A). Hello /r/DIY’ers sorry for the wall of text, I hope it’s not too boring. I’m setting up to build a HUGE pergola in the alley (south view) (The post in front of the SUV will actually be 'inside' the fence and not visible) where we park our cars (north view) and some overhang in the common area(gate to alley). (Ignore the designs here, it will be a common style pergola.It will be totally free standing (i.e. not attached to a building), but it's gonna run about ~48' wide by ~16’ deep. (In three sections so really, I'll be building three distinct pergolas that happen to attach to each other carriage bolts thru 4x6 plates).I've seen 12x16 pergolas with 4 ’legs’ and 16x16 pergolas with 4 ’legs’ and 20x16 pergolas with 4 ’legs’ so I'm hoping I can basically make the three pergolas and connect them in this fashion with the requisite carriage bolts. I want to do it this way, as I only want one 6x6 post in the ~center parking area.B). As per the plans, I’ll put two 6x6x12’ posts two feet in concrete at the common area, then at the gate latch post there is already a 4x4 and with the fence design, I really can’t put in a 6x6 post. Should I anchor and lag bolt a 4x6 to the existing fence post, or do I trim the sides of a 6x6 so it is 4x6 until it gets to the top of the fence, where it continues up 4’ more as a 6x6 post to attach the beams? Which method would be sturdier?C). The back post by the shed (common area) will be 4x6x12 widthwise to follow the back fence line, and parallel to the 6x6 alley post, and sunk 2’ into concrete. I’ll be notching the middle 4x6 posts along the fence line, and cutting a hole in the center of the 4x6 posts at the 2 back corners to keep them at the 10’ level, and attach cameras/solar lighting to those. And I’m hoping with all the existing 4x4 posts along with lag bolting the new 4x6 posts into the existing 4x4 posts, I’ll only need one set of beams across the back along the fence line.Or, would it be better to still have two sets of beams along the back, half notching each side of the 4x6 while using two of these brackets per side? (keeping in mind I will screw and lag bolt 2x4’s to the underside of these brackets all the way down the 4x6 posts for bracing)Basically, front and back of the 4x6 would have a 1” notch with a beam on either side carriage bolted together into the 1” notch with the brackets, and a 2x4 would be directly under the bracket to the ground to support the overhang.D). I’m planning on standard double beams in the front on the 6x6 posts, but only one beam on the back 4x6 posts as there will be eight 4x6’s anchored (Bolted to the existing concrete with these), and shoot construction adhesive into each bolt hole then braced and lag bolted to the existing 4x4 already sunk in concrete so the back beam(s) only need to be ~12' each (12x4=48) and not needing the front's 2 x 21' beamsOR should I use these Simpson FPBB44 E-Z Base to bolt to the concrete? Thoughts? Titan or Simpson?Using 6x6 posts would mean putting the posts in the parking area outside the fence then lag bolting to the 'other side of the fence' existing fence posts. Not a clean solution.I really want to only have the ~middle (not quite centered) post. We share three even spaces, however, due to my extra parcel I have an extra 6' of parking so the center post will be ~16’6” to cover my ~1 3/4 spots, then the other two spots(~10'6" ea) will be the next opening (the 21’ beam length).Basically the front beams will be;~2x10x12———From shed 6x6 to gate latch 6x6 to half on 6x6 (4x6) gate hinge.Then ~2x10x16"5" from gate latch half 6x6 (4x6) to half on ~center 6x6 post then ~2x10x21 on other half of ~center 6x6 post to garage 6x6 post (see plans). Three sections of beams. I'm hoping that because it's three sections I can eliminate the 2nd center post. Where the three connect, I'll use 7.5" carriage bolts thru metal plates with lock washers.The shed side will have two 6x6x12 posts and one 4x6x12 post ~2' into concrete.The fence already has three 4x4s in concrete holding up the fence so I'll use these post anchors with extra bracing, and lag bolt 3 new 4x6x10 posts to the existing fence posts on the side.The back fence has six 4x4x5 posts also in concrete that I'll use the same anchors and lag bolt the 6 new 4x6x10 posts into the existing fence posts as well and center notch one beam instead of two.Or, I could attach these brackets on one side with a 2x4 lag/carriage bolted under said bracket, and notch one side of the 4x6 for a second beam. I'm not sure the best way with the current posts.I'll use 4x6x10 and lop off what seems correct. I want to put the back beams at about 8’2” and the front beams bottom starting at eight feet (8’) so there is a ~2" slope to allow any rain to drip toward the alley.2x10 beam puts pergola at 8’ 10” high add 2x8 ribs and cut 4” notch adds 4”, sets pergola top at 9’2” add 2x4 tops, cut 2” notch add 2”, sets pergola at 9’4” and 9’6” in back. gives 6” of extra post.MAIN QUESTIONSDo I need to have more than one ~center post with all the bracing around? (remembering that the back fenceposts are only ~5’ high but the actual pergola posts are 10’ high and lag bolted to the existing 4x4x5’ already set in concrete) with the additional anchor and bracingThe back fence can only handle 4x4(6) sized posts because of layout (sidewalk higher than existing fenceposts) do I use 4x6 widthwise for more ‘bite’ or is 4x4 ok? Two 4x4 = one 4x8, but at the beam level it will only be a 4x4(6) as the bottom 4x4 posts are shorter than the Pergola Posts. I realized I can trim a 2” notch from the bottom and make a 6x6 post fit IF the guy who lives in the house lets me bump out an extra 2” vs flat with his current 4x4 posts. So if I cut the notch, the 2” will sit directly on the concrete. should I cut 2.5” or 3” up? (I’m thinking stick with 4x6 posts)With so many existing fenceposts set in concrete (8) , can I get away with just notching the center of all the 4x4(6)s and running one (1) back beam? (not one 48’ but only one set of beams across the back) (Carriage bolting each as well as TimberLok’ing from the top) and the plates on the connecting posts.At the gate hinge point there is a 4x4 post set in concrete, the fence is such that I can’t put in a 6x6 post, however, I can put in a 4x6 post that would allow for the other four 6x6 posts across the front. Or, would it be prudent to trim the sides of a 6x6 from the bottom to be 4x6 until the top of the fence where it would be 6x6? (mushroom?)[IMAGE GALLERY]————The PlansSouth ViewNorth ViewCommon Area————Beam PlatePlate Source————Titan 4x4 anchor (To be used on the 4x6 posts)Anchor Source————Brace LegBrace Leg Source————4x4 anchor to 4x6 post, braced and lag bolted to 4x4 in concrete————Concrete BoltConcrete Bolt Source————Construction AdhesiveConstruction Adhesive Source————6x6 Fence post tried to 4x6 at bottom, 6x6 at top view 16x6 Fence post tried to 4x6 at bottom, 6x6 at top view 2————TL:DR ~48'x16' over alley parking pergola in three sections tied together. One 6x6 post in center, one in corner, three posts in cement (two 6x6, one 4x6) ten 4x6 lag bolted/anchored to existing 4x4s in concrete. Can I get away with only the offset ~center 6x6 post?NOTE: Probably ALL products can be found at Amazon via /r/DIY http://ift.tt/2r5pzTD
