How to Build a DIY Patio Cover
You build a DIY patio cover by checking local rules, planning the size, marking the post locations, preparing the…
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Timber vs. Aluminum Pergola: Western Timber Frame vs. Azenco
A maker that has built both timber and aluminum louvered roofs breaks down how to compare them — heat, wind ratings, moving parts, cost, and who installs and services it — so you can match the structure to your climate and your home.
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Commercial Timber Park Pavilion for Colorado
Inside the two matching commercial timber pavilions Western Timber Frame built for the Tanterra community park in Parker, Colorado — a contemporary Douglas Fir design (a cabana by our own definition), the engineering, and the road from concept to completed.
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Covered Patio Ideas: Pergolas, Pavilions, Gazebos, and Cabanas Compared
The best covered patio idea depends on how your family actually uses the space — not just how it looks in a photo. Open pergolas deliver 80-85% shade with natural airflow. Pavilions and gazebos give you full rain protection under a solid timber roof. Cabanas add a slanted roofline with an architectural edge. This guide compares every option so you can match the structure to the way you live outside.
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What Size Pergola Do I Need? A Guide by How You’ll Use It
The right pergola size comes down to what goes under it, not just the square footage. Here’s how to size by use — dining, lounging, a hot tub, a kitchen — the three size ranges, and the one measurement detail almost every online chart gets wrong.
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Do You Need a Permit for a Pergola, Gazebo or Deck?
An outdoor structure permit costs $50 to $400, and most backyard projects need one. Learn the five triggers that require a permit, what documentation you need, and how to avoid the delays that catch homeowners off guard.
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Pergola Permit Engineering: Why Stamped Plans Matter
Pergola permit engineering is the difference between a permit application that sails through plan review and one that comes back with a list of deficiencies. When a manufacturer engineers every structure to code from the start, stamped PE drawings are available when your building department requires them — no scrambling, no third-party engineer trying to reverse-engineer a box of lumber.
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Rich Cordoba Stain: A Color Guide for Timber Frame Structures
Rich Cordoba isn’t just a dark stain — it’s a deep chocolate-brown with espresso undertones that grounds a space the way good leather grounds a room. Here’s why it works on timber frame structures and how to know if it’s right for your backyard.
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Early American Stain: A Color Guide for Timber Frame Structures
Early American isn’t the boldest stain in the lineup and it isn’t trying to be. It’s a warm, cocoa-toned brown that borrows from walnut, aged oak, and tilled earth — the color equivalent of a front porch that’s been there forever. Here’s why it works on nearly any house.
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Custom Decks | Design Inspiration | Exposed Timber | Gazebo Kits | Pavilion Kits | Planning & Design
Tongue and Groove Under Deck Ceiling: As Beautiful Underneath as on Top
Most people focus on the top of their deck — but the ceiling underneath matters just as much. Tongue and groove planking transforms the space below into something warm, finished, and worth spending time in. Here’s where it makes the biggest impact.
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The Complete Pergola & Outdoor Structure Glossary
Western Timber Frame’s outdoor structure glossary covers 250+ construction terms across 17 categories — from pergola roof styles and timber joinery to foundation types and finishing techniques. Built from 16 years and 7,000+ real projects.
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Defining a Patio With Timber
This backyard already had a strong foundation: a spacious concrete patio, a clean layout, and room to gather. The…
