Every plan in the Intermediate tier is sized to be approachable without sacrificing the structural integrity needed to last decades outdoors. Comfortable with a circular saw, drill/driver, and level. Requires some compound cuts and lifting helpers.
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
Cypress · 2-3 weekends
Garage-Attached Lean-To Shelter
Black Locust · 2-3 weekends
Patio Lean-To Lean-To Shelter
Pressure-Treated Pine · 2-3 weekends
Tuscan Stone-Column Pergola
Mahogany · 2-3 weekends
Farmhouse Pergola
White Oak · 2-3 weekends
Vertical Board Privacy Screen Trellis
Douglas Fir · 2-3 weekends
Hot Tub Surround Privacy Screen Trellis
Cypress · 2-3 weekends
Lattice-Panel Privacy Screen Trellis
Composite (Trex / Azek) · 2-3 weekends
Asian-Inspired Pergola
Pressure-Treated Pine · 2-3 weekends
Bandstand Gazebo
Cypress · 2-3 weekends
Pagoda-Style Gazebo
Douglas Fir · 2-3 weekends
Asian-Inspired Pergola
Mahogany · 2-3 weekends
Hexagonal Garden Gazebo
Douglas Fir · 2-3 weekends
Modern Cube Gazebo
Douglas Fir · 2-3 weekends
Cantilevered Pergola
White Oak · 2-3 weekends
Gabled Pergola
Composite (Trex / Azek) · 2-3 weekends
Toolshed Overhang Lean-To Shelter
Western Red Cedar · 2-3 weekends
Arched-Top Pergola
Douglas Fir · One weekend
Louvered Roof Pergola
Redwood · 2-3 weekends
Mission Pergola
Pressure-Treated Pine · 2-3 weekends
Tuscan Stone-Column Pergola
Composite (Trex / Azek) · 2-3 weekends
Horizontal Slat Privacy Screen Trellis
Douglas Fir · 2-3 weekends
Hot Tub Surround Privacy Screen Trellis
Douglas Fir · 2-3 weekends
5-Point Overlapping Shade Sail Frame
Western Red Cedar · 2-3 weekends
Cantilever Single Post Shade Sail Frame
Western Red Cedar · 2-3 weekends
Drop-Down Awning Sail Shade Sail Frame
White Oak · 2-3 weekends
Modern Slatted Pergola
Western Red Cedar · 2-3 weekends
Craftsman Pergola
Mahogany · 2-3 weekends
Louvered Roof Pergola
Redwood · 2-3 weekends
Modern Slatted Pergola
Cypress · 2-3 weekends
4-Point Square Shade Sail Frame
Black Locust · 2-3 weekends
4-Point Square Shade Sail Frame
White Oak · One weekend
Cantilevered Pergola
Western Red Cedar · 2-3 weekends
Kiosk-Style Gazebo
Cypress · 2-3 weekends
Modern Cube Gazebo
Douglas Fir · 2-3 weekends
Octagonal Victorian Gazebo
Mahogany · 2-3 weekends
Rustic Cabin Gazebo
Cypress · 2-3 weekends
Saltbox Pergola
White Oak · One weekend
Dutch Gable Pavilion
Redwood · 2-3 weekends
Outdoor Kitchen Pavilion
Composite (Trex / Azek) · 2-3 weekends
Sail-and-Rafter Hybrid Shade Sail Frame
Cypress · 2-3 weekends
Hip-Roof Pavilion
Western Red Cedar · 2-3 weekends
Drop-Down Awning Sail Shade Sail Frame
Redwood · 2-3 weekends
Hot Tub Pavilion Pavilion
Composite (Trex / Azek) · 2-3 weekends
Dutch Gable Pavilion
Douglas Fir · One weekend
Dutch Gable Pavilion
Composite (Trex / Azek) · 2-3 weekends
A-Frame Pavilion
Mahogany · 2-3 weekends
Dutch Gable Pavilion
Black Locust · One weekend
Pergola Archway Arbor
Black Locust · 2-3 weekends
Picket-Sided Wedding Arbor
Pressure-Treated Pine · 2-3 weekends
Rose Garden Arbor
Cypress · 2-3 weekends
Rose Garden Arbor
Mahogany · One weekend
Moon Gate Arbor
Cypress · 2-3 weekends
Rose Garden Arbor
Composite (Trex / Azek) · One weekend
Bench-Built Arbor
Western Red Cedar · 2-3 weekends
Moon Gate Arbor
Composite (Trex / Azek) · 2-3 weekends
Round-Top Garden Arbor
Pressure-Treated Pine · 2-3 weekends
Trellis-Side Arbor
White Oak · 2-3 weekends
Picket-Sided Wedding Arbor
Black Locust · 2-3 weekends
Round-Top Garden Arbor
White Oak · 2-3 weekends
Bench-Built Arbor
Mahogany · 2-3 weekends
Gable-Roof Arbor
Cypress · 2-3 weekends
Round-Top Garden Arbor
Douglas Fir · 2-3 weekends
Toolshed Overhang Lean-To Shelter
Composite (Trex / Azek) · 2-3 weekends
Lattice-Panel Privacy Screen Trellis
Redwood · 2-3 weekends
Firewood Shelter Lean-To Shelter
Cypress · 2-3 weekends
Mid-Century Geometric Privacy Screen Trellis
Pressure-Treated Pine · 2-3 weekends
Patio Lean-To Lean-To Shelter
White Oak · 2-3 weekends
Sun-Side Awning Lean-To Shelter
Cypress · 2-3 weekends
Vertical Board Privacy Screen Trellis
White Oak · One weekend
Vertical Board Privacy Screen Trellis
Mahogany · 2-3 weekends
Asian-Inspired Pergola
Cypress · 2-3 weekends
Hot Tub Surround Privacy Screen Trellis
Pressure-Treated Pine · 2-3 weekends
Louvered Roof Pergola
Western Red Cedar · 2-3 weekends
Mid-Century Geometric Privacy Screen Trellis
Redwood · One weekend
Octagonal Victorian Gazebo
Cypress · 2-3 weekends
Pagoda-Style Gazebo
Douglas Fir · 2-3 weekends
Square Hipped-Roof Gazebo
Douglas Fir · 2-3 weekends