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Yes, you can build a pergola yourself or with a helper after you obtain any necessary building permits. A pergola can be as simple or complex as you like. Building a pergola is an excellent way to showcase your DIY skills and learn new ones along the way.

Pergolas may have a 50% to 80% return on investment, whether they’re standard, manual, motorized, or smart pergolas. Your pergola will add more value when you choose a structure made from durable, long-lasting materials and when the pergola is properly installed by a professional. Extra features like a motorized roof, smart louvers, and heaters or misters may give you a better ROI.

Pergolas have no base structure to hold them up, so it’s necessary to attach them to some type of foundation. Most pergolas require a minimum of at least four concrete footings to keep them solid and stable in the ground. Attaching the pergola to a concrete foundation is an option as well.

A concrete base—or concrete footings, more specifically—is necessary for a freestanding pergola build. A pergola is top-heavy and can’t stand on its own, so it will always need some type of base or support. If you’re attaching a pergola to a deck, the deck’s supportive joists will act as the support, so there will be no concrete base or footings necessary.