Creating a Custom Pergola

QUESTION

I want to add a pergola, arbor, or trellis to my plan. How can I build my own custom pergola?

ANSWER

Creating a pergola similar to the one shown above is easy using the framing tools and corbel symbols from the Library Browser. However if you're using a legacy Home Designer product, such as Home Designer Suite or Home Designer Architectural, you can also use the soffit tool to create a custom pergola. 

This article will cover the following:

• Creating beams in Home Designer 2026 and newer or Home Designer Pro
• Creating posts in Home Designer 2026 and newer or Home Designer Pro
• Creating beams in legacy Home Designer Suite and Architectural
• Creating posts in legacy Home Designer Suite and Architectural
• Adding detail to the structure

To create beams in Home Designer 2026 and newer or Home Designer Pro

1. In the file you'd like to create your custom pergola in, navigate to Build> Framing> Floor/Ceiling Beam , then click-and-drag to create a beam. If no floor or ceiling platform is detected where the beam is drawn, a message may display asking if you would like to create a general framing member instead. Click Yes. 
   
   
   
2. Using the Select Objects  tool, click on the beam to select it, then select the Open Object  edit tool.
   
   
   
3. On the General panel of the Framing Specification (General Framing) dialog: 
   
   
   • Adjust the Width, Depth, Length, and Angle to your liking.
     
     
   • Check the Raise/Lower checkbox, set your value, and click Apply to raise/lower the selected beam.
     
     
   • Change the Top/Bottom Height and Depth. 
     
     
   • Use the different Lock radio buttons to keep that field from changing as the other ones are adjusted.
     
     
   • Adjust the Role and Type of the selected beam.
     
     
   • Check the Treated checkbox to specify the selected beam to be counted as treated in the Materials List.
     
     

     Note: For more information on the options located on this panel, click the Help button at the bottom of the dialog to open your software's Help documentation.

   
   
   
4. On the Materials panel:
   
   
   • Select the General Framing component and click Select Material to open the Select Material dialog.
     
     
   • Find a material you'd like to use then click OK.
   
   
   
5. Click OK to save your changes.
   
   
   
6. To quickly create copies of the first initial beam, use the Select Objects  tool to select the beam, then use the Transform/Replicate Object  edit tool. 
   
   
   
7. In the Transform/Replicate Object  dialog that displays:
   
   
   • Check the box beside Copy and specify the number of copies of the beam you would like to create.
     
     
   • Check the box beside Move and specify the intervals at which you would like these copies to be replicated. 
     
     
     • Type a value in the X Delta field if you would like the copies to replicate to the left or right (use a negative number to replicate to the left).
       
       
     • Type a value in the Y Delta field if you would like the copies to replicate up or down (use a negative number to replicate downward).
     
     
   • Click OK to close the dialog and create your specified copies.
   
   
   
8. In some instances, we may want to create beams running perpendicular to those that were just placed. To do this, select one of the beams that was pasted, create a copy of it and paste it into the plan using the Copy/Paste  edit tool, then use the Rotate  edit handle to rotate it 90 degrees.
   
   
   
9. Once in place repeat Steps 6-7 to create several copies of the beam.
   
   
   
10. Lastly,create a Camera  view to see the results.

To create posts in Home Designer 2026 and newer or Home Designer Pro

1. Navigate to Framing> Posts> Post  or Post with Footing .
   
   
   
2. Click to place the post in your plan view.
   
   
   
3. You can take a Cross Section/Elevation  view or a Camera  view to position the post correctly.
   
   
   
4. To quickly create copies of the first initial post, return to the 2D Plan View and use the Select Objects  tool to select the post, then click on the Copy/Paste  edit tool.
   
   
   
5. Click on the Sticky Mode  edit tool to create multiple copies by simply clicking in your plan to place copies of the original post until you have the number of copies that you want for your pergola.
   
   
   
6. Once you have placed your copies, select each one and move it into place.
   
   You may also find it helpful to create a Manual Dimension  line across them to help position them equally apart.
   
   

To create beams in legacy Home Designer Suite and Architectural

1.  If using a legacy Home Designer products, such as Home Designer Suite or Home Designer Architectural, select Build> Cabinet> Soffit  and click in floor plan view to place this rectangular object instead. You can also use this method in Home Designer 2026 and newer or legacy Home Designer Pro.
   
   
   
2. Using the Select Objects  tool, click on the soffit to select it, then select the Open Object  edit tool to open the Soffit Specification dialog:
   
   
   • On the General panel, set the dimensions and elevation information to your liking using the Width, Height, Depth, and Floor to Top/Bottom fields.
     
     

     If you are unsure as to the dimensions that you want, or the distance from the floor that you need these first horizontal objects to be, you may find it helpful to take a Cross Section/Elevation or Camera view and adjust the object's dimensions and distance from the ground.

     
     
   • Select the Materials panel and change the material of the soffit to your choice.
     
     
   • Click OK to apply the changes and close the dialog.
   
   
   
3. To quickly create copies of the first initial soffit, use the Select Objects  tool to select the soffit, then click on the Copy/Paste  edit tool.
   
   
   
4. Click on the Sticky Mode  edit tool to create multiple copies by simply clicking in your plan to place copies of the original soffit until you have the number of copies that you want for this section of your pergola.
   
   
   
5. Once you have placed your copies, select each one and move it into place.
   
   You may also find it helpful to create a Manual Dimension  line across them to help position them equally apart.
   
   

To create posts in legacy Home Designer Suite and Architectural

1. Use the same procedure mentioned above to create custom posts.
   
   
   
2. You can take a Cross Section/Elevation  view or a Camera  view to check the appearance of the soffits/posts.
   
   
   
3. Use the same Copy/Paste  and Sticky Mode  procedure outlined above to create the necessary copies of these posts and then maneuver them into place.
   
   

To add details to the structure

1. If you are creating a stand-alone pergola, or one attached to the house that will be held up by columns, these can be located in the Library Browser  by navigating to Core Catalogs> Architectural> Millwork> Columns.
   
   
   
2. Also in this library category are Corbels, which can be resized and placed at the end of your beams.
   
   
   
3. Lattice materials can also be located in the Library Browser .
   
   
   
4. To create the deck beneath this pergola, we used a combination of Deck Railings  where we wanted the railing to display, and Straight Deck Edges  where we did not require a railing.