The next step was to use my dad's miter saw to cut a few 2 inch blocks. I will use these blocks to space out the boards.
I also set up three ladders evenly spaced across the pergola. I'll use these ladders to access the boards once they are on top.
The next step involved trimming the boards to size. Each board was 219" long. I usually cut a dozen boards before lifting them up to the roof of the pergola.
Once on top, I used the blocks and clamps to hold three boards together at once.
The next step involved climbing up the first ladder, screwing the boards in, and climbing back down before climbing back up the ladder and repeating the process. I was able to screw in two boards at a time. The pergola needed 42 boards on top so I spend the entire day climbing up and down ladders.
Here are some photos of the pergola roof being installed in phases....
The shadows cast by the boards and joists are beautiful.
It took almost all day to install the majority of the boards. Tomorrow I will install the remaining three boards and begin working on the privacy wall.
