DIY Family Build Incredible Winter-Proof Pergola For Just £800
- Vicki-lee and Luke Hormbrey, 38 and 39, loved a pergola in Vicki-lee’s parents’ garden
- However, theirs had cost £2,000 and was installed by a professional
- The couple replicated the pergola in their own home for just £800
As the weather gets colder and rainier, sitting outside in the garden might not sound like the most appealing prospect.
But one DIY-savvy family built their very own winter-proof pergola over the lockdown - and best of all, it only cost £800.
Vicki-lee Hormbrey, 38, a part-time cleaner and her husband Luke Hormbrey, 39, were inspired to build a garden pergola after falling in love with one Vicki-lee’s parents had installed.
However, Vicki-lee’s parents had paid a professional £2,000 to install it.
Instead, Vicki-lee and Luke, who are parents to three kids aged four, five and seven, decided to attempt to replicate the pergola but build it themselves to save money during the lockdown.
The family, from Cheshire, managed to create their very own beautiful garden pergola for just £800 - and best of all, it’s rain-proof so can be enjoyed all winter.
Vicki-lee told money-saving community LatestDeals.co.uk: “My husband Luke really wanted to build a pergola as my mum has one similar and he loves sitting out in it - as do we all - especially in the rain as it has such a calming aspect to it.
"We have wanted one for ages. My parents had theirs done by a professional which cost them £2,000 but there was no way could we afford that.
"So with time on his hands due to the lockdown, my hubby drew up some plans to show me and went about doing it himself.
"He designed and built it all in just one weekend and then it was over to me to decorate - my favourite part!
"I decided on the decor and wanted it grey to match my kitchen, which Luke also made over during lockdown.
"It was quite straightforward really. Firstly, he found the roof which is strips of Corotherm plastic, and so he based the size of our pergola on the measurements of the strips in order to save money.
"The roof was ordered online with Building Supplies Online. We had an issue with the first delivery as the roof strips were damaged so we emailed the company and sent pictures and they were fab and sent new ones within a week!
"He ordered the wood over the phone from a local builders' merchants and they delivered it all to the front garden.
"He used concrete bolts to attach the piece to the wall and sunk the two legs into the ground using concrete. He was then able to finish the frame and add the roof.
"The spindles and decorative side panels were bought from B&Q once that had opened back up.
"He then feather edged the back frame to make it all watertight. Again wood was ordered over the phone.
"The paint was Valspar mixed in Rocky Shelter from B&Q.
“The mirrors were from The Range and the furniture was from online company Out and Out, but all the furniture and accessories came at a later date once we were able to get to the shops.
"The roof cost £260 including fittings and the rest of the wood and bolts cost about £550.
"Luke built the pergola for a fraction of the cost of my parents', about £800 all in, not including furniture or accessories.”
Vicki-lee is delighted with the finished look of the pergola and found the project to be an excellent distraction during the lockdown.
"It was a good project for my hubby to concentrate on as he suffers from anxiety and the whole coronavirus and lockdown situation had started to get to him, so doing this gave him something to focus on and helped to pass the time,” she adds.
"It has been the best money we have spent. We were due to go to Portugal in April but it was cancelled due to Covid-19 so we used the money to do this instead and now we have it forever.
“It's given us a much needed second living room as we have three young children who like to control the TV, without having to fork out for an extension that we couldn't afford.
"We have a patio heater and shower-proof curtains to use when it's raining or cold too so will get use out of it even in the winter.
"We absolutely love it! The kids want to camp out in it. It's so calming, especially for Luke and he loves to sit out when it's raining and listen to the rain on the roof.
"I would say to anyone thinking of doing it - go for it! Have a plan and your measurements all sorted first so you don’t over-order on supplies and shop around for the best prices.”
Tom Church, co-founder of LatestDeals.co.uk, comments: “Many people built amazing creations over lockdown, and thanks to its clever winter-proofing features, this amazing pergola will see Vicki-lee, Luke and family through a rainy winter!
“Hats off to the couple for seeing something they loved and replicating it themselves for less than half the price.
“If you want to do the same but don’t know where to start, there are so many online tutorials on YouTube and Pinterest to follow, and best of all, they’re all free.”
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