
natural red cedar or mahogany, you’ll need to be
prepared to put in the effort and expense of the
ongoing maintenance which will be required to keep
it looking good.
With wood composite materials, all
that will be required is an occasional wash with the
garden hose to keep the pergola clean.
For more information on pergolas, please read
this article
Why build an Arbor, Pergola or Trellis.
