ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS FOR TRIPLE FREE-STANDING PERGOLA

Assembling a Zen pergola is fun and easy, even for novices with little or no building experience. You and a helper (or two) can easily have it assembled in 2-3 hours (longer if your pergola includes roof rafters and/or a privacy wall). You won't need any speciality tools, either... just a drill, tape measure, level, ladder and chop saw (aka table saw or miter saw).

Zen pergola kits include everything you'll need to assemble your own backyard pergola except the following (which you will need to purchase from a local building supply or home improvement store):

1. Wood (lumber)
2. Anchoring hardware

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

Never leave your pergola unattended before installation is complete and the pergola is secured to the ground.
Follow instructions precisely to avoid injury to yourself or others.
Avoid scratching or bending the Zen pergola brackets to protect against potential rusting.
Safety glasses and safety gloves are encouraged during installation.
Avoid installing your Zen pergola during inclement weather including rain, snow or windy conditions.
In the event that you have pieces missing, please contact us at support@zenpergolas.com.
You agree to hold ZENPERGOLAS.COM and any authorized dealers free of any liability for improper installation, maintenance and repair of any ZENPERGOLAS.COM products.

5-YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY

ZenPergolas.com warrants all products to be free of any defects in material or workmanship upon arrival of such products. ZenPergolas.com further warrants all products to be effective and adequate when used in accordance with design limits and when installed and maintained properly for a period of five (5) years after receiving such products.

When damage or defects are brought to the attention of ZenPergolas.com, ZenPergolas.com may choose, at their sole discretion, to repair damaged or defected parts OR to send out an entire replacement part at zero cost to the customer. ZenPergolas.com is not responsible for time or costs involved to install replacement parts.

All warranty obligations of ZenPergolas.com shall be limited to five (5) years against manufacturing defects. Any such remedies that are made shall constitute ZenPergolas.com's sole obligation and sole remedy of purchaser under this warranty. In no event will ZenPergolas.com be held responsible for incidental, consequential, or special loss or damage, however caused.

PREPARATION

You'll need the following simple tools to assemble your Zen pergola:

Tape Measure

Chop Saw

Drill

Ladder

STEP 1. ASSEMBLE ROOF

Step 1A

Lay out a 3-arm bracket next to each end of a 6x6 post (5.5" x 5.5" actual dimensions). The vertical arm of the brackets (with less holes) should be facing down.

Note: Do this step twice (once for each end of the pergola roof).

Step 1B

Slide the post into the 3-arm brackets such that the wood fills the entire channel but does not fill the space where the vertical post will be (the vertical post will go all the way to the top of the bracket). Secure the post to the brackets with the provided screws (see screw diagram below).

Note: Do this step twice as well (giving you two completed ends).

Once completed, set these two completed end posts aside until step 1i below.

Step 1C

Set a 4-arm bracket next to each end of a post (vertical arm with less holes facing down).

Note: Do this step twice (once for each of the 2 middle crossbeams of the roof.)

Step 1D

Slide the post into the 4-arm brackets such that the wood fills the entire channel but does not fill the space where the vertical post will be (the vertical post will go all the way to the top of the bracket). Secure the post to the brackets with the provided screws (see screw diagram below).

Note: Do this step twice (giving you two completed middle crossbeams).

Step 1E

Lay out two posts between the two middle crossbeams you completed in step 1D above, as shown in this image. These two posts should run perpendicular to the crossbeams, forming a box shape.

Step 1F

Slide the posts into the 4-arm brackets just far enough for the wood to fill the entire channel but not the space where the vertical post will be (the vertical post will go all the way to the top of the bracket). Secure the posts to the brackets with the provided screws (see screw diagram below).

Step 1G

Lay out 4 more posts as shown in this image, with one end of each post next to the open channels of the four 4-arm brackets.

Step 1H

Slide the posts into the 4-arm brackets just far enough for the wood to fill the entire channel but not the space where the vertical post will be (the vertical post will go all the way to the top of the bracket). Secure the posts to the brackets with the provided screws (see screw diagram below).

Step 1i

Lay the completed end posts (which you completed and set aside in step 1B) next to each end of the completed middle roof structure you just completed in step 1H, as shown in this image.

Step 1J

Slide the 3-arm brackets on the end posts over the open ends of the four posts such that the wood fills the entire arm (channel) but will not interfere with the vertical post (which will go all the way to the top of the bracket). Secure the posts to the brackets with the provided screws.

This completes the frame of the roof.

Screw Diagram for 3-Arm Post Brackets

The 3-arm post bracket should be oriented such that the arm (channel) with only 2 screw holes per side is at the bottom (for the vertical post going to the ground).

Each 3-arm post bracket in your kit includes 12 stainless steel screws. See the screw diagram to the right to see which 12 holes the screws should go in. (Additional holes are for attaching accessories.)

STEP 2. INSTALL BASE BRACKETS

Step 2A

Set the roof assembly exactly where you want your pergola to stand. Use a pen or pencil to lightly trace the inside edges of the vertical arms of the 3-arm brackets (in the 4 corners) and the 4-arm brackets (for the 4 middle posts).

Step 2B

Move the roof assembly a few feet out of the way. Set a 6x6 base bracket in each of the 8 spots you marked. Attach the base brackets to the ground using appropriate anchoring hardware (not included).

The type of anchoring hardware you'll want to use depends on what type of secure base (foundation) you're attaching the base brackets to (i.e. concrete footing, cement pad, deck footings, etc.). Ask a professional at a building supply or home improvement store what type of anchoring hardware they recommend.

STEP 3. INSTALL VERTICAL POSTS

Step 3A

With the assistance of 2 or 3 helpers, raise one long side of the roof assembly and slide a 6x6 post into the 4 brackets on the raised side. The posts should extend all the way to the top of the brackets (touching the inside of the top wall). Secure the posts to the 3-arm and 4-arm brackets using the screws provided (see screw diagram above).

Step 3B

With the assistance of 2 or 3 helpers, raise the other long side of the roof assembly and slide a 6x6 post into the 4 remaining brackets until they reach the top of the brackets. Secure the posts using the provided screws.

Step 3C

Put a person on each corner (and on each of the 4 middle posts, if possible). Carefully lift the 8 posts simultaneously and drop the vertical posts into the 8 base brackets. Then secure the posts to the base brackets using the provided screws.

The pergola frame is now complete.

INSTALLING ROOF RAFTERS, PRIVACY WALLS, CORNER SUPPORTS & SIDE RAILINGS

If your pergola kit includes a roof kit, a privacy wall kit, a corner support kit and/or a side railing kit, click the appropriate link(s) below for step-by-step installation instructions: