Installing Tojagrid pergola system and review. Songs by Josh Woodward (in order) “Big Disco Ball” “Fight the Sea” and “Spirit World” No changes were made. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
When I built mine, from 6x6’s, I put all of the steel brackets on the wood before erecting it. It’s the quickest and easiest way to do it. Mine is a double bay 12’x26’. Each of the 6 legs had the steel pieces already attached. It’s the way to go. So much faster.
How do you secure the posts, so that wind does not rip them out ? I like tojagrid and also have a low deck, but I am concerned that if I screw the posts simply onto the deck boards the next strong wind is going to blow these posts onto my neighbor's fence or backayard.
Thanks for video! I have composite deck also -- So you drill thru the composite and into the joists then line up to bottom bracket? What size bolt/screw did that require? Second question -- noticed you installed two exta supporting crossbars under windows in rear -- just for extra support? Are those also 4x4 or are they 2x4?
Yes on the drilling and joists. Bolted right into solid lumber under composite deck. I used the biggest lag bolts that would fit through holes in brackets. Construction screws, etc., would never be strong enough. I don't remember specifics. The extra crossbars are 4x4 cedar to keep furniture from hitting house and to rest drinks on, etc.
Thanks for the video. We are considering this for a patio in a building that we live in. We cannot secure it to the ground (it's a roof). We are considering placing a cinder block around each base bracket and filling it will sand. Do you think that would be enough to keep it anchored?
Frankly I am still nervous that my 5 inch bolts into frame aren't enough when the storms hit. Imagine trying to hold 25 umbrellas in real winds. Its that kind of power.
Did you consider a side mount into the house, or didn't want to go there? Also, why the cross beams in the back against the house? Thanks, awesome video
I have only 12' of patio from house to edge of it so if I want a (whatever length - 8 - 10 - 12) x 12' deep pergola, it seems that it wouldn't fit since the bases extend that distance out by 10" to 12' 10". Is that correct? I was thinking I could just make the beams shorter by 10" but then the shade wouldn't fit properly? What is the final distance from outer edge of one base to outer edge of the other?
Would you say the 4"x4" feels sturdy enough to face the Canadian winter elements or would you recommend the 6"x6" for higher winds/ice rain/snow areas?
It holds in 70km winds. Lots of rain too. Snow would be a problem for fabric. Not not rated. I'm in Ontario Canada and so far so good. Taking fabric down in Oct.
@@TheGarage656 Excellent, thanks. Yeah, I'll defo be removing the fabric, I was more concerned about the frame itself. We're here in Ontario as well. Thanks again and keep up the good work.
Yes. Those add some stability. The whole thing still wiggles (the nature of the product) but not much. The brackets are Toja and bolts from my local hardware store. Nothing special beyond the Toja Grid system.
So nice vid! Much appreciated. Simple question.. if it’s a 10 by 10 ( meaning the shade is 10 by 10, how long do you cut the 4 by 4’s? 10 feet long exactly? Thanks!
@@TheGarage656 did you feel the 12ft long distance made it weaker in the middle of the horizontal post? Like what if an adult male tried to do pull-ups from the center of the 12ft horizontal post….. do you think it would break the beam? Or it feels strong
I received my 10x10 ToJay a couple days ago and need some guidance. I want it installed on an existing area paved with patio stone slabs 1-1/2" thick. Will that be sufficient to anchor the corner frames to or do I have to have concrete poured? I don't know much about construction so I will be depending on someone to install it for me.
Personally, I'd want more than patio stones holding it down (I know those are heavy). Just holding the corners down will probably end with a flip-over. Plus, even if you use tapcons (concrete screws), there probably isn't much hold to them (given how thin the stones are). Concrete like that just tends to crack and fall apart too ... sorry to say.
Does the wind escape during windy days as there are gaps between the top frames and the fabric? I'm curious as I installed this on a rooftop with composite decking (using 5 inch tapcons)
@@gbaninja I used 5" Tapcon concrete anchors to hit the concrete way below but I think it went through the whole slab. Otherwise still holding up strong (with some wood cracks). Only thing I would suggest is to remove the fabric top on windy days as it does shake quite a bit in strong winds (especially 60ft up)
This was a great video! I've been thinking of getting a pergola for a long time and just can't justify a Home Depot or Lowe's pergola that are $1500+!!! Why did you decide to go with Cedar over other wood?
The natural oils in cedar will keep it going for a long time. It resists cracking slightly more than treated wood (or so I'm told). Plus it smells great.
Good Job, thanks for the video! I am building a flat ground deck and just saw you anchor them down to the joists. Smart move! I think I need to do the same. My surface is on a slope and I don't know how to get it to level so this method maybe easier for me. First, I need to get a ground level deck and then attach to joists.
It sounds like you have wet lumber. Personally I wouldn't sand or plane it down because when it dries it will be too small. Ideally you would let it dry. If you can't wait then I'd probably use a hand held sander.
Those brackets are robotically welded. I know the people who built the welding cells. Apparently it was very difficult to program and get the proper torch angle. P.S. I am a robotics technician.
Homedepot's top composite (grey plus other colours mixed). Veranda I believe is the name. Used in my cabin videos too. Works really well. Stands up to punishment.
I know they have kits for heavy-ish loads such as hammocks but that requires extra braces on bottom, including extra lumber. Given that the joint ends do not overlap, i.e., the lumber holding a possible floor does not lay on top of the lumber holding the whole floor up (i.e., legs), it would not make for a good loft bed in the traditional sense (i.e., it is not traditional framing/load bearing support with weight following from top all the way to ground wood-to-wood). So hammocks, yep, with the right kit. Something more floor-like with a loft bed, that is outside the design expectations of the engineers I suspect.
I honestly can't say. I would suspect the answer is "yes" but I've never done it and I don't know what kinds of loads/stresses the supports might be put under. Definitely a good question for the manufacturer who knows the load tolerances. Sounds fun though.
It still wobbles a little, nothing annoying or bad. You could install corner braces and those would help, but then you may as well forget the metal brackets and just do wood framing (save the money). I got these to avoid the look of braces and so far it is holding up great.
Curious (sorry if I missed it), but did you screw those base mounts into any deck structure, or just the PEX deck boards? Thanks for the vid - looks good.
I need a 12x 20 ft pergola. Would this work for my project? I heard these brackets are expensive but if I do it mysel I will be a lot better money wise than paying someone to build me one from scratch right?
I can't say for sure but I suspect it would be cheaper (or at least close). The main factor for me is that the metal brackets just look a lot nicer (less blocking your view). If you hire someone to build it, it will need corner braces that will take up a lot of visual space. Less about money for me. More about clean lines.
We did 12x12 from post to post. So the 12ft 4x4s meet end to end without any cutting. We find it big but larger might be nice too. It has survived big winds. Not sure about a 16 footer.
We are looking at this as well (want to do 14'x14'). Toja says it only recommends 12'x12' without adding a middle post. We're considering putting angle brackets to add extra support. Thoughts?
I raised up a squared pergola and put it on six inch shorter poles on the lower side. I can’t get it to set square. I think I’m gonna have to replace the shorter post with the same length and figure my drainage another way
Hi. Just wondering you just screwed the base bracket to the deck? Do you need any reinforcement? I have a off-ground deck and I am considering to do a pergola using this Toja Grid system. But I don't feel secure to just screw the base to the deck board. Any input? Thank you!
Lag bolts into frame (under the deck topping which is just plastic). The bolts are much heavier than screws and have held nicely. Your frame should be at least 2x6, probably larger. Leaving lots of space for long bolts.
I live in florida, and dont have a deck, for the sake of hurricane proofing, i was thinking of digging the standing beams in the ground and concreting around them.
I'd be curious what the manufacturer suggests on that one. I.e., how many feed down and what size of diameter for concrete. Surely deep enough and wide enough would work. Never tried that myself.
Good question. Sorry I don't know. I just had some galvanized lags around so I used those. The lags were at least 3 inches but I do not know the width.
@@TheGarage656 great question! I’ve been on the fence about a 4x4 system or a 6x6 for aesthetic reasons. The 6x6 is better looking in my opinion. Why would you go for a 6x6?
@@bisniskidcali9998 I prefer 4x4 unless it was a huge top in a windy location. Then maybe 6x6. I don't want to be looking at lumber if I don't have to do so.
Why shouldn't you anchor it to the decking. I'm planning on using the Tojagrid on my rooftop which has 2x4 decking and I was planning on securing it that that.
My composite decking doesn't have any "hold-down" strength. Composite is just plastic and woodchips, nothing structural. The pergola is a giant umbrella that the wind wants to take away ... badly. If the decking is secured really well (unlike composite which often just lays on top with hidden fasteners made of plastic), you will hopefully be just fine. Just think "giant umbrella" and anchor it really well.
I’ll pay a little more for a well made product made in Canada 🇨🇦, our brothers and sisters living in the land of ice and snow, know how to engineer products that handle the elements.
According to a personal Home Insurance Adjuster, he have written so many claims and strongly advises home owners to caution installing these types pergolas. It’s not structurally sounded and often does a lot of damage to it’s surrounds such as privacy fences, neighboring properties, windows, and electrical conduit lines. Just too dangerous.
Wow. Thanks for sharing. I hadn't thought about the possibilities, especially when not installed correctly. Of course nothing will stop the big winds, installed correctly or not.
I bought this kit and spent probably almost $1000 before realizing the metal isnt strong enough to support a polycarbonate roof. Not a happy wife at my house.
