On most houses a trellis is just a minor accessory that is added after all the major work is done. In our case it's different. We will actually have 5 trellises - one over the entryway, one over the living room windows, another one over the garage door, and small ones over an office window and the kitchen door.
The one over the entryway is a major architectural element and a major construction task which I will describe here.
The main structural component of this trellis is an 8x10 beam, 17 ft. long and weighing about 500 lbs. At one end it is supported by the wall of the house. At the other end it is supported by a craftsman-style pillar. The framing of the house already has everything needed to support its end of the beam. So our first step is to dig a hole and put in rebar. This was inspected before we could pour the footing for the pillar. Then 4 column blocks were stacked up, grouted together and filled with concrete. Finally a Simpson steel bracket was cemented into the top. Mike Rossi and Mark Stanfield did this work. (I dug the hole).
Next a pressure treated 6x6 post was stood upright in the bracket and braced. Then the big beam was put up on top of the post and secured. We didn't have a crane this time so the beam had to be lifted manually. I missed that whole action because I was at Home Depot buying sandpaper.
The next layer of the trellis consists of four 6x8 beams that rest on top of the main beam. These 6x8's were notched so they go over the big beam somewhat like Lincoln Logs. I should note here that all of these pieces of lumber required a lot of work before they could be put together. All the edges were rounded with a router to give them a traditional craftsman look. Many were notched and drilled, and all were sanded multiple times to make them smooth while also bringing out the grain. Although this wood is Douglas Fir, typically regarded as a utility wood, the effort we put into it has made it as beautiful as redwood or cedar.
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