[Jsanders71112]

Brand new to diychatroom! I just finished building a pergola on my patio. Freestanding with anchors. All RC cedar. 6x6x10 posts. I have 2x8s sandwiching my posts over a span of 13.5ft. Double 2x6 gussets which extend inward 18in. Laying across the 2x8s are 2x6s placed on 18in centers. The 2x6s span 7.5 ft from the 2x8s on the front of pergola to the back ones. In my excitement to build this pergola, I didn't take the time to check out acceptable beam lengths. I've looked at the charts but I'm honestly having trouble understanding them. I know this topic is probably addressed over and over but help! Do I need to add another post? Of course I'd rather keep it open as possible? Thanks you so much for any advice!

 

[joecaption]

Posting a picture of what you've done so far would be a huge help.

 

[Jsanders71112]

Posting a picture of what you've done so far would be a huge help.

Hope this helps. This is my first pergola so keep the laughing to a minimum.

 

[Jsanders71112]

Brand new to diychatroom! I just finished building a pergola on my patio. Freestanding with anchors. All RC cedar. 6x6x10 posts. I have 2x8s sandwiching my posts over a span of 13.5ft. Double 2x6 gussets which extend inward 18in. Laying across the 2x8s are 2x6s placed on 18in centers. The 2x6s span 7.5 ft from the 2x8s on the front of pergola to the back ones. In my excitement to build this pergola, I didn't take the time to check out acceptable beam lengths. I've looked at the charts but I'm honestly having trouble understanding them. I know this topic is probably addressed over and over but help! Do I need to add another post? Of course I'd rather keep it open as possible? Thanks you so much for any advice!

Posting a picture of what you've done so far would be a huge help.

Forgot to add that I'm running 2x2 across the top of the 2x6s

 

[ron45]

Don't worry, you over killed it by quite a bit....

 

[Daniel Holzman]

You might want to check with the building inspector, they should know the rules for your area.

 

[123pugsy]

It looks fine to me.

 

[joecaption]

Looks OK but why in the world are the rafters cut at all different lengths?

 

[Jsanders71112]

If you look at it from above or below, the front edge is rounded instead of cut straight across.

 

[123pugsy]

Looks OK but why in the world are the rafters cut at all different lengths?

Ha, he said you're supposed to keep the laughing to a minimum Joe....:wink2:

Myself, I wouldn't have wasted any valuable shade that the cut off ones would have created.

 

[TheDeckBarn.com]

It would help if you put the 2x8 beams together and nailed them, on the notched 6x6 post.
Beam spans on any chart are for a pair, unless put together they are not a pair.

You could use y braces off the 6x6's to the newly joined 2x8's to help reduce the span w/o having to add another post.

If you use a can as a guide for a circle you could get a lot nicer pergola end, (2x6's) than just a 45 degree chamfer. see picture.