A sloped spot still works.
Keeping all of the posts at
the same height above the
ground helps the arbor fit
into the landscape.on, we secured them with 2½-in.-long and
¼-in.-diameter hex-head lag screws. The
screws for the horizontal supports were
countersunk because the crossbeams were
placed directly on top of them.Crossbeams create a sense
of enclosure
A total of 19 crossbeams span the top of
the arbor. They are 13-ft. lengths of 2x6s,
with both ends cut at 45° angles. One
beam is situated over each pair of posts,
and in each interval between the posts,
two more beams are equally spaced. To
secure the crossbeams, we mounted verti-
cal 2x2 braces, cut to 10-in. lengths, onto
the back side of each post. More braces,
2x2s cut to 7^1 ⁄ 2 -in. lengths, were added to
the front of the facing for the beams run-
ning in between the posts.
The braces were positioned, their bot-
toms flush with the bottom of the fac-
ing, and fastened with two 2^1 ⁄ 2 -in.-long
and^1 ⁄ 4 -in.-diameter lag screws. Then we
placed the crossbeams against the braces,
securing them with two 2^1 ⁄ 2 -in.-long screwsLet a machine do the work for you. With the help of a rented power auger, set the posts in holes
2 ft. deep. A post-hole digger would also get the job done, but more slowly.OUTDOOR PROJECTS 37
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