I have a Midador pergola, it’s one of those aluminum ones with flanged feet and a drainage spot for the louvers in one of the legs.
I am planning to rip up the pavers on the patio where the feet land, and put in properly made footers. However, I’m a bit confused on how to mount this pergola to them. The instructions only show me how to mount to a slab patio.
Is it best to mount to the footers, cut the pavers around it, put them back, then put the trim piece on top of the pavers? I’ve also seen them mounted through the pavers into the footers but I’m not sure if that’s correct.
Mostly concerned about the draining spout landing underneath the pavers, and making sure it’s mounted correctly for safety reasons
by ScrappyHaxor
27 Comments
Do you have concrete or anything under the pavers ?
If not then you would need to dig up the pavers create a concrete base then put paver back on top. Then grab a cement drill bit and drill through the paver and cement and use bolts to go directly into concrete.
This is what I did with mine and it’s really solid
You don’t mount it to the paver. Mount to the new footing, Cut the paver around the column, Escutcheon on top of the paver.
When you pour you footers, I would pour them at paver level, then mount directly to the footer. I don’t think I’d want to place the paver on the footer then mount the pergola through the paver. I think this is going to create a lot of issues (settlement, cracking, etc.)
I used a set of auger anchors. They have been awesome!
https://americanearthanchors.com/shop-by-product/penetrators/
sleeve anchors
I personally poured footers and then hid them with wrap-around planters so I didn’t have to bother with cutting and re-fitting the pavers.
As you know you need concrete footers under the pavers. You have 2 choices. You can anchor the bolts straight into the footings and cut the pavers around the footings. Or you can anchor the bolts through the pavers and into the footings and have exposed bolts on top
A lot of metal pergolas come with footing covers that cover up the exposed bolts when drilled through the pavers into the footings. Generally the metal pergolas are meant to be anchored on top of pavers into the concrete footings but some kits are different. I’ve installed almost every my luxury big brand pergola and Costco and Home Depot pergola kits.
Make a stencil of the bottom.
When you pour your footings, add j bolts and use the stencil to make sure they line up.
I like the little drain hole next to the drain hole lol
It looks like a mouse skyscraper
Hello, hardscape contractor here. First and foremost the footing size is dependent on the size of the shade structure.
Our standard footing size we go with is 2x2x2. What you’re going to want to do is the following: excavate the mentioned footing. Once excavated measure the thickness of the paver and pour your concrete footing the thickness of the paver plus 1/4” below the finished grade (top of paver). Allow to dry, once dry set the paver in place with some mortar. Allow to dry, once dry use a concrete drill bit slightly smaller than your bolts. Then use concrete bolts to bolt the post in place. And with that you’ll never have to worry about any shifting, sinking, moving, etc.
Little side note you’re going to want to tamp around the footing to ensure the surrounding pavers are flush and to prevent sinking
Save yourself the trouble. I put mine on a concrete pad but never anchored them in. That pergola is super heavy and there is no way it’s being moved by the wind. This obviously depends on where you live but I left it unanchored as it needed to inevitably be moved for painting the house one day.
https://preview.redd.it/7y5sqmxi6kxg1.jpeg?width=4284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d5acb251f67e684896e4cd2d7598d0d72ddc1a17
I have the same pergola (love it!), and went through the same dilemma.
At first I thought the only right way would be cutting the pavers around, but I don’t think that’s the only way. It honestly doesn’t matter, as long as it is attached well. Having it under or over the pavers won’t make absolutely no difference, as long as you have a footing to attach your pergola to.
I have a concrete footing (1ft cubic) under the pavers, around the area where the foots are attaching to the ground.
I drilled a hole through the paver + a few inches into the footing. Then used a vacuum to remove all the “concrete sand” from the hole (extremely important, otherwise your anchor will not go all the way in.
Then I added the sleeve anchors (the same that came with the pergola… 4 or 5in? can’t remember) and tightened them up real good. At first I thought the sleeve anchors I had were on the small side, but since the paver essentially became part of the the footing, the sleeves are going through the paver + around 1in into the footing.
It looks clean, VERY very sturdy, and theres absolutely no way to tell how this was mounted unless you lift the cover.
Since you will make concrete footers to attach the pergola… maybe make them nice and square with maybe finished with a custom tile around the foot of the pergola.
In the attached image — to easy the sharp transition between the dark paver and the concrete — put Spanish, Mexican, Mediterranean glazed tiles.
https://preview.redd.it/eieytxu49kxg1.jpeg?width=782&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bac36e773234f8d55f48469e878771ba05c9ff8c
Got footing?
Required in my jurisdiction, am code inspector.
Make the elevation of your footing a 1/2” higher than the top of the pavers so it’s not a path for water.
Any chance you can pour pea gravel into the legs? during our gazebo assembly the instructions specifically had me do this. I ended up doing so much in each leg that I haven’t even had to bolt it down (I plan to just haven’t gotten to it yet.
Might be the simplest way without having to gut your pavers?
Remove paver. Dig. Pour concrete footing. Anchor into the footing. Only right way to do it.
I live in a windy area. I never anchored my pergola, hasn’t moved at all in like 4 years, its heavy as hell. You can fill the legs with 100lbs of pea gravel each if you want. That’ll ensure it never goes anywhere if you’re concerned.
We went through the same dilemma. Ended up buying longer anchors, drilling through the paver and into the footer.
I wouldn’t recommend building the paver around the leg of the pergola because the water from the built in gutter could wash away the substrate under the pavers.
Our inspector was ok with either way as long as it was into the footing.
You are going to love it once it’s done, we do.
Mount to a footing and cut out the paver. Guaranteed you’re going to have some leveling issues since exterior surfaces have slope.
Going through the paver is not a great idea since pavers can break and then you’ll have this long bolt/lever that is more susceptible to shear in a big wind.
You want to cut the paver to fit around the post and then mount that to a concrete base thats 3+ feet in the ground.
Anything else and you risk the pergola blowing away in high winds
Fill the hollow poles with 1-2 inch pebbles from the opening on top.
I have the same pergola. We had the pavers pulled up and concrete footers installed. Then they drilled holes to mount the pergola. One thing I will say, if you plan to buy the side shade (which I recommend) then you better make sure it’s installed perfectly plum. Ours wasn’t and when I went to install the shade it didn’t fit. I ended up having to cut the mounting bolts off of one of the legs to get it to work. The shade still didn’t install perfectly plum but it’s in there and works. Only I’ll know it’s missing one screw because it wasn’t perfect.
I had the same issue and instead filled the posts with pea gravel. They each ended up weighing like 40lbs. It didn’t move until I took it down.
Just put some weight around it.
https://preview.redd.it/v01snco2qkxg1.jpeg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=309c7adcfa477f10048790bd70c9bfe15a812161
Pre dill holes, then use tapcon screws
You can’t anchor to a paver