Building a GIANT Pergola ALONE! 

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I think the only thing I would have done differently is cut the 2x4 for the top layer so the seam is resting on the 2x6, that way you don't see the weird gap.

You are super lucky with the postal digger that that ground was very sandy. I’m in Texas and we have a lot of clay.

I seriously can’t wait till Mr build it starts the landscaping process because damn that bush is so annoying 😅

New tshirt idea = “Perfect… Only 3 More To Go” 😂

The algorithm is working it's magic. I just came from the pavers video. I was looking at doing a project just like this. I want pavers and a pergola! We are very much DIYers. These videos are exactly what I've been looking for. THANK YOU!!!

If felt so bad for you when you were frustrated! I have been there and know how it feels! You did a great job and should be proud of yourself!

I appreciate “by myself” strategies. I’m a 5’ tall woman doing my own renos, no skills, no training, no friends to help.

Mad props to your fear control! Way to just take that on and push through! Pergola looks great, btw! Love your vids- Been watching every vid for years now, keep em' coming!

As someone who built a pergola (by themselves) two years ago (and only a 12x12 at that) it was fun to watch this process play out. I made a lot of mistakes in my own build and you definitely preempted some of them. Can we get an update 1-2 years down the road? Weather has wrecked my main slats even with sealant :) love the series!!

Enjoying your build, great work on the updates on this house.

The only thing I would add is to make sure there isn't any lines running in the areas you plan on using the augur.

I know you're doind the DYI thing, and learning as you go...so this is 100% sideline coaching, BUT for anyone wanting to build a pergola and bricks setup. It's MUCH easier to put in the vertical posts/concrete, AND THEN do the brick work around them. This way you can account for any high/low spots with the concrete poured around the bases AND make adjustments for the bricks to come right up to the posts for a cleaner look. Also, the gap left hanging over the top is weird and would drive my wife bonkers. Cut the boards so they will butt over a center piece. This way you only have to purchase 12ft's and cut off ~ a ft to allow overhang and have the butt in the middle of a central joist. Save you money (12's cheaper than 20's) and look more polished. Keep up the good work. The fun starts inside next week.

Awesome build man!!! Those Home Depot 2x4's will twist and bend on top, so just be prepared to remove those in the spring

He’s got a plan! Gotta remember he’s not far out from snow on ground. Probably tackling the outdoor stuff before he’s stuck inside building for winter

Awesome build, I have to do something similar next year when the ground is thawed after the winter. Will definitely be using your work as a guide

I have that auger as well. Chewed through the south TX caliche in my back yard like a champ!

Did you ever think about buying the galvanized and then buying a can of spray paint black and spray painting them?

Should have done some mortis and tenon. Easy to do with a circular saw, would add a lot to the aesthetic and integrity

I am personally not a big fan of Pergolas but this is nice work and very impressive to do on your own with that length and weight of lumber.

Some people don't appreciate the effort and energy...and knowledge that goes into building anything. They just want to sit behind a computer screen and judge. I think you did a good job on this build, and most importantly, YOU put everything where YOU wanted it! Im currently remodeling my home, 1 room at a time, and damn does it get expensive 😂😂😂

When I do a project I usually try and get all my parts first so that if I have to make adjustments I can do so before I've invested much in labor. Of course even the best plans sometimes hit bumps.

Looks awesome man! Especially doing that by yourself, impressive! Nicely done!

oh snap! getting fancy with the shot transitions! i Liiiike!

You are reading my mind or something! First a few videos with the pavers and now a pergola? Right on with the content! 👍

Did a great job! Can’t believe you were able to do it by yourself.

Hey man nice job, looks like a great pergola! Couple things I would do different though: 1. Those sonotubes should be sticking above ground, especially considering you're in Idaho (I'm right across the border in Montana). And the tops should be ever so slightly sloped to allow water run-off and prevent it from pooling around your bracket. 2. Aesthetically - it's simply not very pretty. There's a number of things you could do to improve the look of it from using larger posts, to applying different paint colors to those posts and your 2x4s, using thicker material, even changing the angle and layout of everything. 3. As someone else said, cut the 2x4 for that top layer. Not bad at all and aesthetically is just personal preference, especially when it's your own. I'm also a stickler for keeping my bolts in line and it looks like on at least one post a couple are off-center.

Sing with me..."Time to do some sketchy shit, do dar do dar" it's looking good 👍

I thought half the point of using those pavers was that you would be able to easily cut them and fit them around the Pergola footings?

Nice. Was a little disappointed that you couldn't replace the bricks at the base for a cleaner look. Not a fan of the gravel.

You should have dug 2 holes side by side with the auger. It would have been easier to remove the dirt and had more room then put the concrete tube in and back fill around it. I've actually done it but on a much bigger scale. Had to make my own forms.

Great work! Just FYI - this video is unlisted on your feed. It's only showing on the Playlist.

That level lock plus takes just as long as a key would

People! People come on! If you pay attention to his video's then you will hear (not so much now in his newer video's) BUT NEVER EVER ONCE has this guy (Mr Build It) ever said he is a professional, infact i am sure he has said many times he is just a normal guy who loves doing DIY and learns lessons along away and also has never shyed away from saying he has taken on board professional advice he has never hidden that fact! EVER! He has also shown any help he has received (thats provided the other person doesn't mind being filmed), and has also named people for their help. I think since he started out here on RU-vid that each project has got better each time. Mr Build It i am not saying your workmanship is bad at all, i admire you cos you not only show good work but also your not scared of showing your mistakes and owning up to them. I have learnt alot of watching you and i am not scared of trying to do jobs myself anymore, so thankyou 😊😊 Also he is working to a tight budget, tight timeline and for most of it alone, remember his motto BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS!!!! How many of you men out there own up to all of your mistakes???? Also have you not learnt anything yet viewers? This project is FAR from over, like someone said in a previous comment this guy he has a habbit of keeping us guessing thinking "oh he has finished that hummmm" then along comes a spanner in the works with "the real finishing touches" that bring the project as a whole together! So don't leave some of those negative comments i have seen not just yet cos i have a feeling that Mr Build It isnt finished with that back yard yet, also his wife Irene (i am sure thats Mrs Build It's name) if i am wrong, sorry to both Mr and Mrs Build It she has yet to put her design input into the house which i am sure she will. Not everyone here on RU-vid makes money well enough that it pays for everything anyway and this guy has a wife and children to support too not only in money but also in his time too as his family are young and i think they have 4 children tho i could be mistaken and they may only have 3 kids?? Also i think he pointed out at the start of this house build that it is an investment property so won't be making it into their own taste but to the taste of the masses also he said he had a budget to stick to it would be interesting and i do hope that he lets us know the cost breakdown ie:: 1) Purchase Price 2) How Much His Budget Is/Was For The Whole Build 3) How Much He Budgeted For Each Room/Project 4) Did He Stay On Budget And If Not What He Went Over On, Where The Overspending Went And Why 5) If This Is An Investment Property, Then Whats Next For It ie:: Is It Up For Sale And/Or Rent (lets face it at the moment things are selling quickly if they do and thats not only here in the UK but from what i gather it!s everywhere and thats down to interest rates and that thing in 2020 C×××D), So Yeah Hard Times For Everyone Everywhere ATM!! Lets just hope something changes and very very soon 6) Maybe Hopefully Letting Us Viewers Have A Guess At The Sale/Rental Price???? 7)How Much Did He Budget For The Complete Project 8) The Price He Achieved For The Property All that said remember he wears a hat of many trades and to my knowledge (unless anyone knows differently) he doesn't pay himself a wage the any income i know of and i am guessing like many others who watch his channel his income is from making these videos and perhaps some sponsorship???? Please Mr Build It keep up the great work with not only your work, your video's but also being you for you!!!! I love watching your videos and i have done so since since i 1st came across you one Sunday evening when i was just flicking through RU-vid and have stayed watching you ever since and i have NO INTENTION of stopping anytime soon..... I have watched this video now 12 times and each i see something i missed the previous time 😮 infact i probably know it pretty much word for word 😂😂😂😂 Already i am counting down the days til you next release the next chapter in this build ☺️😁☺️😁 Lisa UK xxxx

I have news for you....those 2x6's will sag over time. Hopefully it wont be a lot. Also, the double 2x10's need a block in the center to stop them from warping. Any bow will be noticeable. Two blocks spaced 1/3 apart may be best. You did a nice job putting it together.

I think it's way to big, taking the attention from the house and losing it'functionality. You should get partial sunshade, but the only sunshade you probably will have is outside the randomly placed patio. When build smaller, it wouldn't get the attention it now takes and win in functionality. I get a bit of a daddy-long-leg-feeling from it.

Nice job! I built a free standing 12x26 pergola by myself using 2x12 rafters. Given the weight and size of the rafters, the fastest and easiest way for me to install the double rafters beams on the posts was by using a duct lift I rented for a couple of hours. Sandwich both beams between the posts and raise the duct lift to the desired height…clamp to hold in place and drill in lag bolts…DONE!! It actually took about 10 mins to install a set of 2x12 beams using the lift. Apply, rinse, and repeat.

I only know how to thing the hard way...lol. Your not alone!!!

Looks great! Just throw a pool back there and you'll be good!

I have a 70’s house I’m rehabbing and the previous owners turned the pool into a cactus garden 😩 I can’t wait to do something like this in the backyard and add a small deep pool❤️

Love this all the way, especially the black hardware (whether it came that way or not ;-) and the pebbles to fill in the holes.

Great video. Future tip. If you use a kiddie pool and cut a hole in the middle (or a tarp). easier to deal with the dirt. 😀

Personally I am not a huge fan of pergola but this looks like nice work good job especially doing it all on your own.

Nice job looks great!

Man they keep making it easier to break into homes now with those types of locks 😂

Nice! At first I thought the pergola was too big for the patio and then too tall for the house, but the final product looks great! Can’t wait to see what’s next!!

Great video! One of he best I've seen! And to do I by yourself makes it even better!

Another excellent build

i'm looking forward to the back yard restoration. that bush near the patio has been bothering me

Im just thinking, wouldnt it be easier to do the concret job first and lay down the pavers afterwards?

Ja, Du kannst viel, Du schaffst viel. Den Garagenumbau halte ich immer noch für Deine beste Arbeit............damit will ich die anderen Sachen nicht abwerten. Und heute zeigst Du eine Wiederholung. Was gibt es denn Neues bei Dir ?

Expansion and contraction of wood occurs mostly in the width not so much on the length so you probably did not need to leave that gap. Hiding the seam over a 2x6 would have made for a cleaner look but overall very nice job. Oh, and those 45 degree pieces in the corner are called wind braces.

No roofing on top? What good is this drying rack for then?

You could have gotten the galvanized fasteners and painted them black to save money. Paint the screw heads as well,to hide them. Easy peasy.

Another great build. I do think it’s too tall compared tp the house and even unnecessary tall imo. Buuut the most important thing is that you are happy with it! Looks good nonetheless 🤘

Great job!👍

That thing is SICK

“Who’s wanting green hardware!” Me: *just bought green hardware* Yeah, totally! Who would do that?

Didn’t order ahead of time, got the wrong size timber. Didn’t order ahead of time, got the wrong size mounting plates. Didn’t order ahead of time, got the wrong size timber (a second time). There’s a lesson you’re teaching here, even if by omission.

You have done amazing job.

Keep up the good work!!!!

Nice work. Are you waiting till winter to start on the inside of the house?

nice done ! BTW. what's the lumber you used ?

Next time, Simpson Strong Tie has a pergola builder program for free online. You put in the specs you want and it pops out plans, material lists, and step-by-step instructions.

Very impressed. Gets me excited to do my own next summer. Curious though - is that long of a span going to cause problems with sagging over the years?

Dig the pillar hols before you put down the pavers

Mr Build it, well done and thank you for taking the time to share. I loved your honest commentary, made me feel better about all the sh$%^&* I mess up along the way. I appreciate all the steps, thank you.

One tip…. Buy a small kiddie pool, put an 8” cut out in the center and then use your auger to drill the hole. Now all your dirt is in the kiddie pool and not all over your sponsored tile pieces…

Great work! Can you put the pavers back around the base of the four posts?

Hey man, good effort, but if I could have made some suggestions, u should’ve nudged the post , the 4 beams don’t have no loading points beside them 3 screws. That’s a lot of weight and it could collapse after a while . Also u could’ve ripped the 2x4 into 1 1/2 & could’ve saved some money

Next time I highly recommend you to used post hole divers it will saved you time and energy

When you work alone, two levels and two clamps, or one post level and a clamp. Two hands free to work with.

I would have cut the 12inch tubes down one side and squeezed them into the 8inch hole. 😅 also hide the brackets with some sort of decoration. A skirt or something

Just curious did you seal the ends after you cut them?

What is the best type wood for the RAFTER part of the outdoor pergola? Is it an outdoor treated kind??

good stuff, thanks

I guess it must have been a code thing, but WOW ! Those footers are big and deep. And the cardboard tube? I see you laboring to get the hole big enough to fit the tube into. Unless it's a code thing, I would have just dumped the concrete into the hole. Can't see the advantage of the cardboard sleeve, but here in Tennessee we have hard clay that won't move - you may have been dealing with a soft soil. Anyway - enjoyed the video

Very nice work. What is used for?

Looking great amazing job can’t wait to see it finished

A glutton for punishment? Sounds perfect.

oh man you are a hard worker... not a lazy guy for sure... hat off

I love your videos.

Are you using pressure treated lumber. Great video and nice job

"The unexamined life is not worth living." - Socrates

That dirt where you are at is SO dry! Way different from where I'm from!

Don’t know where he lives but where I’m from there would be roots and rocks and no way to use an auger that easily.

cool. Maybe 6x6 or at least 4x6 would have been better for the corner posts?

When removing the Auger, stop it from spinning and just pull it straight out. You'll have a bit loaded with dirt and it'll excavate the hole much easier and cleaner.

patiently waiting for the landscaping to be done... :)

Hope you got that girth you were looking for😂. You possibly could have saved some money by getting the galvanized brackets and painted them black. Probably would have only taken a can or two. I like the overall outcome. I disagree with people saying it was to big. They just wish theirs was that big.

5:20 🔥

6:13 Better help can help 😏

Ugh...the voids left behind after pushing your brackets through the concrete. Should have poured the last few shovelfulls around the brackets while holding them in place. And why not just forget about the 1ft overhang instead of moving your posts and making it smaller? 😢😢😢

That would stop the pool from getting to hot +sunburn at bay lol😮

Hi! For the first set of cross timbers that have a three 5in lag bolts you pointed out, did you predrill small holes at all? Or just go right into the wood?JW thanks!

13:55 why secure the boards with screws or something , when you can just clamp it . I'm doing it all time as I'm working on my own.

i just recently started school for carpentry and ive been watching your videos, i thought id ask before searching everywhere to find it but do you have any tips on making flush lines and no gaps?

Also coulve used nails if u ripped by 1 1/2 & shoot them from the top

You should make another intro highlights for this project just like the slab concrete house 😂

Lot's of great work and a lot of lumber ... not much shade!!!