It is natural to want to put your best foot forward to make that favorable first impression. What goes on before that first audience can be just as spectacularly impressive as the presentation itself. Enjoy a behind the scenes look into displaying massive timber frame shelters at Home and Garden shows.

Now, you can see – as the old adage goes –

what it is that separates the men from the boys!

ShadeScape® Pavilion Kit Being Pre-Assembled in the Shop

To even begin to appreciate what our guys do in the process of showcasing these ShadeScape® kits for Home and Graden Shows, we first have to weigh in on the size of these massive timber frame shelters.

The median average cookie cutter kit from a big box store will probably weigh somewhere around 200lbs – 380lbs. It will have spliced beams, and be limited in size, etc.

The red is a tracing of a metal pergola to show the comparison in size to the black ShadeScape® pergola kit that replaced it.

On the left side of this picture is a view of the post from the wooden deck that was replaced by a ShadeScape® deck. The ShadeScape® timber post pictured to the right in the photo is beefier. The quality of old-world craftsmanship and precision interlocking connections – without the use of nails or glue – is built to last.

 SIZE makes a HUGE difference.

Conventional Metal Pergola Collapsed from Weight of Snow

Wind Collapsed Vinyl Reinforced Pergola

Timber Frame ShadeScape® Pergola Kit

A Western Timber Frame™ ShadeScape® timber frame kit weighs in at more than 10 to 30 times that (2,500 – 10,000 lbs.), and are completely solid in their construction.

Conventional Vinyl Pergola Post (Wind Blown Down)

8000 Series ShadeScape® Pergola Post (120+mph wind rated)

A 14′ x 22′ DIY ShadeScape® Pergola Kit installed by the Owens family of Nevada.

For a 14′ x 22′ ShadeScape® Series Kit the rough-sawn timber stack would be close to these weights represented here:

6000 Series 

• 2,925 Pounds
• 886 Board Feet

8000 Series 

• 4,561 Pounds
• 1,382 Board Feet

10,000 Series 

• 6,556 Pounds
• 1,988 Board Feet

12,000 Series 

• 9,035 Pounds
• 2,738 Board Feet

Despite their massive size, more often than not, they are actually easier and quicker to assemble than a kit that is 10-30X smaller in weight.

Everything is pre-cut, prefinished, and ready to assemble.

That said,…the main “downside” is the weight of the posts and beams. To install, you’ll need to invite over a friend or two to lift each end of the beams in place, but once the beams are set in place that weight locks everything into position with our patented dovetail joint system. 

Because of the weight and size, when we ship out a kit, it goes out on the back of a semi-trailer, (unlike the Big Box Store and other kits) not 2-3 cardboard boxes, or on a small pallet.

Then, with our same day – NO CONCRETE – exclusive anchoring system or an already poured patio, an outdoor area can go FROM THIS…

…TO THIS,

 in as little as

 One AFTERNOON!

Here, for fun, are a few pictures proudly sent to us by a few of our awesome ShadeScape® families who – having never done so before – installed their own ShadeScape® kits with the help of other family members – or a friend or two.

The Mullin Family – Kentucky

The Owens Family – Nevada

The Williams Family – Florida

The Contrera Family – California

Similar to a child’s set of Lincoln Log toy, the pieces just interlock with each other.

The Dovetail Difference®

When a client wants something even BIGGER…

…and desire extra long timbers,

that is when MORE MUSCLES — and at times,

even a crane — is brought in.

Pergola at Home & Garden Show with Extra Long Beams

Crane to Install Extra Long, Large Beam

Real Men with Crane Installing Massive Timber Beam Across Swimming Pool

Doing several Home and Garden Shows a Year, our men put up and take down several of these massive timbers for ShadeScape® Kits again, and again.

Here are a few pictures sent from the latest show:

#DIYHipPavilionKit

#DIYGabledRoofPavilionKit

#BenchandEggSwingsPavilionAccessories

#Home&GardenDIYPavilionKit

#DFYPergolaKitInstall

#Home&GardenInstallPavilionRoof

#WelcomeToOurShadeScape

To add to all the brawn – they do it with class – taking home the Best of Show award, show-after-show.

That’s awesome, guys!

Being a REAL MAN is more than physical. 

REAL MEN are more than muscularity. They can’t just go through the motions, leaning on past experience. Every show includes new innovative designs and products. They are not only REAL, but they also embody the DISCIPLINED qualities of TRUE MEN – working as MEN with GOOD MINDS.

“Thank you, to our REAL MEN who enjoy a good days workout!”

We appreciate all they do.

#InstallingDFYPavilionKit

We are not the only ones grateful for their work, the families who attend the Home and Garden shows are, too. ShadeScape® kits were set over entryways in the outdoor displays provided much-needed shade for people needing a reprieve from the elements.

Arizona State Police Officers enjoy the ShadeScape® shade. 

At this Home and Garden Show in Arizona, the average highs in this area in July ranges from 101.5 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit. A natural timber frame DIY pergola kit is the perfect solution to bring relieving shade to comfortably swim on all those hot summer days.

Shade from solid wood timbers is as comforting as a shade tree. Timber naturally creates a condition for comfort and is the world’s best insulator being a poor conductor of heat. When the day is hot, timber will absorb the heat in the air and at night when the temperatures lower timber will let out the heat to keep a natural balance of temperature. Timber can carry two temperatures at the same time on either side. Timber is the best choice for comfort and timber frame is the best choice for quality in an outdoor shade structure.