Lean to pergola

[chris]

I'm planning on creating a lean to pergola along the back of my house (faces south, so want to create some dappled shade, yada yada!).

I'm putting (probably myself, after getting some quotes!! ) down a patio which will be 10x3m - the pergola will run 9m of this span, I'm not sure how deep yet.

Does anyone know what sort of distances I can safely space the supporting posts out along the 9m run? Likewise, what sort of distance can I span out? I'm in two minds, I'm not sure if I'd like to put the pergola in first, then cut the patio slabs around the posts (concreting them in..), or span that bit further out, and put the posts in the ground - which will be easier to replace when it needs to be done.. OR do I put the final row of patio slabs in level, rather than being on the slight fall away from the house and then bolt the posts to the slabs using the fixing brackets available?

I'm planning on 4x4" posts, and for the ledgerboard, mainbeam and rafters I'm thinking 10x2" planks. I'd like to be able to have a hammock hanging form it, so it needs to be sturdy enough to take an adults weight (~70kg).

Would anyone happen to know if 10x4 too be sturdy enough to support this sort of weight, and a 3m span of distance? I'd like enough room under the pergola to have a decent size table & chair set without it feeling cramped.

TIA!

[chris]

Oh, and also I've seen joist hangers - would these be favourable than notching the rafters, or even perhaps fixed directly onto the wall?

[bretty666]

joist hangers are really good on wood, not so great in stone, pretty good in breeze block, 3m is a good span from the house and good spacing for your initial structure, the beams you intend to use (10*4) i think are a bit over the top, i would use a 17*6.5cm beam , your uprights are a nice size, personally, i would do a concrete patio then line in it whatever you wanted, fancy wood? just put some on the concrete, fancy outdoor tiles? just stick them on, sanded concerete? acid washed concrete, you can get some nice effects, definately have a slope around 1-2% will do, dig down a bit and concrete your posts in ! just bolted to a bit of concrete wont do, for 2m above ground i would estimate 60cm should go in the ground, in concrete,

[mothhawk]

Chris, I'm so disappointed. It's my eyesight. I thought the title was LEARN to pergola, and I thought "Hullo, he's going to teach us some new dance steps"