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We are installing a roof to cover our outdoor patio but want some advice about where we place our posts. If we have 2 posts they have to be slightly further in from the corners, will this look bad?. If we have 3 posts, we can put the posts on the corners but where should we put the 3rd (middle) post? Don’t want the post to be the first thing you see when you walk out of the house.
Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @mollymee96. It's fantastic to have you join us and many thanks for your question on building a pergola.
Post placement really comes down to the size and strength of the timbers you plan to use. If you use large-calibre beams, you could potentially span the entire width of your patio and place the two posts right in the corners without needing to inset them. However, with smaller-calibre timber, you would need to inset the posts slightly to ensure the structure has enough support. Typically, posts are always positioned at the corners to support the outer beams, and in wider spans like yours, a middle post is usually added to provide extra stability.
Aesthetically, a middle post isn’t usually too distracting, even if it’s the first thing you see when stepping out, but if you want an unobstructed view, you would need to use larger timbers capable of spanning from corner to corner. The exact placement also depends on how the roof is attached to your home and the overall construction design, so it’s worth planning carefully to balance both support and appearance.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Mitchell
