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An over the door garage pergola adds dimension to an otherwise flat space. This décor can improve the visual aesthetic of your garage door opening.
Inspiration for our new garage pergola came from This Old House’s How to Build a Garage Pergola and a Pinterest Search for Garage Pergola.
We completed this project alongside installing and painting a new garage door. Make sure to check out How to Paint a Garage Door if you are doing a whole garage door makeover like us.
The following build your own garage pergola steps are guidelines for a single door opening.
Materials
- (1) 2x4x10
- (3) 1x4x12
- (3) 2x2x8
- (12) 1 ¼ in Pocket Screws
- (12) 2.5 in Exterior Screws
- (45) 2 in Brad Nails
- (4) Sleeve Anchors (3 inch x ½ inch) or 3 in Exterior Screws
- Washers Matching Anchors/Screws
- ½ inch Bit and ½ inch Spade Bit if Using Anchors
- Stain/Paint
- Silicone
- Scrap Wood
Equipment
- Circular Saw/Table Saw/Miter Saw (Check out this Dewalt)
- Jig Saw
- Brad Nailer
- Pocket Screw Jig (Check out this Kreg Jig)
- Clamps (If needed for Pocket Screw Jig)
- Drill and Bits (We love our Kobalt)
Step 1: Cut Brackets, Rafters, and Purlins
Brackets
We decided to make our own but you can purchase them at Amazon, Lowe’s, or your local hardware store.
I wanted the pergola to stick out 1.5 ft from the wall. I used scrap wood measuring varying lengths to hold up and test the various lengths.
Bracket Cuttings (x2):
- Top: 18 inches
- Back: 16.5 inches
- Angled 45 Degree Support: 17 ¾ inches outside length (14 7/8 inches interior)
Measure 0.75 inch on the end of the top and back and cut 45 degrees off of the edge. Refer to picture if necessary.
Rafters
Cut rafters with a 1-foot overhang on the left and right. For us, each rafter needed to be 11 feet long.
Draw a rafter tail and use a jigsaw to cut. Mark 1.75 inches down the edge then draw 1.75 inches horizontally inside and connect. Mark 4 inches inside the bottom edge then use a paint can to connect. Refer to picture if necessary.
Purlins
Each purlin is 18 inches long with a 45-degree decorative cut on the end starting at 0.75 inches down.
We created 15 purlins and gapped them by 7 inches. I would suggest making more so they are closer together.
Step 2: Stain/Paint
Stain or paint everything after cutting. This seals all exposed areas and is easier in the long run.
Step 3: Build Brackets
Using the 2.5 inch exterior screws, build the brackets, ensuring there is a right angle when you connect the angled support. Make sure to predrill holes.
We marked where the outside edge of the angled support should be and made sure our screws wouldn’t pop through before drilling.
Step 4: Create and Attach Brackets
For our masonry block walls, we used Sleeve Anchors to attach the brackets. We drilled holes from the back of the brackets then lined up and leveled on the wall before marking the holes.
If you have wood trim, secure with 3-inch exterior wood screws.
Use washers to space the brackets off the wall to allow water runoff.
Step 5: Attach Rafters
Space the rafters 4, 8.75, and 13.5 inches from the wall. Mark each one then notch out using a jig saw and create pocket holes on the backside using a Kreg Jig.
Stain or paint the notches and holes then attach using 1 ¼ in pocket screws. Cover pocket holes with silicone (no one will see them).
Step 6: Attach Purlins
Reminder: We created 15 purlins and the following measurements are for that. If you create more, you will need to do your own division.
Create a mark 4.5 inches from the left end of the back rafter. Use a square to mark the other rafters. Using those starting points, make marks every 8.5 inches on the rafters, periodically checking for squareness to the wall. These marks are the left of your purlin.
Use scrap wood to create 4 in spacers to hold in between the rafters while attaching the purlins.
Make sure the purlins are at a 90-degree angled to the wall and the rafters are spaced evenly. Also, use a ¼ inch scrap wood piece to space purlin from wall then use a brad nailer to attach each purlin to each rafter. This will take two people.
Now step back and admire your hard work. Building a garage pergola definitely adds some curb appeal to your property.
