Timber pergola covering a built-in outdoor kitchen with stainless steel grill and stone counters

Shipped 2,000+ Miles: Easy DIY Pergola Kit with an Outdoor Kitchen

This pergola traveled more than two thousand miles to reach the Hartley family, and the delivery did not add a line to their price. Freight is included in the lower 48, and pricing is identical in-state and out-of-state.

What arrived was a DIY pergola kit custom-designed for them: an 8000 Series timber frame, 16 feet by 16 feet, sized to shade an outdoor kitchen and the people gathered around it.

A 16 x 16 Pergola Built Around an Outdoor Kitchen

Timber pergola with arched beams shading a backyard outdoor kitchen with a grill, counter seating, and a stone patio
The finished pergola over the Hartley family’s outdoor kitchen. Arched beams on all four sides soften the frame, and the open rafters drop shade across the cooking and dining area.

Cooking outside is more pleasant when the cook is not standing in direct sun. An open timber frame filters the light across the counter and the table without closing in the smoke or the view, which is why a pergola pairs so naturally with an outdoor kitchen.

What went into this build

  • Series: 8000 Series
  • Size: 16 ft. x 16 ft.
  • Stain: Wild Olive
  • Beams: Champion beam and rafter profiles, arched on all four sides
  • Knee braces: Classic style
  • Posts: 10-inch posts
  • Bases: 20-inch stone bases
  • Power: Inferno TimberVolt® power post

Why the Kit Goes Together Without Construction Experience

Every piece arrives pre-cut, pre-fit, and pre-stained, so the work on site is assembly rather than fabrication. Whether a local contractor installs it or the homeowner does, the joinery is what keeps it simple.

Close view of a patented interlocking dovetail timber joint where a beam seats into a post
The patented Dovetail Difference® joint. The beam seats into the post and locks under its own weight, so the connection tightens rather than relying on fasteners alone.

The timbers are finished with Sherwin-Williams stain before they ship, which means no staining ladder work in the first week and no separate finish bill. Timber is a natural material and will want re-staining over the years, but the structure arrives ready to use.

See the full range in the timber pergola kits lineup.

What the Hartley Family Said

“We are very pleased with our Western Timber Pergola. Western Timber folks were great to work with from start to finish. All people involved were extremely professional, helpful and kind. We highly recommend Western Timber.”

Chad Hartley

Timber pergola lit from below at night, the stained beams glowing warm against the dark yard
Stain reads differently after dark. Wild Olive picks up a warmer cast under evening lights than it shows at midday.

Power Where the Pergola Already Is

Timber post with a built-in outlet panel providing electrical access inside an outdoor structure
An integrated TimberVolt® power post puts outlets in the structure itself, so cords do not have to run back to the house.

An outdoor kitchen tends to need power for more than lights, and the evening is usually when the space gets used most. This build carries the Inferno TimberVolt® power post, wiring the electrical access into a timber post rather than adding it later. TimberVolt® is protected under U.S. Patent 10,053,861.

Questions About Shipping and DIY Pergola Kits

How far can a pergola kit ship?

This one traveled more than two thousand miles. Freight is included in the lower 48, and pricing is identical in-state and out-of-state, so distance from Utah does not change what a kit costs.

Can a homeowner install a pergola kit without construction experience?

Many do. The timbers arrive pre-cut, pre-fit, and pre-stained, and the dovetail joinery guides each piece into place. A local contractor can also install it if you would rather not do the work yourself.

Does a pergola work over an outdoor kitchen?

It is a common pairing. An open timber frame drops shade over the cooking and dining area while still letting smoke and heat rise out, which a solid roof does not do as easily.

Is the stain included in the kit?

Yes. Kits ship pre-stained with Sherwin-Williams stain, so there is no separate finish bill. Timber does need re-staining periodically as part of normal maintenance.

Can electrical be built into the pergola itself?

Yes, through an integrated TimberVolt® power post, which routes outlets inside a timber post. It has to be planned before the posts are made, since the wiring channel is part of the post.

Western Timber Frame has designed, handcrafted, and delivered more than 7,000 outdoor structures in all 50 states since 2008. Every Western Timber Frame structure carries a limited structural warranty. Length runs from 3 years on Deck Structures to 20 years on the 12K Series, based on the series you purchase.Get a free quote.

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Content Writer, Architectural Photographer & Outdoor Living Author, Western Timber Frame

Marilynn Thompson is a content writer, architectural photographer, and outdoor living author at Western Timber Frame™, where she specializes in custom timber pergolas, pavilions, gazebos, and heavy timber construction. Since joining the company, she has helped document thousands of custom projects through technical research, homeowner interviews, jobsite photography, and educational articles that explain complex building concepts in clear, practical language.

Her work combines engineering research with real-world project experience, covering topics such as structural design, building permits, installation, timber species, joinery, maintenance, and outdoor living design. She regularly collaborates with Western Timber Frame's designers, engineers, and project specialists to ensure every article reflects current building practices and accurate technical information.

As the company's architectural photographer, Marilynn has photographed custom timber structures across the United States, documenting how they perform in different climates, landscapes, and architectural styles. Her writing is informed not only by research, but by conversations with homeowners and business owners who have lived with these structures for years.

Her goal is simple: to help homeowners understand the decisions behind a custom timber structure so they can build with confidence, not guesswork.

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