Post Connectors

Post Connectors for Pergolas in Ireland

Building a pergola the traditional way means cutting housings and halving joints by hand, then hoping everything still lines up once it is in the air. A post connector does that job in steel. It slips over the top of a 150 mm square post, holds the incoming beams in line, and fixes through with bolts or screws. You get square, repeatable joints with ordinary tools, even on your first build.

Because the steel takes the alignment job, seasonal movement in the timber is less likely to open gaps at the joints. The textured black finish is also part of the look, giving a crisp metal and timber style that suits contemporary gardens.

Types of post connector

Count how many beams meet at each post, then pick the connector to match. All four are made for 150×150 mm posts:

• 2-way corner connector: for the corner posts of a pergola, where two beams meet at a right angle.
• 3-way corner connector: for posts along the side of a multi-bay pergola, where a run of beams continues and a cross beam joins.
• 4-way corner connector: for a centre post where beams arrive from all four sides.
• 3-way T-shape bracket: for a post where two horizontal beams meet it in a T, a galvanised steel bracket fixed with timber screws through its pre-drilled holes.

A single-bay pergola usually needs four 2-way connectors. Each extra bay adds 3-way connectors along the sides, and 4-way connectors where bays meet in the middle.

What goes with your connectors

Connectors are one part of a complete post system. Our posts and beams include 150 mm square timbers in oak and Douglas fir that match these connectors. At the bottom, concrete post bases or cast iron pole holders keep the foot of each post clear of the ground.

Fitting a post connector

The corner connectors fix with M10 or M12 structural bolts, which are not supplied, so have them ready before you start. Then:

• Cut the post top cleanly and square so the sleeve sits flat.
• Slip the connector over the post before raising it into its final position.
• Drop the beams into the receiving channels and check everything is level.
• Fix through with the bolts and tighten them in a star pattern to avoid uneven loading.

Looking after post connectors

The textured black coating is the connector’s protection and hides minor weathering well, so most people leave it as it is. After several seasons you can refresh it with an exterior metal paint over a clean, dry surface. The timber around it benefits more: a coat from our exterior oils and stains every two or three years keeps the posts and beams looking fresh.

See the rest of our outdoor timber hardware for everything that goes with your posts.