After 3 Big Box Store Fails 1 Fab Yet Easy Timber DIY Pergola Kit

Check out the MOUSEOVER picture below for a size comparison.

Our Design Manager, Mike Jenson sent me these phone photos a couple weeks ago with this message:

The word "kit" can tend to solicit fear in the hearts of some but these timber frame ShadeScape™ DIY pergola kits are in fast and easy to assemble, despite their incredible massive size. In fact their mass and size makes them in many ways much easier to install than a big box store kit only these timber kits are architecturally responsible, built with new technology and old world craftsmanship to last for generations.

Mike first met the Anderson's at the Spring Home and Garden Show at the Expo center. The Anderson's were tired of replacing their "shade" every 2-3 years and were interested in one of the Display Models for their backyard.

Mouseover to See Size Comparison

Mike said, "The Anderson's had been using a metal awning type from a big box store that had a canvas topper to keep sun, rain, snow and wind out. The awning had several slits that was supposed to help wick the snow and rain. The Anderson's were told that it could withstand the snow through the winter……..well that wasn’t the case as the snow built up the awning could not withstand the weight and the whole center sagged and the metal cross member bent due to the weight.

After seeing the display model and speaking about what size of awning they currently had they decided to go with a 12′ x 14′ sized pergola in the 8000 Series ShadeScape™ pergola. This was the same size as what they had replaced two times prior at several hundred dollars per time but with a Western Timber Frame™ Pergola they were able to get a structure that is majestic and pleasing to the eye and will last them a lifetime versus something that was temporary and later became an eyesore."

Although, the Anderson's wanted the "same size" for square footage as their previously failed big box store metal pergola, these timber frame ShadeScape™ DIY pergolas are much larger so Mike met with the Anderson’s at their home to make sure that the 12' × 14' ShadeScape™ DIY pergola kit would fit and there would not be any obstacles to overcome with the layout of the patio, backyard and home. The Anderson’s were able to tell Mike their thoughts for design and what they wanted to accomplish.

Mike added, "One important thing was they had a big family get together for Easter Weekend and we had to move quickly to get their Pergola built and installed in time. They were very pleased that they were able to enjoy their Pergola for their Easter Weekend."

Easter is a favored holiday for many of our clients, so I was happy to see the Anderson's were able to enjoy their time as a family for Easter. On the right is pictures sent to us from the Gleason family for their Easter celebration. We really enjoy pictures that clients send us, enjoying their outdoor living environments everyday!

One more quick look at the Anderson residence backyard patio before installing the 8000 Series ShadeScape™ pergola and another after photo:

The ShadeScape™ 8000 Series timber frame DIY pergola kit features Classic style knee braces, 4" x 12' Roosevelt style beam end profiles, 3" x 10' Roosevelt style rafter profiles, a full wrap roof and finished in the beautiful, premium Ebony stain.

Architectural frameworks and immobile structures are considered to be solid and immobile, yet, we live on an earth, in an environment of recurrent and perpetual motion with seismic waves of micro motion moving up and down, as well as side-to-side. Interment weather also increases the load path upon an architectural structure with excessively strong winds and heavy snows.

For more than fifty years, extensive research and wind force data has been collected to improve architectural designs by determining seismic flexibility and wind loads upon architectural structures. These studies include specialists in engineering in meteorology, mechanical fluid dynamics, aerodynamics and structural dynamics who analyze the effects of wind for damage that may result from strong or extreme winds which can cause widespread destruction, such as in heavy storms, tornadoes or hurricanes as well as low and moderate winds. This has resulted in standard building codes that have continued to change and improve to ensure the safety of structures, especially in high wind and prevalent earthquake regions.

Western Timber Frame™ uses the original patent-pending The Dovetail Difference™ design, a massive mortise and tenon dovetail joint system throughout our timber construction process that creates very strong, rigid joints. On the test pictured here it didn't give until over 11,000 lbs.!

Western Timber Frame™ ShadeScape™ structures are engineered for heavy mountainous snows, better able to absorb the earth's natural movement and built to stand against strong winds having a phenomenal 120 mph wind rating!

The characteristics of well seasoned timber combined with a well designed dovetail mortise and tenon connection system has proven its long-term durability over centuries of time that timber frame has better seismic and wind survivability than any other known building material on earth.