IV Stories: Preserving a Pergola
Get ready for many shaded summers.
Imagine sitting around a patio table under a freshly painted white pergola that softens the August heat with just enough shade without being dark. Some iced drinks with your family and friends complement the shadow patterns at your feet. You look up through the lattice roof that blocks glare so you can see the bright blue sky without squinting.
In March, when I write this, that hot summer sun in Wisconsin sounds wonderful after below zero temps and piles of snow. But unfiltered August sun can be harsh on people and things.
In Wisconsin our seasonal weather variation punishes outdoor fixtures like pergolas.
When I began this project the paint was pealing off the posts. A wooden joist and a brace had rotted so a finger push made holes. That threatened collapse under the brittle, yellowed plastic lattice. The pergola had stood for years but needed some TLC to ensure many more seasons of decorative shade.
(Tip:) One 14 foot beam we brought back on the roof of the van from the lumber yard and let it dry for a few months before working it to shape, then painting it and placing it. The drying stage helped prevent warping. Meanwhile the PVC lattice was placed, except without screws where the new beam would go. It was added later and the PVC lattice attached then.
Small 4” fabric rollers quickly got paint into the tight spots. A few coats of good paint and a little wood working restored the pergola to bring gentle shade for many years to come.
Thanks go to my friends at “I Can Fix That” handyman services for the referral and assistance.
If your pergola needs work to keep gentle shade in your future,
call Intentional Visions to “make your space match your vision”.