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Pressure-treated wood is a classic and budget-friendly choice for building a pergola. If you’re going for a more natural look, opt for hardwoods such as redwood and cedar. These naturally resist insects and rot, plus they have stunning color and texture on their own, so you’ll be able to skip stains and paints.

While your municipality may have its own regulations requiring pergolas or other structures to be a certain height above a fire pit, the standard recommendation is that the pergola should be at least 10 feet above the fire pit. A taller pergola allows the heat from the flames to dissipate before reaching the structure.

Other projects that you can do at the same time as your trellis include painting the deck , installing a pergola, or adding mulch to your garden beds.

On average, a prefabricated pergola kit takes one to four hours to build. Prefabricated pergolas are the fastest to install and could save you money, while custom pergolas can take several days to install, ranging from eight to 16 hours. The number of workers on the project can also impact how long it takes to install a pergola. 

If you need to build a concrete slab, level your property, or remove obstacles from your yard before building a pergola, then your project could take several weeks to complete.