Page 6 - 2013 LDN Home Improvement Magazine

2013 H
OME IMPROVEMENT MAGAZINE. LINCOLN DAILY NEWS.com May 1, 2013
6
of new houses. He has several clients in the
Chicago area as well as Lincoln. When he saw
the small patio alcove, he had an idea.
Shawgo ’s
idea was a
s t r u c t u r e
known as a
pergola. It
is similar
to a gazebo
except it
has slats
overhead rather than a solid roof. As the sun
moves through the sky, the rays are bent by
the slats, allowing a shady area underneath,
but allowing plenty of natural light to shine
through.
The pergola Shawgo designed fit perfectly
into the nook without touching the house.
W h i l e
constructing it, he
had to coordinate
with Paige. He
had to get the
4-by-4-inch posts
that make up the
corners of the
pergola into the ground so that Paige could
trim her bricks to fit seamlessly around them.
This coordination of contractors’ work is
vital if a homeowner has multiple contractors
engaged in different projects in the same area.
Shawgo added lots of personal touches to
his pergola. All of the lumber has routered
edges, and he sanded everything so there is
no chance of splinters. He also added some
scrollwork to the ends of the overhead slats to
add to their aesthetic appeal.
“I use screws for joining lumber, no nails,
and carriage bolts to hold the top braces
together. It just looks better,” he said.
The pergola will eventually have a light
and ceiling fan
hanging from
the center. It
is the perfect
place to spend
a summer day
with a book and
a frosty pitcher
of lemonade.
The project started when Springer had an
idea about what she wanted to do with the
small space in her backyard. She then had a
conversation with the two professionals about
her ideas. With their years of experience in
landscaping and carpentry, Paige and Shawgo
were able to turn ideas into reality. Now, the
yard has taken on a personal tone that provides
a comfortable area for just one person or a
gathering of friends.
[Curt Fox]