Thank you very much for purchasing a do it yourself pergola kit from Average Joes Pergola Depot. We appreciate your business, and we are here to help you in any way possible. Make sure before you get started, you have: a helper, a hammer, a ladder, a screw gun, a pencil, a posthole digger, a tape measure, a level and two ¾” wrenches. Read this entire Instruction sheet before beginning so you can get a feel for what you will be doing. If take your time and follow these instructions you can do it. We have faith in you!

If you are installing this kit on a concrete patio, we advise that you use a 6X6 Galvanized post base on each post secured with ½” red head concrete anchors which can be purchased from your local hardware store. You will need some additional tools for this. Ask your hardware salesman for instructions on how to install them. Or if you have any questions we are only an email or phone call away.

• Step 1 - Remove the top of the crate.
• Step 2 - Lay out all parts next to where you will be installing the pergola.
• Step 3 - Place one beam on the ground (with the x’s facing up) exactly where you would like the side of the pergola to stand.
• Step 4 - Place the other beam approximately 10 ft. across from the first beam.
• Step 5 - Now take the cross beams and lay them down in between the two side beams on the layout marks that say cross beam.
• Step 6 - Step back and take a look to see how square everything looks. Take your tape measure, and hook it on the outside corner of one of the beams, and pull the tape to the opposite corner. Write down the measurement. Then hook it on the other corner and pull to the opposite corner like this:

Move the back beam from side to side until you have the same measurement both ways. When you have the same measurement, it is perfectly square.

• Step 7 - Now you can see where you have to dig your holes for each post. (Or mount your post bases if you’re on concrete.) Look just behind the cross beam, where it says post. If you are on concrete, take a pencil and make marks on the ground along the inside corner of the crossbeam, and on the outside of the side beam. This will be the outside corner of where your post base will go. If you are on grass or dirt, stick the small flags provided with your kit into the ground to show where to dig your holes. Repeat this step for the other three corners.
• Step 8 - Move the beams out of the way. Now you should be left with four marks (or flags) where your holes or post bases will go. Like this:

• Step 9 - Dig 2 ft deep holes or install your post bases directly over top of all 4 of your markers.
• Step 10 - Lie the four posts on the ground with the notched portion facing up.
• Step 11 - Lie the beams down on the notches in the top of the posts with the corresponding letters. Place the posts in between the lines on the beam where it says post.
• Step 12 - Place one ½” washer on the ½” lags, and screw them through the predrilled holes into each post.
• Step 13 - With one person on each side, tilt the assembly up and drop the posts into the postholes. (You want the beam to be on the outside edge of the posts.) Refill the holes around the posts with dirt or concrete. Once you have the bottom of the posts in the post bases, put one nail on each side to hold them in place. If you are using concrete, do not water it in yet. Use your level to make sure the assembly is plum in all directions. If you need to prop the assembly up so that it does not fall use the crate that the kit came in. It works well for this purpose.
• Step 14 - Repeat step 13 for the other side.
• Step 15 - Move your ladder in between the two sides. Take one of the cross beams and place it in between the two outer beams on the layout marks just like you did on the ground. This time fasten it with four ½” lags through the predrilled holes. Now move to the opposite side and Bolt on the rear cross beam the same way. Now your helper should be able to let go of the assembly.
• Step 16 - Fasten the four corner braces into position by placing them behind the cross beam. Line up the top of the brace with the top of the cross beam, and the bottom of the brace against the post. You may have to move the assembly around a bit to get them flush everywhere. Screw them using the square drive screws through the predrilled holes. Be careful screwing the screws in because stainless steel is a soft metal and they strip VERY EASILY! Push down hard while screwing them in. There are extra screws in every kit just incase you strip some, but if you need more you should be able to find them at any Ace Hardware, Home Depot, or your local hardware store.
• Step 17 - Lay the 2X10 Ridge Board on top of the assembly in the center of the front and rear cross beams laying parallel to the beams with the x’s on them.
• Step 18 -Take four of the rafters and start a screw in the top and bottom predrilled holes of each one. Place the notched portion of the rafter on the four outermost X marks of the beam. Just let them lean into each other at the peak.
• Step 19 - Now with one person at each end (front and back) of the assembly, get your screw gun ready with the square drive bit in a place where you can easily reach it. Pick up the ridge board and slide it up in between where the rafters are touching at the top, and line them up with the outermost X marks. The pressure of the rafters should take a lot of the weight off of your hands, but still hold onto it. Concentrate on one rafter at a time. Get one rafter flush with the top of the ridge board and screw the top screw into it. Then do the same to the opposing rafter. Now you should be able to let go and move your ladder to the other side where your helper is holding onto the ridge board. Screw these rafters the same way. Now both of you should be able to let go of the ridge board.
• Step 20 - Put all of the remaining rafters into position on the remaining X marks, and screw them all down.
• Step 21 - Place the top slats in position in the layout lines across the top of the rafters. There are predrilled holes to screw through.
• Step 22 - Water in the concrete or dirt.

You’re Done!

Questions? Contact Us

Thanks again for your business. We really do appreciate our customers and their feedback on ways to improve our products. So after you’ve completed putting your kit together, sit down, have a cold drink, and drop us a line via email to tell us what you think about our products. Any feedback on how we can make our kits easier to install will be very helpful. Pictures are always welcome! Don’t forget to check back often for new outdoor living structure kits coming soon!

Crafted with pride in the

Florida