Every plan in the Advanced tier is sized to be approachable without sacrificing the structural integrity needed to last decades outdoors. Strong woodworking background. Involves mortise-and-tenon joinery, compound roof angles, or concrete footing work.
If you're brand new to outdoor woodworking, start with a small arbor or privacy screen. Both let you practice setting posts in concrete, cutting dimensional lumber square, and using a level — the three skills that make every subsequent build easier. From there, an attached pergola is a natural next step because the wall ledger eliminates two of the four post footings.
3-Point Triangular Shade Sail Frame
Black Locust · A full month of evenings & weekends
Drop-Down Awning Sail Shade Sail Frame
Redwood · A full month of evenings & weekends
Farmhouse Pergola
Pressure-Treated Pine · A full month of evenings & weekends
Rustic Cabin Gazebo
Redwood · A full month of evenings & weekends
Square Hipped-Roof Gazebo
Black Locust · A full month of evenings & weekends
Square Hipped-Roof Gazebo
Pressure-Treated Pine · A full month of evenings & weekends
Grill Shelter Lean-To Shelter
Cypress · A full month of evenings & weekends
Grill Shelter Lean-To Shelter
Black Locust · 2-3 weekends
Horizontal Slat Privacy Screen Trellis
Black Locust · A full month of evenings & weekends
Vertical Board Privacy Screen Trellis
Pressure-Treated Pine · A full month of evenings & weekends
Cantilever Single Post Shade Sail Frame
Redwood · A full month of evenings & weekends
Octagonal Victorian Gazebo
White Oak · 2-3 weekends
Pagoda-Style Gazebo
Mahogany · A full month of evenings & weekends
Sail-and-Rafter Hybrid Shade Sail Frame
Mahogany · A full month of evenings & weekends
Saltbox Pergola
White Oak · A full month of evenings & weekends
Saltbox Pergola
Cypress · A full month of evenings & weekends
Square Hipped-Roof Gazebo
Douglas Fir · A full month of evenings & weekends
Modern Cube Gazebo
Pressure-Treated Pine · A full month of evenings & weekends
Square Hipped-Roof Gazebo
Black Locust · A full month of evenings & weekends
4-Point Square Shade Sail Frame
Mahogany · A full month of evenings & weekends
5-Point Overlapping Shade Sail Frame
Cypress · A full month of evenings & weekends
Classic Flat-Roof Pergola
Composite (Trex / Azek) · A full month of evenings & weekends
Classic Flat-Roof Pergola
White Oak · A full month of evenings & weekends
Garage-Attached Lean-To Shelter
Composite (Trex / Azek) · A full month of evenings & weekends
Grill Shelter Lean-To Shelter
Western Red Cedar · A full month of evenings & weekends
Hot Tub Pavilion Pavilion
Black Locust · A full month of evenings & weekends
Mission Pergola
Black Locust · A full month of evenings & weekends
Toolshed Overhang Lean-To Shelter
Redwood · A full month of evenings & weekends
Toolshed Overhang Lean-To Shelter
Douglas Fir · A full month of evenings & weekends
Farmhouse Pergola
Composite (Trex / Azek) · A full month of evenings & weekends
Horizontal Slat Privacy Screen Trellis
Cypress · A full month of evenings & weekends
Tuscan Stone-Column Pergola
Redwood · 2-3 weekends
Dutch Gable Pavilion
Composite (Trex / Azek) · A full month of evenings & weekends
Hot Tub Pavilion Pavilion
Composite (Trex / Azek) · A full month of evenings & weekends
Drop-Down Awning Sail Shade Sail Frame
Western Red Cedar · A full month of evenings & weekends
Drop-Down Awning Sail Shade Sail Frame
Cypress · 2-3 weekends
Modern Cube Gazebo
White Oak · A full month of evenings & weekends
Sail-and-Rafter Hybrid Shade Sail Frame
Black Locust · A full month of evenings & weekends
Tuscan Stone-Column Pergola
Black Locust · A full month of evenings & weekends
Tuscan Stone-Column Pergola
Black Locust · A full month of evenings & weekends
Tuscan Stone-Column Pergola
Black Locust · A full month of evenings & weekends
A-Frame Pavilion
Pressure-Treated Pine · A full month of evenings & weekends
Cabana Pavilion
Douglas Fir · A full month of evenings & weekends
Cathedral Ceiling Pavilion
Western Red Cedar · A full month of evenings & weekends
Craftsman Pergola
Cypress · A full month of evenings & weekends
Hot Tub Pavilion Pavilion
Western Red Cedar · A full month of evenings & weekends
Cathedral Ceiling Pavilion
Douglas Fir · A full month of evenings & weekends
Drop-Down Awning Sail Shade Sail Frame
Pressure-Treated Pine · A full month of evenings & weekends
Sail-and-Rafter Hybrid Shade Sail Frame
White Oak · A full month of evenings & weekends
Hip-Roof Pavilion
Pressure-Treated Pine · A full month of evenings & weekends
Hip-Roof Pavilion
Composite (Trex / Azek) · A full month of evenings & weekends
Timber Frame Pavilion
Composite (Trex / Azek) · A full month of evenings & weekends
Timber Frame Pavilion
Mahogany · A full month of evenings & weekends
Moon Gate Arbor
Pressure-Treated Pine · 2-3 weekends
Horizontal Slat Privacy Screen Trellis
Pressure-Treated Pine · A full month of evenings & weekends
Lattice-Panel Privacy Screen Trellis
Redwood · 2-3 weekends
Pergola Archway Arbor
Mahogany · A full month of evenings & weekends
Trellis-Side Arbor
Composite (Trex / Azek) · A full month of evenings & weekends
Trellis-Side Arbor
Western Red Cedar · A full month of evenings & weekends
Trellis-Side Arbor
Mahogany · A full month of evenings & weekends
Patio Lean-To Lean-To Shelter
Pressure-Treated Pine · A full month of evenings & weekends
Toolshed Overhang Lean-To Shelter
Composite (Trex / Azek) · A full month of evenings & weekends
Louvered Adjustable Privacy Screen Trellis
Pressure-Treated Pine · A full month of evenings & weekends
Firewood Shelter Lean-To Shelter
Western Red Cedar · A full month of evenings & weekends
Patio Lean-To Lean-To Shelter
Cypress · A full month of evenings & weekends
Horizontal Slat Privacy Screen Trellis
Redwood · A full month of evenings & weekends
Hot Tub Surround Privacy Screen Trellis
Mahogany · A full month of evenings & weekends
Living Wall Planter Privacy Screen Trellis
Pressure-Treated Pine · A full month of evenings & weekends
Louvered Adjustable Privacy Screen Trellis
Pressure-Treated Pine · A full month of evenings & weekends
Modern Black-Frame Privacy Screen Trellis
Western Red Cedar · A full month of evenings & weekends
Bandstand Gazebo
Composite (Trex / Azek) · A full month of evenings & weekends
Farmhouse Pergola
Redwood · A full month of evenings & weekends
Farmhouse Pergola
Redwood · A full month of evenings & weekends
Living Wall Planter Privacy Screen Trellis
Pressure-Treated Pine · A full month of evenings & weekends
Mission Pergola
Western Red Cedar · A full month of evenings & weekends
Rustic Cabin Gazebo
Pressure-Treated Pine · A full month of evenings & weekends
Square Hipped-Roof Gazebo
Douglas Fir · A full month of evenings & weekends
Square Hipped-Roof Gazebo
Pressure-Treated Pine · A full month of evenings & weekends
Vertical Board Privacy Screen Trellis
Black Locust · A full month of evenings & weekends