Warning: my DIY pergola bolts stripped out after 11 months in Phoenix sun
Tbh I thought buying thicker galvanized bolts would be enough, but the heat cycles here loosened everything and the brackets shifted. Last Tuesday I noticed the whole beam had dropped a quarter inch on one side. I panicked and grabbed some structural screws from Home Depot as a temp fix, but I know that's not a real solution. Has anyone dealt with sun-damaged hardware on their build, and what fasteners actually hold up long term?