So you're telling me the only time you actually SEE the pergola is when you're sitting in it, right? Because if that's the case, why are we all obsessing over how things look in the middle of the day when nobody's even out there? I did the same thing with a deck I built, spent a whole weekend sanding down a joint that was only visible at high noon from one specific angle, then realized the only light I ever use it in is the warm kind right before sunset.

Learned that same lesson on a school job a few years back. Carbide is the only way to go when that glue has baked into the concrete for years. Now I keep a spare knife loaded just for those nasty black adhesive jobs.

Ever think about renting this stuff instead of buying? I know a guy who rents out laser levels for like $25 a day, and for a one weekend tile job that math works way better than $180 plus a $60 battery.