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!
I have reluctantly decided to build the pillars up in brick but before
I order bricks wondered if any Urglers have used any other method to
create the uprights?
I didn't know for instance whether there are any square section products
like the things you build chimneys out of but in something a bit more
decorative than rough concrete, looking to end up with something around a
foot square
--
Charlie Pridham, Gardening in Cornwall
www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of national collections of Clematis viticella cultivars and
Lapageria rosea

On Thu, 3 Dec 2009 15:59:46 -0000, Charlie Pridham
wrote:

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!
I have reluctantly decided to build the pillars up in brick but before
I order bricks wondered if any Urglers have used any other method to
create the uprights?
I didn't know for instance whether there are any square section products
like the things you build chimneys out of but in something a bit more
decorative than rough concrete, looking to end up with something around a
foot square

I would have thought a red-brick square pillar could look quite
attractive and last for ever, I have one such holding up a
front-door porch canopy and it looks good covered in sweet peas.


--
®óñ© © ²°¹°-°¹

In article ,
says...
On Thu, 3 Dec 2009 15:59:46 -0000, Charlie Pridham
wrote:

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!
I have reluctantly decided to build the pillars up in brick but before
I order bricks wondered if any Urglers have used any other method to
create the uprights?
I didn't know for instance whether there are any square section products
like the things you build chimneys out of but in something a bit more
decorative than rough concrete, looking to end up with something around a
foot square

I would have thought a red-brick square pillar could look quite
attractive and last for ever, I have one such holding up a
front-door porch canopy and it looks good covered in sweet peas.



I think it would look good too but its my brick laying skills that may be
wanting!!
--
Charlie Pridham, Gardening in Cornwall
www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of national collections of Clematis viticella cultivars and
Lapageria rosea

"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!
I have reluctantly decided to build the pillars up in brick but before
I order bricks wondered if any Urglers have used any other method to
create the uprights?
I didn't know for instance whether there are any square section products
like the things you build chimneys out of but in something a bit more
decorative than rough concrete, looking to end up with something around a
foot square
--
Charlie Pridham, Gardening in Cornwall
www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of national collections of Clematis viticella cultivars and
Lapageria rosea

How about 4 x 4" uprights forming a square about 15x15" and filling in with
bits of trellis?

On 2009-12-03 17:09:15 +0000, Charlie Pridham
said:

In article ,
says...
On Thu, 3 Dec 2009 15:59:46 -0000, Charlie Pridham
wrote:

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!
I have reluctantly decided to build the pillars up in brick but before
I order bricks wondered if any Urglers have used any other method to
create the uprights?
I didn't know for instance whether there are any square section products
like the things you build chimneys out of but in something a bit more
decorative than rough concrete, looking to end up with something around a
foot square

I would have thought a red-brick square pillar could look quite
attractive and last for ever, I have one such holding up a
front-door porch canopy and it looks good covered in sweet peas.



I think it would look good too but its my brick laying skills that may be
wanting!!

If you think of the end of the path to our tea room's lawn, Charlie,
there are brick pillars either side of it. We had them put in to
replace a rotting, old wooden pergola. We intended to have iron arches
made to cement into them sort of creating an X shape as they went down
the path. One day, Ray picked up a pot and plonked on the finished
pillar, while he was doing something else. We liked the effect so
much, we never did get round to the rest of the 'pergola'. ;-) I know
this doesn't answer your question about square constructions but it may
save you a bit of time. ;-)) The alternative is perhaps to clad
cement in slate?
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
Shrubs & perennials. Tender & exotics.
South Devon

"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?

[As an extreme example, if you had 4" uprights every 6" then they would be
unlikely to break.]

Alternatively, do you have space for angled wooden supports to give
additional strength?
You could even have wire supports (like the guy ropes on tents) which would
support climbers.

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

You could bolt two supports together to get 8"*4", for example.

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.

If you want to make it stronger using wood then I'm sure that this is
possible.
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 :-)

HTH

Dave R

"Charlie Pridham" wrote ...
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!
I have reluctantly decided to build the pillars up in brick but before
I order bricks wondered if any Urglers have used any other method to
create the uprights?
I didn't know for instance whether there are any square section products
like the things you build chimneys out of but in something a bit more
decorative than rough concrete, looking to end up with something around a
foot square

When we moved here there were square wooden pillars holding up a porch that
runs across the front of the house. They rotted from the inside within a
couple of years and after replacing them a couple of times, and constantly
having to mend them despite using good wood preservative, we eventually
bought stone like pillars from Haddonstone. Quite expensive but because they
last forever without any maintenance they are actually cheaper in the long
haul, at the time they were cheaper than some hollow glass fibre ones I
found.
Alternatively how about using some of those thermal blocks they use these
days to make houses, cement one on top of another, use a circle cutter down
the centre to enable you to cement in reinforcing rods , I sure your local
builders merchant would advise.

--
Regards
Bob Hobden
W.of London. UK

"rupert" 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!
I have reluctantly decided to build the pillars up in brick but before
I order bricks wondered if any Urglers have used any other method to
create the uprights?
I didn't know for instance whether there are any square section products
like the things you build chimneys out of but in something a bit more
decorative than rough concrete, looking to end up with something around a
foot square
--
Charlie Pridham, Gardening in Cornwall
www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of national collections of Clematis viticella cultivars and
Lapageria rosea

How about 4 x 4" uprights forming a square about 15x15" and filling in
with bits of trellis?

Its a thought, but I am on my 3rd set of tanalised 4" posts now in 20 years,
its not so much the expense of replacing them but the upheaval, the whole
thing is covered in roses which makes replacing anything hard work!


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

"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

"Bob Hobden" wrote in message
...


"Charlie Pridham" wrote ...
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!
I have reluctantly decided to build the pillars up in brick but before
I order bricks wondered if any Urglers have used any other method to
create the uprights?
I didn't know for instance whether there are any square section products
like the things you build chimneys out of but in something a bit more
decorative than rough concrete, looking to end up with something around a
foot square

When we moved here there were square wooden pillars holding up a porch
that runs across the front of the house. They rotted from the inside
within a couple of years and after replacing them a couple of times, and
constantly having to mend them despite using good wood preservative, we
eventually bought stone like pillars from Haddonstone. Quite expensive but
because they last forever without any maintenance they are actually
cheaper in the long haul, at the time they were cheaper than some hollow
glass fibre ones I found.
Alternatively how about using some of those thermal blocks they use these
days to make houses, cement one on top of another, use a circle cutter
down the centre to enable you to cement in reinforcing rods , I sure your
local builders merchant would advise.

--
Regards
Bob Hobden
W.of London. UK
Couple more good ideas thanks, how well do those thermolite blocks last
outside with frost etc do you know?


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

Charlie Pridham wrote:

"Bob Hobden" wrote in message
...


"Charlie Pridham" wrote ...
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!
I have reluctantly decided to build the pillars up in brick but before
I order bricks wondered if any Urglers have used any other method to
create the uprights?
I didn't know for instance whether there are any square section products
like the things you build chimneys out of but in something a bit more
decorative than rough concrete, looking to end up with something
around a
foot square

When we moved here there were square wooden pillars holding up a porch
that runs across the front of the house. They rotted from the inside
within a couple of years and after replacing them a couple of times,
and constantly having to mend them despite using good wood
preservative, we eventually bought stone like pillars from
Haddonstone. Quite expensive but because they last forever without any
maintenance they are actually cheaper in the long haul, at the time
they were cheaper than some hollow glass fibre ones I found.
Alternatively how about using some of those thermal blocks they use
these days to make houses, cement one on top of another, use a circle
cutter down the centre to enable you to cement in reinforcing rods , I
sure your local builders merchant would advise.

--
Regards
Bob Hobden
W.of London. UK
Couple more good ideas thanks, how well do those thermolite blocks last
outside with frost etc do you know?


I can't imagine Thermolite lasting at all well outdoors. It will soak up
water like a sponge.
My pergola must be at least 10 years old an made from 8" timber uprights
and 8 x 2 horizontals. It does not even move in a gale.

Bob

Brick pillars one foot square will only be stronger than the 4"
timber if steel reinforcing rods are incorporated. I have seen
none re enforced brick pillars simply break off at a low mortar
joint when used in the way you suggest.

4 x 4" timbers at each support point set in a 12" square, well
concreted into the ground with 2"x1" battens forming a lattice
pattern connecting them would offer 10 times the strength of a
single 4" timber post and can be made to look quite attractive.

Mike

"Charlie Pridham" wrote

"Bob Hobden" wrote in message
"Charlie Pridham" wrote ...
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!
I have reluctantly decided to build the pillars up in brick but before
I order bricks wondered if any Urglers have used any other method to
create the uprights?
I didn't know for instance whether there are any square section products
like the things you build chimneys out of but in something a bit more
decorative than rough concrete, looking to end up with something around
a
foot square

When we moved here there were square wooden pillars holding up a porch
that runs across the front of the house. They rotted from the inside
within a couple of years and after replacing them a couple of times, and
constantly having to mend them despite using good wood preservative, we
eventually bought stone like pillars from Haddonstone. Quite expensive
but because they last forever without any maintenance they are actually
cheaper in the long haul, at the time they were cheaper than some hollow
glass fibre ones I found.
Alternatively how about using some of those thermal blocks they use these
days to make houses, cement one on top of another, use a circle cutter
down the centre to enable you to cement in reinforcing rods , I sure your
local builders merchant would advise.

Couple more good ideas thanks, how well do those thermolite blocks last
outside with frost etc do you know?

I've had six holding up a large pond filter for years without any problems
or any sign of failure but then they are protected from most of the weather,
being under the filter.
Have a word with your local large Builders Merchant, they may well have
something you could use or something made for the job. I've found as many
helpful as not so it's down to luck.
Got caught in a traffic jam and found myself looking at some thick walled
Gas Mains yellow plastic pipe, wouldn't that make superb rot proof pillars.

--
Regards
Bob Hobden
W.of London. UK

"Charlie Pridham" wrote in message
...

"rupert" 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!
I have reluctantly decided to build the pillars up in brick but before
I order bricks wondered if any Urglers have used any other method to
create the uprights?
I didn't know for instance whether there are any square section products
like the things you build chimneys out of but in something a bit more
decorative than rough concrete, looking to end up with something around
a
foot square
--
Charlie Pridham, Gardening in Cornwall
www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of national collections of Clematis viticella cultivars and
Lapageria rosea

How about 4 x 4" uprights forming a square about 15x15" and filling in
with bits of trellis?

Its a thought, but I am on my 3rd set of tanalised 4" posts now in 20
years, its not so much the expense of replacing them but the upheaval, the
whole thing is covered in roses which makes replacing anything hard work!


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


Hi Charlie,

I have a 4x4" post in the garden which I use as the upright of a bird
feeder. It is supported on one corner only by angle-iron and it has never
budged - and it is fairly exposed. Could you do something like that? It
would be fairly inexpensive and simple to do; you may not even have to move
the roses.

Spider

On Fri, 4 Dec 2009 10:25:35 -0000, "Muddymike"
wrote:

Brick pillars one foot square will only be stronger than the 4"
timber if steel reinforcing rods are incorporated. I have seen
none re enforced brick pillars simply break off at a low mortar
joint when used in the way you suggest.

The brick pillar outside my front door is about 1' square in section
and over 9' high.

It has held up the corner of a heavy, tiled roof for at least 35 years
without complaint or deterioration.
(Whether or not it is reinforced internally I know not) but some
pillars built like it is would be vastly overspecified for any pergola
I could imagine.


--
®óñ© © ²°¹°-°¹