A pergola can be a fantastic addition to any home! However, many pergola builds, such as lean-to pergolas, require you to attach them to the back of your home, which can be tricky when you have gutters.

One thing you really want to avoid is putting all of the pressure of the pergola onto your gutters.

No matter how sturdy they look, that’s a one-way ticket to causing some serious damage, and if you're not careful, you could cause permanent problems to your home.

There are a couple of options that you can look at, and as every house build is different, it may be a good idea to consult a pro if you’re unsure of what kind of structural integrity your back walls have, especially if you live in an older home.

For the most part, attaching a pergola to the side of your home is relatively simple, so let's get into it!

What Are Your Options For A Pergola?

If your guttering is at a higher level than where you want your pergola to sit, you’re in luck!

Having high guttering will mean that the pergola won’t interfere with your current guttering, which means you’ll have to attach a pergola ledger to your wall at the height that you want your pergola to reach.

If your guttering is lower, or at the same height that you want your pergola to be, you’ll have to get some more specialised ledgers that attach lower than your guttering and raise up to the height that you want your pergola to be.

This does mean that your pergola is not laying flush to the wall, but having clear guttering should be the priority here.

Your other option is to replace your guttering at a higher level, though this is a time-consuming and expensive job.

The last option is to get a free-standing pergola that doesn’t attach to the house at all. The downside of this is that you have four posts that need to be secured into the ground, rather than two.

This can take up valuable space in your garden, and you’ll potentially have to design this around existing doors and windows.

However, you won’t have to worry about anything interfering with your guttering, and this is a good option if you’re unsure about how much additional weight your back wall can handle.

Can You Attach A Pergola To Fascia Boards?

The usual place to attach a pergola would be to the fascia boards, but there are a few things to consider before you do this.

First of all, fascia boards by themselves are not structurally sound enough to take the weight of a pergola, and if you do not secure your pergola properly, it can be a real hazard to both your home’s structural integrity and to those using it outdoors.

You’ll want to attach your pergola to a strong wooden or metal attachment that is secured to the header and roof rafters instead.

This can also be screwed into the fascia boards, but the boards themselves shouldn’t be responsible for holding any of the weight.

On top of this, it is recommended that you consult an engineer if you are planning to attach a roof to your pergola, as that will create a huge amount more strain for your house than just a wooden frame.

Before you get started, you’ll want to see what condition your fascia boards are in. Fascia boards that are heavily weathered, cracked, or rotted will need replacing, so it’s worth taking these off now before you get started.

As a fascia board by itself won't be enough to support a pergola structure, you’ll need to find where the header and roof rafters lie. The header should be at least 2-by-8-inch lumber.

If not, measure and cut a piece of 2-by-8-inch wood and attach it at the same length as you want your pergola to be.

You’ll then want to attach your lumbar to your roof rafter supports using sturdy lumbar screws, make sure these are a good length in order for them to go through all of the supporting boards.

To get a cohesive colour across your pergola, you can stain your fascia boards and lumbar the same colour.

Use long wood screws to secure your joist hangers to the 2-by-8-inch lumber at the same match that of the joists in your pergola design.

Attach your pre-measured pergola joists into the correct size hangars, and secure these with appropriate length wood screws.

Success, your pergola should now be secured onto your fascia boards and roof rafters!

Be aware that any serious work like this is worth an oversight by an engineer or professional if you are not familiar with the regulations of your area, or if you are planning to add additional weight in the form of a roof to your outdoor structure.

How To Hang A Pergola Ledger

Before you get started, use a level to make sure your pergola and ledge you are attaching it to are straight!

In order to hang a pergola structure, you'll want to bolt the structure securely to your outdoor brickwork or to your rafters.

if your guttering is located at the same height as the ledger for your pergola, you'll have to use a bracket that is mounted to the wall behind the gutter instead.

The main thing to think about is that the guttering 100% cannot be blocked by your pergola, over time this can cause serious damage to your house and it's overall structural integrity.

Make sure you are getting brackets to attach your pergola to your house that fits perfectly. This will mean water and other debris cannot get trapped in between your brackets which can cause a lack of stability over time.

Final Thoughts

There you go! With a little planning and know-how, you can easily attach your pergola to your house, with or without guttering!

The main takeaway is that the guttering should ALWAYS remain free from obstruction, and you should make sure that whatever you attach your pergola structure to is secure enough to take its weight.

As mentioned before, don’t add a pergola structure that has a roof without consulting an engineer, as the extra strain put on your home can cause serious damage if not taken into consideration.

And, you always have the option of building a freestanding structure if you have the space!

This is a great idea if you are not sure about the structural integrity of your walls, or you want to add a roof without stressing about damage to your property.