Switched from screws to a $12 box of deck clips and my pergola went up way faster
I built a small pergola out back last spring and used regular screws on the first two joists. It took forever and I kept splitting the ends of the boards. Then I grabbed a box of hidden deck clips at the lumber yard in Reno for about $12 and the rest of the frame went together in one afternoon. The clips kept the boards spaced even and I barely had to predrill anything. Has anyone tried those on a bigger build, or do they get pricey past a certain size?
Taking it past a certain size is where it gets tricky (and yeah, the cost adds up quick once you're buying two or three boxes). One thing to think about on a bigger build is that clips keep your spacing dead even, which matters more as the span grows, otherwise the whole thing can look a little crooked. Clips won't carry the load though, so on the long beams you still need proper screws or bolts into the posts. Could see it saving a ton of time on a larger frame, just plan the hardware budget before you start.