"David WE Roberts" wrote in message
...

"Charlie Pridham" wrote in message
T...
One of the Casualties of the strong winds has been our 30' pergola, this
is the second time the 4" tanalised uprights have snapped in strong wind
and I have concluded its just not strong enough!

How many uprights do you have?
Is it possible that you just don't have enough uprights for the size of
pergola?

Probably! I only have 6 but don't want anymore

Alternatively, do you have space for angled wooden supports to give
additional strength?

We have alsorts of wood cross bracing already and metal brackets reinforcing
the joints


Simple solution, use wood larger than 4" :-)

Its getting it into the ground, I well remember the original holes which go
down through 18" of rock which I sometimes refer to as "our soil" so the
thought of digging out all the old concrete wasn't attractive but I was
thinking that these post bases would make good foundations.

Hmmmm....whereabouts did the wood break?
Near the top, middle, or bottom?
If the break is near the top then angled supports for the top 1/3rd might
be a solution.

Its always at or near ground level, first set were straight in the ground,
second set were well concreted in, third set were in metal post bottoms, I
just have to face up to the fact that its wet most of the time down here and
even tanalised wood rots

If you want to minimise the visual impact or have limited space then brick
pillars may be the answer.
Pretty straightforward, and if you use reclaimed bricks then you can claim
any variance from true to be aimed at rustic charm :-)

A man after my own heart :~)

--
Charlie, Gardening in Cornwall
Holders of National Collections of Clematis viticella
and Lapageria rosea cvs
http://www.roselandhouse.co.uk