On Aug 8, 12:42*pm, Steve Turner
wrote:

I built a pergola a few years ago and used Western Red Cedar that I bought from
the local Ace Hardware lumber yard (don't know how many of _those_ are left in
the world...). *Used 6x6 vertical posts, 2x12 beams (let-in to 2x10 in some
places for decoration), 2x8 rafters on 24" centers over the beams, then topped
it off with 2x4 longitudinals on 12" centers for blocking the sun. *All
horizontals overhang their supporting sections and have nice "ogee" patterns
cut into the ends. *Finished it with a liberal application of Behr premium
25-year weatherproofing wood "stain" (it's really paint, not stain), and there
are no signs of warping, splitting, rotting, or deterioration anywhere. *I'll
report back in 5 years. *:-)

Post a picture - I'd like to see it.

R