How to Build a Plastic Arbor

Divide the PVC pipe into sections with a measuring tape and mark the cutting lines with a pencil. This project needs four pieces of 2-inch diameter PVC pipe 24 inches long. Mark four pieces 24 inches long, 27 pieces 12 inches long, 52 pieces 8 inches long, and four pieces 4 inches long of 1-inch diameter PVC pipe.

Cut the pieces out on the pencil marks using a PVC pipe cutter. Use rough sandpaper to smooth down any rough areas. Sort the pieces into piles according to size. Reserve the 2-inch diameter pipes in a separate area so they do not get mixed up with the 1-inch pipes.

Dry fit the pieces together to form the sides. Connect eleven T-joint pieces with 8-inch pieces between the joints. Point the leg of the T in the same direction. Create four more straight sections like the first. Place a 24-inch pipe on one end of each section. Top each section with a 4-inch piece of PVC pipe.

Connect a 12-inch piece to a leg of T-joint. Continue to do this until two ladders are formed, which make up the sides of the arbor. Connect two groups of five T-joints with 8-inch sections and connect the legs of the T-joints with 12-inch sections. This forms another shorter ladder. Cap each end of this ladder with 90-degree elbow-joints.

Remove each piece and spread a thin layer of PVC pipe glue around the end. Firmly push the end into the joint; continue this process until all the pieces are glued together. Glue each of the sides to the short top ladder. Allow the glue to dry for eight to 10 hours.

Paint the arbor with outdoor plastic paint to weatherproof the arbor. Hammer the reserved 2-inch diameter pieces of PVC pipe into the soil. Spread them out so they match the legs of the arbor. Slide the legs of the arbor into the 2-inch pipes. Fill the gap in the PVC pipe and arbor legs with sand.