DIY Wood & Fabric Pergola

Screw four steel post-base anchors, 8 feet apart, to the cement base using four concrete screws per base. Slide the bottom of a post into an anchor base. Level the post then hammer in place on all sides while holding it plumb; use two galvanized nails per side. Repeat with the other three posts.

Measure and mark 6 inches down from the top of the outside of two posts on one side of the pergola. Place a support beam, top side flush with the marks, across both posts, with 6 inches of the beam extending beyond each side. Screw in place with four 4-inch lag bolts on each post. Repeat to add the second to support beam to the two opposite posts.

Lay a beam to the outside of two of the posts, on top of and perpendicular to the support beams extending beyond the posts. This is an outer cross beam. Secure to each of the two posts with two 4-inch lag bolts. Attach a second outer cross beam to the opposite side in the same way.

Load the caulk gun with clear silicone caulk. Apply a line of caulk across the top of one support beam. Lay the rectangular fabric over the pergola so that 8 inches of fabric hang over the outside of the support beams while the other two sides of cloth are flush to the inside of the posts. Press along the top of the fabric over the caulked support beam to adhere, then staple it to the beam at 8-inch intervals. Squeeze a line of caulk across the bottom of the same support beam. Staple the remaining fabric hanging over the side to the underside of the beam at 8-inch intervals.

Lift the fabric over the other support beam up enough to squeeze a line of caulk across the top of the beam. Pull on the fabric so it is taut between the two beams, then press it down over the caulked top of the second support beam. Staple to the top in 8-inch intervals. Add a line of caulk to the bottom of the beam. Pull the fabric underneath, press into the line of caulk and staple to the bottom of the beam at 8-inch intervals.

Lay one of the wood beams over and perpendicular to the support beams, flush against the inside of the two posts on the right side. Screw it to each post with four 4-inch lag bolts. Repeat on the left side. Lay a third beam over the support beams, 10 inches from and parallel to the first beam added to the pergola in this step. Screw into the support beam on either side down through the top of the cross beam with one 8-inch lag bolt. These are the cross beams that form the "roof" of the pergola. Add the rest of the cross beams, spaced 10 inches apart, in the same way. Staple the fabric stretched underneath to the underside of each cross beam at 8-inch intervals.