How To Use The 3D Oak Pergola Designer
At Oak Timber Structures, the only limit is your imagination. The 3D online designer ensures designing a unique solid oak pergola for specific needs is simple. The following section details how each website control sculpts the pergola design.
For any pergola shape or size outside the limits of the online 3D pergola designer, we'll make them too. We offer a bespoke service, so there's no pergola out of bounds. If you think it up, then we'll make it. In this scenario, email in the drawings and we'll advise and produce a quote. We love to see your ideas.
Shape
Here’s a summary of each shape available to select through the 3D online pergola designer
Rectangular
The rectangular choice covers everything from a standard square pergola to longer walkways. Once selected, opt for the standard 3x3m bay dimension, or adjust the width, height and length to suit.
Corner Fit
A corner fit pergola is a right-angle triangle. By meeting at a 90-degree angle, a corner fit pergola positions into tight spaces such as where a house meets a garden wall or where two garden fences meet.
Triangular
Triangle pergolas are ideal for covering a sector of decking or patio. Customers can adjust the width and length, as a result, creating varying isosceles triangle shapes. This is a great option for building a contemporary solid oak pergola to match existing decking or patios.
L-Shaped
L-Shaped pergolas can create a nook in the corner of a garden or add grandeur when placed over pathways. Whatever the purpose, every dimension is adjustable to suit.
Bays
The number of bays refers to the spacing between the upright posts.
As standard, a one-bay pergola is 3x3m with measurements taken from the outside of one post to the adjacent post. We sometimes refer to this as the overall footprint. By adding another bay, the length of the pergola increases by 3m.
Although we consider the 3x3m bay measurement the standard size, even when using these dimensions, we make every pergola from scratch.
For more specific dimensions, all measurements, including height, width, length and distance between posts, are adjustable.
Remember, we’re here to help, and if there are any specific dimensions you’d like advice on, we’ll talk through the options and offer a quote.
Footings
The number of bays refer to the gaps between the upright posts. As standard, a one bay gazebo is 3 metres wide by 3 metres deep, measured from the outside of one post to the outside of another, so the overall footprint. For each bay you add, it increases the width of the overall footprint by another three metres. Every oak pergola is made bespoke from scratch, so the sizes here are just examples. If you have specific requirements get in touch for a quotation. Any measurement can be altered: height, width, length, the distances between the posts etc.
The weight of solid oak is enough to make sure our pergolas don't need fixing or bolting into the ground. But, for further protection, there are options. This section covers the primary choices for where posts meet the ground.
Normal Posts
Select normal posts if there are no plans for footings and the posts are to stand on the ground foundations. The weight of the pergola will hold it in place but to prevent the posts from kicking out, you should install steel rods/rebars into your foundations for your pergola to stand over, note the pergola should not be resting on these rods but rather sheathed over them which will require a hole to be drilled into the base of each post.
If you are looking for a solution to elevate your pergola, our customers have had success with simpson strong tie footings. Available in a variety of options, these footings are intended to secure your structure and raise it off the ground to prevent standing water and extend the longevity of your pergola.
Staddle Stones
Staddle stones are an easier to install option. These non-porous reconstituted stone feet protect against standing water. Measuring 23cm tall, they come complete with a metal bar protruding out of the top.
It's a simple case of drilling a hole in the bottom of the posts to sit the pergola on top. Note, similarly to rebar installation mentioned above, the rod should not be supporting the structure but be inserted into the base of the posts to prevent them kicking out.
When selecting this footing option, we'll measure the oak posts so the overall height isn't affected by the height of the staddle stones.
Into Ground
The last option is into the ground, which provides more length onto the pergola posts. Select this option for cementing part of the structure into the ground. Designers sometimes specify into ground for pergolas that stand in public places or in grass areas with foundations.
The additional length as standard is 600mm, if you’d like to specify this length or for any help with footings, call us on 01889 597283 or send a message through our contact page.
Thickness
The thickness refers to the cross-section size of the upright posts, and the main beams, or 'top plates' running horizontally. The larger in size your pergola, the thicker you would normally have the posts to keep it looking proportioned. However, you will achieve a "chunky" look by choosing thick posts on a small pergola, or a more "elegant" look by choosing thinner posts on a larger pergola.
The slats across the top, or 'crossmembers' usually stay the same at around 75 x 150mm regardless of the thickness you choose for your posts.
The thickness is the cross-section size of upright posts and horizontal main beams, sometimes known as top plates.
As a general rule, the larger the pergolas, the thicker the posts. This is to make sure the pergola looks in proportion. However, the post thickness is largely down to preference.
Thick 200mm posts on a small pergola offer a striking and dominant presence. On the other hand, thinner 150mm posts on larger pergolas offer more sleek and elegant visuals. The other option is a post thickness of 175mm, which is the middle ground option between the two.
The cross-members on the top of the pergola stay the same size regardless of post and beam width.
Profile
Crossmember settings
The profile refers to the style of the ends of the main horizontal beams, or 'top plates'. Square is standard, without any shaping, often chosen for a minimalist look. Chamfered and Rounded are often chosen to give a more modern look to the pergola, and customers that chose the Ornate profile say it appealed to them with a more traditional Eastern styling.
Cross members are the timbers that fix at a right angle to the top beams.
The profile is the style of the ends and there are four options to select from.
Square is a standard profile style with the ends of cross members squared off. Featuring no shaping, this profile is ideal for a minimalist appearance.
A chamfered profile has the corner edge cut off at a 45-degree angle. Chamfered styling offers fewer sharp edges and more detail to the pergola.
Carefully cut, rounded profiles offer a smooth rounded edge to the cross members and give the pergola a more modern touch.
Ornate profiles are the most decorative cross members. With delicate carvings, these cross members boast Eastern styling.
The 3D designer recommends the number of cross members depending on the size of the pergola. To use the recommended amount, click ‘Set To Recommended’.
There's an option to increase or decrease the amount. The more cross members, the less the gap between them, resulting in more roof coverage. Likewise, fewer cross members result in more space between the cross members for increased exposure.
The overhang relates to how far the cross members protrude from the top beams. 0.5m is the standard overhang, but any measurement from 0m to 1m is selectable.
There's also an option to have no overhang on one side. This allows pergolas to stand flush against fences and walls.
Crossmember joint style refers to how the crossmember connects to your top plates, select the notched option if you would like the traditional style of pergolas where the area that meets your top plates its notched out to sit ontop and continue each crossmember to your selected overhang and chosen profile.
For a more modern aesthetic you can select the dove-tail control which will add a dovetail joint to the end of each crossmember to sit flush with the top plates.
