How to Assemble the TOJA GRID Pergola

In this video I show you how to setup a 8' x 12' Toja Grid Pergola with 6"x6" Yellawood Pressure Treated Lumber with just two people.
Early on I ran into issues with the Yellawood lumber sliding into the bracket. So we spent about 2 hours hand planing the wood so that it could slide into the brackets.
Tools and Hardware Used:
Ridgid 18v Hammer Drill and Impact Driver: amzn.to/45KC0q7
Skil Corded Hammer Drill: amzn.to/45tmVJ4
3/8" Concrete Drill Bit: amzn.to/47wzIMF
Little Giant Ladder: amzn.to/3YB3g7K
Stanley No. 4 Hand Planer: amzn.to/3s0RuaD
3/8"x3" Concrete Anchors: amzn.to/45rrzr3
I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will receive some portion of proceeds from any purchase using the above links.
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00:00 - Intro/Fitment Issues
02:43 - Planing Lumber
03:52 - First Bent Installation
04:15 - Second Bent Installation
04:56 - Assembly Adjustment; Ratchet Strap
05:45 - Concrete Anchors
08:34 - First Impressions
09:21 - Shade Installation
12:09 - Final Thoughts

[@rocketcityboxes]

Great assembly video, helpful to know the Yellawood needed mods.

[@zamoraM78-oy1ex]

Great job!

[@kjammz6611]

Looks awsome.

[@UnconventionalThinker]

Looks even better with a nice stain sealer 😀 We did a reddish cedar looking stain after I made this video.

[@brandonleesanders]

Tip - 80 grit sandpaper on a palm sander would take the corners off those beams in a few simple minutes

[@vcookster3915]

curious of your thoughts on strength for supporting solar panels. I'm planning a pergola connected to my roof edge so I would have one point of fixed contact. Planning on a 12' x 18' version so would have an additional post at midpoint of the longer sides. wasn't sure if these brackets would allow some level of racking which I prefer not to have. I really like the clean look of Toja

[@UnconventionalThinker]

Yeah that's a tricky question, depending on the weight of the panels. The brackets are just spot welded pieces of steel plate. Let's just say I wouldn't want to load them anymore than the weight of the wood, but doesn't mean it can't hold more. Yeah the finished look I really appreciate as well

[@ericegan5540]

Where did you buy the shade cover? I like the 6x6 look. Thank you!

[@UnconventionalThinker]

The shade was a part of a Toja Grid kit. They have a few different options. But they do just sell the shade. We're a fan of this on our back patio. The 4x4 is too skinny looking in my opinion, but it's also cheaper in cost.

[@leelunk8235]

AMAZON , THEY SELL ALL TYPES

[@gregw.5541]

For the corner brackets, where are the stops for the wood beams inside the bracket? I'm trying to determine the exact beam length for the vertical and horiontal dimensions.

[@UnconventionalThinker]

If you go to tojagrid.com and you look at their different kits in the images. It will give you the final dimensions of the entire pergola for standard 6x6 or 4x4 links of wood that you would get at Home Depot or any lumber yard. We had the 8'x10' and the final dimensions are supposed to be 9'2" x 11'2". So each corner bracket seems to add 6". The bases don't really add to the dimensions as the bottom out right on the flange.

[@vanessasoodan8872]

How does the water drain from that canopy when it rains? It seems as if will just pool on the canvas.

[@UnconventionalThinker]

So the canopy I have is just a shade, water doesn't collect on it due to it being very porous; won't keep you dry from a downpour. You can actually see through it to some extent, but is great as a shade. They do make a rain canopy, and it appears to drain at two of the corners. They also have an umbrella canopy that has a pitch to it where drain around the perimeter.

[@KingdomFlameMinistries]

What do you call that canopy which has side straps to them...I like not only connecting it to the 4 corners but the sides as well? Thank you for sharing... I might do a 4 x 4 one.

[@UnconventionalThinker]

It's a shade Toja sells on their website.

[@KingdomFlameMinistries]

@@UnconventionalThinker thank you

[@user-nl8je7om9h]

What was the height of your build?

[@UnconventionalThinker]

It sits at a height of 8' 7"

[@patpaget]

What size hand planer?

[@UnconventionalThinker]

@patpaget we mainly used a Stanley No. 4, but we also had a No. 7 present as well.

[@thedyslexic9936]

What is the ACTUAL dimension from the outside of one bracket to the outside of the other bracket? TOJA site says add 14" (7" x 2) for the 6" brackets. I don't see how you only add 7" to each end when a 6x6 is 5 1/2" and the flanges are 1" each. That sure seems like 7 1/2" to me. If they are only meaning you account for one flange, that is then only 6 1/2". Something doesn't seem to be right with their numbers. The way they present things, an 8' x 12' pergola would require 9' 2" by 13' 2" so I wouldn't be able to fit this on my deck....

[@UnconventionalThinker]

Those dimensions on their site are pretty accurate from end to end. I might have been an inch longer than their numbers. Based on standard lengths and the way wood sits in their bracket. If it's too long you can always cut your wood to desired length.

[@JoshuaLindsey92]

What was your total price?

[@UnconventionalThinker]

Total for materials was $1578 The price breakout: Toja Kit 8'x12' = $1200 Pressure Treated Lumber = $278 Anchors and Drill Bit = $50 Wood Stain (not in video) = $50

[@JoshuaLindsey92]

How do you feel about it after having it installed for 8 months? Regrets? Issues?

[@UnconventionalThinker]

@JoshuaLindsey92 oh we love it, no issues whatsoever. I would highly recommend the 6x6 version. I think if I would have done the 4x4 (less than $1000) I would have regretted the 4x4 just because of how that wood is likely to warp over time. The brackets show no sign of rusting. The 6x6 is really stout, just a lot heavier to put up. But we used 10' 2x4 and a ladder to help hold. Way easier than what they suggest. I toyed with the idea of doing cedar beams, but that would have cost 3x as much. So we just got pressure treated let it air dry for 2 months and then stained to look like red cedar as the pressure treated will turn grey over time.

[@UnconventionalThinker]

Was even tempted to buy their table kit as well, but my in-laws ended up getting us metal furniture instead. If you want me to send you a picture of our final setup feel free to email me at [e-mail]

[@thedyslexic9936]

why a chisel and not a round-over router bit...much more accurate and quicker...AND Toja says right on their website to use rounded corner lumber...

[@UnconventionalThinker]

Didn't have that available. Yeah the rounded corners would be good since their welds are internal.

[@leelunk8235]

YOU SHOULD HAVE PUT 2X4'S SPACED OUT INSIDE AS RAFTERS , THAT WOULD HAVE LOOKED NICER, TOJA SELLS THE METAL RAFTOR HOLDERS FOR THE WOOD

[@UnconventionalThinker]

Well aware, just didn't want to spend the money, as the shade provides better shade than wood slats

[@leelunk8235]

@@UnconventionalThinker TRUE AMAZON SELLS THE ONES I GOT FOR 32 BUKS GOOD FOR 8 2X4 AND THE BRACKETS ARE SOLID

[@trahuynh_usa]

Them brackets designers stupid wasting too much time 😀

[@leelunk8235]

I BOUGHT THE WOOD FROM LOWES, TOOK ME A WHILE TO FIND HALF DECENT WOOD, THEY ALL HAD BLEMISHES, YOUR WOOD IS REALLY NICE, WINK, NO PUN INTENDED