Rant: My neighbor spent $500 on a pergola kit and I built mine for $150 in scrap wood

So my neighbor Dave dropped $500 on one of those big box store pergola kits last summer. He bragged about it for weeks, said it would look way nicer than my janky DIY version. I laughed and told him I built mine from reclaimed 2x4s and scrap pallet wood my buddy gave me for free. Fast forward 6 months, his kit has rusted screws and the wood is splitting already. Mine? Still solid, just needs a fresh coat of stain. He came over last week and asked how I did it, dude was pretty salty about his choice. I think the debate here is: Are those pre-fab kits actually worth the money or are they just a scam for people who can't source cheap lumber? Has anyone else dealt with a neighbor trying to flex with a store bought build that fell apart?

2 comments

2 Comments

jadep411mo ago

Yeah, I feel that. I built a shed with leftover lumber from a job site and it's been solid for years while my buddy's fancy kit shed started sagging after one winter. The real trick is just knowing how to pick decent wood and seal it right, not paying extra for a box of screws and a paper guide.

lindareed1mo ago

Wait, is a slightly sagging shed roof really that big of a deal though? lol. I get that nobody wants their stuff to fall apart, but a little settling after a rough winter just sounds like normal wear and tear to me. My pal's plastic shed from the hardware store has a wavy roof after two years and he just throws a tarp over it when it rains, problem solved. I feel like people on here get way too worked up over things that don't really matter in the long run.