Cover your pergola 1

[DoubleStud]

I started getting these targeted ads from this company on instagram and facebook. I don't know, it bothers me a lot. So they sell these transparent sheets and they persuade you to put them on top of your pergola. Pergolas in my area do not need an engineer. But as soon as you add roofing material on top and especially connected to the house, you do! Most pergolas people built or bought (costco for example) just sit on slab on grade. The joists probably can't handle the snow load. I hope people are smart enough not to do this in the snow country!

 

[GeorgeTheCivilEngineer]

i should think the plastic sheet fails before the frame or the house!

 

[phamENG]

I hope people are smart enough not to do this in the snow country!

Have you met people? Of course they aren't!

i should think the plastic sheet fails before the frame or the house!

Wouldn't have to. As long it holds long enough for the snow to develop sufficient thickness to bridge and arch from joist to joist, the sheet won't be carrying much of anything.

 

[Ron247]

Heyyy!!! Even better, sheet the walls also.

 

[jerseyshore]

Seems like minimal harm to me. Who is hanging out under their pergola during a snow storm?

 

[jayrod12]

My former mother-in-law asked for my help designing her pergola. I gracefully declined. When she asked why, I said because after a season or two, you're going to want to cover it in a roof and/or walls.

She said she wouldn't. I still didn't help.

I did however help erect it after they did their own design.

After the first winter, they put roofing on it.