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 (ARA)
- Trellises have been adding character and elegance to outdoor
living spaces for years. Better yet, these stylish wooden structures
are practical projects that bring everyday elegance to your yard
or garden – and can be built in a single weekend.
Now is an ideal time to consider
easy-to-construct outdoor features like a Western Red Cedar trellis.
These elegant structures provide calming tranquility and dress
up your front or backyard natural setting.
Here are a few considerations
to remember when enhancing your outdoor living space with a trellis,
and resources where to receive free trellis information brochures:
Site Selection
Consider attaching the trellis
to your home, using it to shelter a path between the main house
and an outbuilding, or simply frame the view of another landscape
feature. Remember, one of the greatest appeals of a trellis is
its architecture – so make sure the site and size you choose
is appropriate for its surroundings.
Layout
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Take special care when deciding
the proportions of foundational posts and overhead canopy. For
instance, a set of 4-inch by 4-inch posts would be ideal with
2-inch by 6- inch overhead boards. Also, make sure the posts
are vertically straight and even in height, and ensure the overhead
canopy boards are level and evenly spaced in parallel to each
other – attention to detail is essential here.
Materials
There are a number of choices
available, but one of the most popular building materials for
trellises is Western Red Cedar.
Many homeowners specify Western
Red Cedar due to its all-natural look, pleasant aroma and character
that blend nicely with the natural surroundings. And Western
Red Cedar’s natural resistance to decay and insects has
long been recognized.
“Natural qualities of Western
Red Cedar make it an excellent choice for a wide range of building
projects both inside the home and outside the home – like
trellises,” said Peter Lang, general manager of the Western
Red Cedar Lumber Association. “Unlike plastic or imitation
wood products, cedar is one of the most environmentally-friendly
building materials you can use. It’s naturally durable without
the need for chemical treatment, dimensionally stable, resilient
and lightweight.” |
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Western Red Cedar is also free
of the pitch and resin found in other softwoods – a quality
that makes it ideal for a wide range of finishes. Whether you
choose a lightly tinted semi-transparent stain or a two-coat
solid color finish, cedar ranks at the top in its ability to
accept and retain a finish.
Construction Tips
Prior to digging your postholes,
remove all rocks, plants or sod that inhabit the area. These
items can be strategically added or relocated after the trellis
has been built.
Also, it’s paramount the
posts be put solidly into the ground or secured to concrete footings.
If you choose to put the post into the ground, the portion of
the post that will below the ground should be treated with a
preservative. Regardless whether you build or buy the concrete
footings, the foundational posts must be level and true for the
trellis to look correct. And be certain your posts are long enough
to provide enough headroom once they are entered into place.
Once the posts are in place,
consider adding 2-inch x 12-inch x 12-inch square cedar post
caps on top of each post. These post caps ensure the posts can
handle the weight of the overhead canopy boards by dispersing
the load more evenly, and it provides a nice finishing touch
to the structure. However, you’re using Western Red Cedar
to construct the trellis canopy, which is lightweight and has
a fine, consistent grain making it easy to work with.
Decorative Touches
Consider adding decorative touches
to all canopy board ends. To create a decorative end, perfect
your design on construction paper then use it as a template to
transfer your design to each board end. Cut, and then sand the
edges to create a smooth finish. Be systematic and symmetric
in applying this decorative design to each canopy board. The
possibilities are endless here, but choosing decorative flair
to complement both the surroundings and the architectural feel
of your house will add to the appeal.
As you’ll see, trellises
can give any backyard some classical character as well as seasonal
charm. A trellis can make a dramatic change to your outdoor living
areas, and better yet, you can build it in just one weekend. |
