How to Order Cedar for a Pergola or Gazebo

A pergola or gazebo material order should start with an approved design, not a guess at a lumber package. Once the footprint, loads, member sizes and connections are defined, the cut list can translate each structural role into the exact cedar product the supplier needs to quote.

Start here: Confirm permit and design requirements first. Then list every post, beam, rafter, purlin, brace and trim board with its actual size, surface, grade, length, quantity and connection details.

Check the permit path before ordering

Ontario’s building-permit guidance says a permit is required before constructing a new building over 10 square metres. This does not create a universal under-10-square-metre exemption for every pergola or gazebo. How a particular shade structure is classified—and what zoning, conservation or other approvals apply—depends on its design and municipality. Contact the local building department before buying project-specific structural material.

A roof, screens, electrical work, proximity to property lines, connection to a house and the type of foundation can all change the approval path. The design should identify snow, wind and other loads and establish the member sizes and connections.

Turn the design into member roles

Break the structure into parts instead of ordering a mixed pile of cedar. Posts transfer loads to the foundation. Beams span between supports. Rafters or roof members cross the beams. Purlins or shade slats create the overhead pattern. Braces control movement and contribute to the visual character. Trim and screens are ordered separately from structural members. This illustrative Real Cedar pergola plan shows how those roles can appear in a member schedule; it is an example, not a design for your project.

• Posts — Cut-list fields: Actual section, length, grade, surface; Coordination question: What base or footing fits?

• Beams — Cut-list fields: Section, span, bearing, length, grade; Coordination question: One piece or built-up design?

• Rafters — Cut-list fields: Section, spacing, length, end profile; Coordination question: What connection is specified?

• Purlins/slats — Cut-list fields: Section, spacing, length, appearance; Coordination question: What shade pattern is intended?

• Braces — Cut-list fields: Section, angles, lengths, grade; Coordination question: Shop-cut or field-fit?

• Trim/screens — Cut-list fields: Profile, face coverage, length, grade; Coordination question: Which faces are prominent?

Example quote line: 4 Western Red Cedar posts; required actual size: 5-1/2 x 5-1/2 inches; dressed; appearance: Select Tight Knot; structural grade: per approved design; 10 feet long; all four faces visible; coordinate with the specified post bases.

Use actual sizes in the hardware schedule

Our dressed 6x6 post is listed at 5-1/2 x 5-1/2 inches in 8-, 10-, 12-, 14- and 16-foot lengths. Our rough-sawn 6x6 is listed as a true 6 x 6 inches, plus or minus 1/8 inch, commonly from 8 to 16 feet. Those products do not fit the same post base or cap.

For smaller members, we list dressed 2x6 Select Tight Knot cedar at 1-1/2 x 5-1/2 inches in 8-, 10-, 12- and 16-foot lengths. These are published product examples, not universal pergola sizes. The design must determine which sections are appropriate.

Choose surface and grade by exposure

Choose the visible texture, then use our rough-sawn versus dressed cedar guide to state the surface and required actual dimensions. Dressed cedar creates a clean architectural look; rough-sawn cedar retains visible milling texture. Specify full-sawn separately when the member must finish at the nominal size.

State appearance and structural requirements separately. Clear and knotty descriptions set the visual standard; a load-bearing member still needs the grade required by the approved design. Our cedar posts and beams ordering guide explains the timber specification fields.

Decide boxed-heart or FOHC for large timbers

For large posts and beams, state boxed-heart or FOHC when the cut and checking pattern matter to the design. FOHC means free of heart centre. This preference does not replace a grade, moisture-condition or engineering specification.

Coordinate bases, fasteners and water management

Keep timber dimensions aligned with the specified bases, saddles, caps, bolts and connectors. Exterior cedar should be paired with corrosion-resistant hardware. Real Cedar recommends hot-dipped galvanized or stainless steel for outdoor work and cautions against metals that can corrode or react with cedar extractives.

The foundation and base detail should manage uplift, lateral loads and moisture while avoiding an improvised ground-contact condition. Follow the approved design and the connector manufacturer’s instructions. Do not notch, drill or reduce a structural member without approval.

Plan the finish before assembly

If the goal is to retain colour, finishing before assembly makes it easier to coat concealed faces and end grain. Real Cedar’s outdoor finishing guidance recommends coating all six sides where practical and following the finish manufacturer’s system. Textured and smooth surfaces may require different preparation and absorb finish differently.

Build a quote-ready material schedule

• Approved footprint, elevations and structural design

• Permit or municipal confirmation

• Each member’s role, actual section, length and quantity

• Structural grade and grading standard where required

• Clear or knotty appearance requirement

• Rough, full-sawn, rougher-headed or dressed surface

• Green, air-dried or other moisture condition

• Boxed-heart or FOHC preference for large timbers

• Connection hardware and required member tolerances

• Finish system and field-cut treatment

• Delivery access, unloading equipment and installation timing

Order long structural members to the exact cut strategy rather than adding a generic waste percentage. For repeated slats or trim boards, calculate coverage from actual dimensions and add a project-specific allowance. Separate optional items so the quote can show design choices clearly.

Send the drawings with the quote request

We supply rough and dressed Western Red Cedar posts, dimensional lumber and large timbers. Sharing the drawings and cut list helps us confirm product availability, actual dimensions, length options and delivery requirements.

When the approved drawings and cut list are complete, request a quote.

Important: Before ordering: This is a purchasing checklist, not a structural plan. Have the responsible professionals confirm permits, loads, sizes, grades, foundations, connections and any field modifications.