Step by step process to build a two post Patio Cover. Cantilevered Design. I built this almost entirely by myself and it took me about 2-1/2 months of plugging away on it on the weekends. the cedar timbers were the most expensive part of the project, but you can use treated pine to save costs. I just wanted cedar because this design relies on posts buried about 5 feet into the ground and I wanted to make sure that the posts would last. the is about 13-13 80lb sacks of concrete in the base of these and i did not want to have to deal with rotting posts in my lifetime!