- Are the Western Timber Frame pergolas strong enough to hang a hammock or swing on?
- Can I customize my own pergola?
- Can pergolas and gazebos be installed in the fall or winter months?
- Can you assemble and install the pergola for me?
- Can you ship this big timber kit to my house?
- Could I attach a pergola to my home, existing building structure, or deck?
- Do I have to do anything to maintain my Pergola in the wintertime?
- Do you offer other types of timber?
- For a DIY installation, do I have to be a skilled carpenter? How easy or difficult is it to assemble and install a Pergola Kit?
- How long does it take for me to get my pergola after I have placed an order?
- What about dry rot?
- What about wet rot?
- What about wood boring insects?
- What are the sizes of your posts?
- What do you use for a finish? Do you use a stain or sealant?
- What is a dovetail joint?
- What is a louvered roof?
- What is the best way to get power on my pergola for a light, fan, or TV?
- What kind of timbers do you use to build your pergola kits?
- Why is timber a better advantage over vinyl and other products out there?
- Are the Western Timber Frame pergolas strong enough to hang a hammock or swing on?
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Yes, especially our Over-Size Timber Pergola Kits. Because of the way we have designed our grid pattern roofs, with the rafters and top shade planks overlapping and along with the structural knee braces, you will have an extremely sturdy timber pergola that will not rock with the wind or a swing.
- Can I customize my own pergola?
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Yes. While there are some “standard” sizes (basically because of timber dimensions) every one of the structures that we build is custom. We measure to fit your space, design, and to suit your style. If you have something particular in mind, give us a call and our project managers can help you design a beautiful, structurally sound timber frame pergola that you have been dreaming of.
- Can pergolas and gazebos be installed in the fall or winter months?
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Western Timber Frame continues to build pergolas, pavilions, and decks all winter long. The winter months are a fantastic time to install a pergola as this allows you to prepare for your summer outdoor living for the upcoming season. Also, installing in the winter allows you to avoid the summer rush we experience every year.
- Can you assemble and install the pergola for me?
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Yes, of course. We are happy to assemble and install your pergola for you. Contact us and we will gladly discuss this option with you.
- Can you ship this big timber kit to my house?
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Because our kits can weigh thousands of pounds, a forklift is required to load and unload the carrier truck. We will ship your kit to a location with an on-site forklift, such as a business or landscape company. If you do not have access to a forklift, you can pick up your kit with a flatbed trailer at the nearest Shipping Terminal. The pallet can then be broken down and the kit unloaded from your trailer by hand at the installation site.
- Could I attach a pergola to my home, existing building structure, or deck?
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Yes. Our attached pergolas are a great way to add value to your home, business, deck or yard area. Each roof rafter is dovetailed into a ledger that is attached to the structure. Typically there are front posts connected by a support beam, locked in with two or more knee braces. Also, generally there are no side posts or support beams with knee braces. We ensure that all the fasteners that attach the pergola to your home are hidden so you won’t ever have to see metal rusty hangers and hardware. You only see a beautiful wood-to-wood connection.
- Do I have to do anything to maintain my Pergola in the wintertime?
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The beauty of our pergolas is that they require much less maintenance than the typical timber pergola. All of our kits have two coats of UV-rated linseed oil-based stain. We recommend applying another coat between 6 to 9 months after your kit is installed and then you shouldn’t have to worry about doing it again for another 3-5 years or even longer.
- Do you offer other types of timber?
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Yes, we also offer Incense Cedar (IC), which is extremely dependable and stable. It resists decay and stands up to high humidity and moisture, making it very durable—up to 30 years. IC is highly rated for its physical properties, including checking (cracking), weathering, warping, holding paint, and insulation value. However, it is most known for its dimensional stability. IC timbers have low shrinkage and expand and contract very little with changes in moisture and temperature.
- For a DIY installation, do I have to be a skilled carpenter? How easy or difficult is it to assemble and install a Pergola Kit?
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We test-fit every single piece before we ship to ensure that your installation will be easy and fun. With very little carpentry skills, a few basic tools, and the help of a friend or two, your Timber Pergola can be installed in one afternoon. All our pergola kit parts are pre-cut, pre-drilled, pre-notched, and numbered with easy interlocking corners and drop-in rafter layouts. Our unique corner system allows for a quick, snap-together beam-to-post application. The result is a timber pergola kit with quality and durability that is quick to assemble. We provide instructions in our installation manual as well as technical support from one of our installers at your request. Click here for testimonials of other homeowners who have installed a Western Timber Frame Pergola Kit in one day with very little to no carpentry experience.
- How long does it take for me to get my pergola after I have placed an order?
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The lead-time between the placement of your order and the delivery depend on the size and design of your pergola and also the time of year. Typically we can have your kit ready to ship within 2 ½ -3 ½ weeks. In the contiguous 48 states, shipping time averages around 5 business days, depending on where you are located. Shipping to Alaska or Hawaii would take longer. We will inform you of the estimated delivery date.
- What about dry rot?
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There has been much confusion as to this destructive fungus referred to as dry rot. Dry rot is Serpula lacrymans, a fungus that germinates from a spore just as fruit or vegetation grows from a seed. The spore has to be present and posit with a moisture content saturated to the point of about 28 to 30% and the humidity to be above 95 to 98% for dry rot to begin to germinate. Even in situations where walls have had high moisture content and humidity, if the wall starts to dry, dry rot cannot tolerate these dry conditions and will become dormant and eventually die. The conditions for dry rot is most likely in places where there is damp plaster, damp masonry, damp mortar and enclosed damp walls, cellars that are dark, stagnant and not ventilated. In some cases, masonry will never dry. Northern States seldom experience dry rot. Utilizing heating and air conditioning in modern buildings in the Southern States eliminating moisture problems has rendered it very difficult for dry rot to occur. Well-seasoned timber does best when it is able to breathe eliminating interstitial condensation through ventilation. Dry rot cannot exist in kiln dried lumber or thoroughly seasoned timber when the excess of moisture has been eliminated. - What about wet rot?
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Wet rot refers to several different kinds of fungi spread by asexual spores but the treatment is the same in all cases. As with dry rot, the asexual spores must be present and wet rot cannot take place if the timber has been thoroughly seasoned and the excess of moisture eliminated. Kiln dried timber will not rot because there is not enough moisture. The moisture content has to be a minimum of at least 23 to 25% for most species to begin to germinate. Wet rot is more likely to occur in unseasoned wood or wood covered with paint or plaster not allowing the moisture to escape. Wet rot can only happen by actual contact and if it is cut out the timber kept dry will not be affected any further. - What about wood boring insects?
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The main component of wood is cellulose, the natural sugar in fresh wood. Its primary purpose is to energize and give nutrition to the growing tree. Decaying wood is a natural environment for wood destroying organisms that rely upon cellulose and long standing moisture content with oxygen to survive. Take away any of these organisms and they will not be able to survive. Most wood boring insects must lay their eggs in the summer. All wood destroying organisms have to have the right amount of high moisture content but not too much moisture as extreme moisture will also kill the fungi they need to survive on. Freezing temperatures kill most species of fungi and wood boring insects. If any of these organisms are in excess, too minimal or removed they cannot survive. Considering all the necessary environmental conditions for wood destroying organisms to survive it is a phenomenal, amazing, wonder of nature that they are ever able to progenerate. - What are the sizes of your posts?
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The widths and depths are customized for you.
The following is an example of materials for a Pergola Kit.
• 8″ Post Over-size Timber Kits included:
- 8″x8″ Dovetailed Timber Posts
- 4″x12″ Dovetailed Timber Support Beams
- 3″x10″ Timber Structural Knee Braces
- 3″x10″ Timber Rafters with decorative ends
- 2″x6″ Timber Shade Planks for 10″ CC spacing
- Hardware and fasteners for assembly
- Easy to follow Installation Manual
• 6″ Post Full-size Timber Kits included:
- 6″x6″ Dovetailed Timber Posts
- 3″x10″ Dovetailed Timber Support Beams
- 2″x10″ Timber Structural Knee Braces
- 2″x8″ Timber Rafters with decorative ends
- 2″x4″ Timber Shade Planks for 10″ CC spacing
- Hardware and fasteners for assembly
- Easy to follow Installation Manual - What do you use for a finish? Do you use a stain or sealant?
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We only use the highest quality premium grade linseed oil-based stains. We can customize our stains to match existing elements on or around your home. If you just have a color in mind that you would prefer, we will also work with you to create the perfect stain and color to ensure that your needs are met. Just send us a sample of what color you want and we can match it.
- What is a dovetail joint?
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Western Timber Frame kits feature an award-winning Post-to-Beam Dovetail Connection System. This innovative design not only makes installation faster and more convenient, it also creates very strong, rigid corners. Over time, as the timbers expand and contract with changing seasons, these dynamic joints maintain a close-fitting connection which minimize gap exposure and reduce typical twisting and warping. Save time and headache during installation, get superior strength and quality, and extend the life and beauty of your investment with the remarkable Dovetail System!
- What is a louvered roof?
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A louvered roof is a ventilated roof (similar to blinds or shutters) that you can open and close at the touch of a button so that you can allow the sunshine in to lighten up your deck or protect it from rain. Our louvered roofs are 100% extruded aluminum and are engineered to hold snow loads and withstand winds. Call for details regarding your specific area.
- What is the best way to get power on my pergola for a light, fan, or TV?
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Power access on a pergola is one of the most common requests we receive. We typically drill a 1” hole through the center of one of your posts (minimum of 8” or bigger). This will allow you to have your electrician feed a wire from the ground up without having the wire exposed to the elements or to your view.
- What kind of timbers do you use to build your pergola kits?
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All of our kits are constructed exclusively from #1 Grade rough sawn SFI Certified* timbers. Douglas Fir (DF) is the number one choice by architects and engineers for structural timbers. It is dimensionally stable and universally recognized for its superior strength. Its high density provides excellent nail- and plate-holding ability. DF has documented better performance against strong forces such as winds, storms and earthquakes. DF timbers are perfect for a wide range of projects. With the ability to be used both indoors and out, it is the most versatile material for nearly any building project.
- Why is timber a better advantage over vinyl and other products out there?
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Timber is structurally sounder for longstanding durability, as seen in the ancient woodwork and beautiful architecture worldwide. Our over-sized material and unique dovetail notching system allows for lifelong lasting ability to stand up to the highest winds, the harshest weather, and heavy snow loads. Multiple swings can be hung on them without any worries about it falling over or becoming unstable. While there is slightly more maintenance to timber pergolas compared to vinyl pergolas, timber has more aesthetic appeal, is environmentally friendly, and is an excellent choice for great shade structures, decks, and trusses.
