This was a fun woodworking project done in the winter of 2008-09. While not a remodeling, it was a home improvement. My customer asked if I could build her a garden gate arbor off a set of plans she picked up at one of the box stores. I took a look at the plans and while well done as far as a how-to, the suggested materials were inferior. The plan called for pressure treated lumber. As you might know, pressure treated lumber is not dimensionally stable and is prone to warping and cupping in an application such as this project. It also looks goofy with all the little hash marks in the surfaces. I suggested a high grade of Cedar and that is what we went with. The lumber was very expensive, but worth it.
The result is a very sturdy assembly of laminations held with gorilla glue and counter sunk plated screws. I set the leg posts into concrete footings and the wood is finished with a UV protection natural finish from Behr. Stanley cane bolt and latch hardware in a black finish secures the gates. The plan here is to continue the fencing and landscaping to the house and side fence and should look really good when it is fully landscaped.
Material cost- $110
I enjoy seeing yard and garden projects. Glad you mentioned it on the radio show today, or I might not have gone to the website.
Where could I get the plans for this? Great work by the way!
Plans for this arbor are in a book / flyer available at Lowes. I modified the material list a bit as what Lowes calls for in lumber, they do not stock in Idaho stores. I used a premium grade of cedar for all of it.
I just noticed on my original posting, it says material cost of $110. HA! Not even close. It should read that it was $1100 cost. The cedar was VERY expensive but a pleasure to work with.
Well tell me, now I am curious! You don’t have to agree. If we all did, on everything, we would all be the same.
how is the top rounded??