Carpentry and Woodworking - Am I in trouble here?!

Hi all,

I just built a pergola in my backyard. It is freestanding 24'x14'. "It's constructed with 6ea 6"x6"x8' 2ea 6"x8'x13' crossbeams with lap joint that conects 2ea 6"x8"x8' crossbeam with another lap joint. Across the top for joists I have 9ea 4"x6"x14' at 30" centers then 24' aspen t&g (2ea butted end to end) on top of the joists,7/16" OSB, tarpaper and then tomorrow was going to put on metal roofing.

Tonight after dinner I went out and noticed significant (to me) crackes in almost every beam and post (were not there 5 hours ago). Like maybe it did one big warp. Some of these cracks seem bigger than I'd like and kind if freaks me out. I can't upload any pics though I have them or at least I haven't figured out how maybe I have to turn something on. Is this normal with big pices of timber? The wood did seem wet when I bought it and today may have been fairly low humidity...just not sure. I'm fairly freaked out and wondering if this is normal or unsafe?

Connecting the 6"x8" crossbeams to the 6"x6"x8' post I nave 3/16" x6"x16" brackets. I have lag bolts in all 4"x6"x14' pices into 6"x8"xcrossbeam and also have lag bolts through the 6"x8" crossbeam into 6"x6"x8" post

This may all be kind of confusing but apprceiate the help!

Robert

Robert, all beams and support lumber will "check". It is a natural occurrence. You will see them close up at particular times of the year and expand at others. You may want to post a couple of pix on a site such as photobucket.com and copy/paste the HTML code to a reply post so we can see what you see.

Larry

Yesterday I had to fix a maibox that got hit by a semi. :D

It is one of those assemblies where you buy this 4 x 4 post kit that has the vertical and horizontal member that the mailbox sits on. Treated. Huge natural cracks that were up to 3-16ths openings. The only thing stopping the crack from allowing the post to split in half was that the splits would get narrower and narrower as it approached the center core of the post where the first tree rings started.

Since I had to run in 3 inch screws anyway, while getting the fractured post repaired - I decided to screw-hold some of these cracks while at it. Then I rockharded the entire thing, to later sand and paint. Not the world's most perfect (water resistant)treatment for painting -but heh, it goes so fast that if I have to do it again down the road, no big deal. I suppose I could have used latex-acrylic-silicone caulk. I have done that with other wood repairs very successfully, to fill rot outdoors, and then paint.

But as Chandler said, especially with say treated wood (is yours?) -it's the nature of the beast when that stuff dries out.

If you are 'not into' this cracking, they now sell that composite wood. Very popular now for decks, piers and fencing. Even shims now. I just bought and used some(shims). Neat.

Ec, I know it is off topic, but here it is. You mentioned the mailbox. I was looking out my kitchen window once and noticed on the farm adjacent to mine, someone in a truck that I didn't recognize was "messing" with my neighbor's mailbox. I walked over there and he explained when he left work last night he was tired and drifted over and hit the mailbox. He was just replacing what he damaged. There is still honor.

Thanks guys! I think I am attributing it to checking like you all say. I just can't belive, well I do now, that it seemed to happen all at one like a big POW! and they were there. I lwas looking at a nearby telphone pole and the cracks in it made it feel a little more normal. Me and my brother were on top of it putting on metal roofing and it seemed pretty sound although I think i will brace it in the corners with some metal bracing for extra stiffness.

I seriously had a freakout when I saw those cracks...I hope they don't get worse..

Thanks, Robert

We want to build a pergola free standing on my concrete patio. MY question is as follow.
We live in Florida, if we put the posts straight into the concrete what would be the most secure way to do so, so, in case of a hurricane, the whole thing won't come apart.

I agree with you that the cracks were not suppose to be there, may be the wood u used was not able to withstand the pressure of the concrete, and if after 5 hours you see cracks already, this must a secure structure, either way you need to look over it and see how you can make it better.

Rker321, welcome to the forums. For it to have proper support, you will have to cut through the 3 or 4" concrete used for the patio and pour substantial footings for each of the vertical support members. Not sure what your local code would be, but you could find out at your local county inspector's office. Placing the heavy weight of the pergola directly on the patio will, in most likelihood, crack the patio and make for a frowny day. And if a hurricane comes through, your "parachute" of a pergola will be the first thing to go, no matter how it is fastened, so kiss it beforehand and search northward for it.
Mandela10, the vertical checks in the support lumber do nothing to diminish the strength of the lumber. They are a natural occurrence and probably won't cause anything more than a conversation media for his guests. There wouldn't be a much better way to do it "better" except use steel beams.
Larry