Pergola Installation in Bradford
Pergolas on Footings Sized for the Ground
We build attached and freestanding pergolas across Bradford West Gwillimbury. What makes a Bradford pergola different is underneath it: soft ground near the marsh, a high water table on some lots, and LSRCA rules near the river.
Get a Pergola Quote in Bradford Read Our Google ReviewsIn Bradford, a Good Pergola Starts Below the Patio
A pergola is mostly posts and beams, and posts are only as good as what they stand on. On firm ground that means a footing below the frost line. On softer, organic soils toward the Holland Marsh it can mean a wider or deeper footing, and on low-lying lots, planning the pour around water in the hole.
We look at the ground before we draw the pergola. Then we build it properly: cedar or treated frame, full-length beams where we can get them, and rafters spaced for the shade you actually want.
Our Pergola Services in Bradford
Installation, replacement and repair: the whole job, from the permit to the clean-up.
Pergola replacement
Rotted or racked pergolas taken down, hauled away and rebuilt on proper footings.
Pergola repair
Sagging beams, split rafters and failed fasteners are often repairable for a fraction of the cost of a rebuild.
Staining and sealing
Cedar left bare greys in about a season and a half. We stain, seal and come back for maintenance coats.
Pergolas We've Built
Our own work, all photographed on jobs in the Newmarket area, not stock photography.
Pergolas: Permits and Ground Conditions in Bradford
The permit threshold is Ontario's. The ground is Bradford's own, and near the Holland Marsh it is softer than most.
- Permit threshold
- A roofed accessory structure over 10 m² (about 108 sq ft) generally needs a building permit under the Ontario Building Code.
- Attached pergolas
- A pergola bolted to the house carries part of its load on the wall, so the ledger connection is treated as structural and properly flashed.
- Holland Marsh soils
- Near the marsh the soil is organic and soft, with poor bearing. Footings there can need to be wider or deeper than on firm ground.
- Groundwater
- On some low-lying lots, a post hole can fill with water. We plan the concrete pour for it.
- Conservation authority
- Near the Holland River or the marsh, the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority (LSRCA) can require its own permit.
- Footings
- Below the frost line (about 1.2 metres), sized to the ground we actually find.
- Before digging
- Call Ontario One Call on 1-800-400-2255 for locates. It is free, it is the law, and a fence line or footing is exactly where buried services turn up.
We look at the ground before we draw the structure, not after.
What Shapes a Pergola in Bradford
Soft ground
Organic soils near the Holland Marsh give poor bearing, so footings can need to be wider or deeper.
Water in the hole
On low-lying lots a post hole can fill with groundwater. We plan the pour rather than pour into a puddle.
LSRCA near water
Close to the Holland River or the marsh, the conservation authority can require its own permit.
The 10 m² permit
Over 10 m² of roofed structure needs a building permit under the Ontario rule.
Pergola Questions From Bradford Homeowners
Generally if it is over 10 square metres, under the Ontario Building Code. Near the Holland River or marsh an LSRCA permit can also apply. We check both before we start.
It depends where you are. On firm ground it is a standard build. Near the Holland Marsh the soil is soft and organic, and footings need to be sized for it.
Below the frost line, about 1.2 metres, in concrete. On soft ground we go by what the hole tells us, not just the number.
Either. Attached saves posts but needs a properly flashed ledger on the house. Freestanding can go anywhere in the yard.
More From XP Decking in Bradford
We also do fence installation in Bradford and gazebo building in Bradford, and deck building in Bradford. Nearby, we build pergolas in Newmarket, pergolas in Keswick and pergolas in King City.
XP Decking
Custom Deck Building Solutions
Business Hour
Monday to Friday: 9 am to 5 pm
Saturday: 9 am to 1 pm
Sunday: Closed