$200 pergola roof DIY

Roof before

This weekend we attempted our first DIY project - finishing the pergola over our patio in the backyard. When we bought the house, there was a frame for a patio cover (we think there was a corrugated tin cover at some point). With temps in the 90-100 degree range all summer (not to mention my ginger skin) we needed some shade! Max was in charge of the planning and layout. I was in charge of complaining about the cost and the three trips to Home Depot. 

During install

Breakdown:
40 3"x8' wood boards: $150
1 gallon exterior paint: $25
150 screws: $10
Painting supplies: $15
F-Bombs: about 50 :)
Time: About 8 hours


After purchasing the boards, we painted them to match the trim on the house. One broke and one warped, and we didn't account for slant when measuring, so we ended up being 4 boards short (back to Home Depot!).

Completed pergola

After painting all the surfaces of each board, Max hopped up on the ladder and began screwing them in to the existing beams. We of course chose the hottest weekend ever to complete the install, but treated ourselves to the pool and patio drinks after!

Can't wait to sit in the shade! I consider this first major project a success!