Getting Your Ground Ready for a Pergola
Before your pergola goes up, the ground beneath it needs to be solid. This page explains what you need to sort out ahead of installation — and why it matters.
The key rule is simple: your pergola must be bolted into something secure. A finished surface alone — tiles, decking, or gravel — is not enough on its own. There needs to be something solid underneath.
What Type of Ground Do You Have?
Concrete, Tarmac, Slabs, or Block Paving
This is the most common scenario. If your surface is at least 150mm thick and sits on a solid base, you're likely good to go. If you're unsure what's underneath, it's worth checking before installation day.
Decking
Timber and composite decking naturally shifts a little over time. For a pergola to sit securely on decking, you'll need either a concrete pad or a structural joist directly beneath each footplate position. Floorplans showing where the footplates will sit are available on each product page.
Grass, Soil, Astroturf, or Gravel
You'll need a 400mm³ concrete pad beneath each pergola leg. Blue Circle High Strength Postcrete (40N spec) is what we recommend. Your local handyman can help with this — our installers aren't able to carry out groundworks on the day.
What Happens on Installation Day?
Our installers use 70–120mm carbon steel bolts and diamond drill bits for porcelain tiles. They'll drill through your finished surface and into the solid base below. If any levelling is needed, they'll use packing between 5–50mm to get everything perfectly upright.
Please complete all groundwork before your installation date. Your surface — including any tiles or decking boards — should be fully finished so our team can drill straight through on arrival.
If a drain sits where a pergola foot needs to go, just get in touch and we'll talk through the options.
Not sure whether your garden is ready? Give us a call and we'll point you in the right direction.