I’m a DIY’er doing a 10 x 14 patio cover. A 2 x 12 ledger secured to house and two 6 x 6 posts on outside corners. Beams & joists will be 2 x 10 and the roof will be a flat 2 x 2 lattice / eggcrate design.
I’d like to use doug fir for all the materials except the posts – they will be cedar. Everything cut and drilled beforehand, then primered. Once constructed, I’ll caulk the seams and then two coats of outdoor paint to match the house trim.
Will this work OK for a mostly dry but variable climate (Denver, CO)? Would 3 coats of paint be better? Or would all redwood (painted) be better for the outside environment.
Also, I’ll be putting built up trim on the beams and posts. Will subfloor construction adhesive and nails be adequate? Any other suggestions?
Thanks
Replies
Sounds like over-kill to me. If it is 14 wide by 10' out why are you killing so many trees. If it is flat why not just use 2x6 with 2x6 joists. A 2x8 ledger would accomadate some trim under it but thats about all itis worth. Maybe I am misunderstanding.I do that alot you know. Also. I learned on my own house that if I had put a pitch on my pergola, I would have been able to go back and put some sort of roof on it with run-off. Just a piece of info to chew on. not a suggestion , not regret...just good old brain food. Some days it starts raining and I would have loved to sit under it.
good luck
Thanks for asking about the lumber dimensions on this project. It's actually about 10 feet wide and 14 feet out. Our neighbor recently had a patio cover built on to his 3000 sf house.The contractor used 4 x 4 posts, 2 x 6 joists and tied it all together with those Simpson heavy metal brackets. Sure, it makes shade, but it looks like one of those fold out awnings attached to an RV. In other words, like crud.
Our house is about 55 feet wide, and two stories tall. Not huge, but modest, and it backs to a golf course. Just my amateur architect opinion here, but I think that proportion is a very neglected consideration when attaching anything new to your home. I think larger dimensional lumber will of course add to the expense, but will make it look much better. Or maybe not. Either way, I'll send a picture when it's complete.
Thanks.