Building a Pergola

Here are seven things to consider before building a pergola: (1) Figure out your budget (2) Contact your "call before you dig" 811 number (3) Figure out how much shade you want your pergola to give (4) Choose your materials wisely - wood, aluminum or vinyl? (5) Mark the size you want your pergola to be (6) Pick a shape - square and rectangular pergolas are easier to build, though triangular and circular are an option and (7) What's the purpose of your pergola? Do you plan on entertaining a crowd or is it simply for afternoon reading?