What Type of Gazebo is Right for You? Top Questions You Need to Ask


Having a gazebo in the backyard is an excellent way to enhance the appearance while providing you with a quiet place to sit and relax after a hard day at work. Gazebos are wonderful for barbecue parties, family gatherings, or simply sipping on a cup of coffee or glass of lemonade on a lazy day. To create a romantic setting, you could string miniature lights along the railing and roof of the gazebo and then spend time with someone special out under the stars. Because of their popularity, the number of gazebo sales is rising. However, as with any investment, you want to make sure you choose the right type. For that reason, consider the top five questions you should ask.

Can gazebos withstand strong winds?

If you live in a part of the country prone to high winds (Chicago), then this is a very important question to ask. If the gazebo is constructed properly, it will hold up even in windy conditions. The reason is that the gazebo canopy is designed with a wind vent that releases strong wind pressure. In addition, your gazebo would be anchored securely at the vertical points so the base, whether wood, stone, or concrete, is solid. Finally, gazeboes are heavy. For example, an 11-foot model will typically weigh between 325 and 350 pounds.

Will my gazebo have a bug screen?

When shopping around for a gazebo, remember that not all include the price of screens to keep out little creatures. Therefore, if you want a screen, you need to consider two things, first, the additional cost and second, the weight. In other words, make sure your type of gazebo is designed to handle the screen if you decide to add one on at a later date.

How is the foundation floor secured?

This is also an important question to ask since not all gazeboes are created equal. Most gazebos are erected on a foundation such as wood deck, concrete slab, or paver patio. Whatever surface you choose, the gazebo will need to be anchored. For the wood gazebo, screws can be run through the bottom plate of the wall section and then into the deck. For concrete, you would drill through the bottom plate and then into the concrete, using concrete anchors. Then for the paver bricks, you want to use a concrete pier that is raised to the height of the paver brick for each of the corners.

What choices do I have for size?

Most gazebo manufacturers make three specific sizes. First, you have the smaller size, which measures 7.5 x 6.5-feet, followed by the family size that is 11 x 9.5-feet, and finally, the grand size that is 18 x 15.5-feet. Now keep in mind that you can also buy plans to build your own gazebo or hire a professional to construct one that is custom made if you want a smaller or larger size. Additionally, with these options, you can add features that you might not get with a standard type gazebo, such as windows, special molding, wider steps, benches, and so on.

What are the advantages of the different type material?

The last of the five questions to ask when considering a gazebo has to do with material. In most cases, three types of material are used, which include pine, cedar, and vinyl. For the pine, this is pressure treated and extremely strong. Because of that, it will last a lifetime and most are guaranteed against termite and rot damage. Cedar is also a very popular choice in that it looks beautiful and is naturally resistant to termites and rot. However, the cedar generally looks nicer when stained or painted so there would be minor upkeep. Finally, vinyl is a low maintenance material that is strong and sometimes covered with treated pine. That means while you pay less for a vinyl gazebo, you still get the beauty and sound structure of the pine option.

Dion Semeniuk is a proud owner of a beautiful backyard and has helped with others in their landscaping needs and gazebo choices. To learn more about what Gazebo is right for you, visit http://www.gazebo-directory.com







Related News



Eagle Scouts, Girl Scouts, gardening scouts - DavidsonNews.net

Eagle Scouts, Girl Scouts, gardening scouts
DavidsonNews.net, NC -Nov 20, 2008
They noticed that the landscaping around the new buildings appeared a bit sparse and knew the view from their third floor balcony could be improved. ...


6 Fort Worth garden shops built their way up on a dream - Dallas Morning News

Dallas Morning News

6 Fort Worth garden shops built their way up on a dream
Dallas Morning News, TX -Nov 19, 2008
"It reinforced to me that gardening is not about performance. It's the process that is rewarding," says Ms. Samudio. Her 2 Hands vegetable gardening program ...

A ‘green’ green thumb Extension gardening classes will teach ... - The Register-Guard

A ‘green’ green thumb Extension gardening classes will teach ...
The Register-Guard, OR -Nov 15, 2008
As a master gardener, Cairo picked up many of her sustainable gardening techniques from the training she received through the Lane County Extension Service. ...

Garden sector lures City workers as recession hits financial firms - Horticulture Week

Garden sector lures City workers as recession hits financial firms
Horticulture Week, UK -19 hours ago
He added: "This is making gardening an attractive option as the City sheds jobs." Banks such as RBS and groups such as Morgan Stanley and Citigroup are the ...

Everything's rosy for youngsters learning gardening skills - The Star

Everything's rosy for youngsters learning gardening skills
The Star, UK -16 hours ago
Some students have already gained apprenticeships with the council's Parks and Countryside Service and local landscaping companies. ...

Seabrook on ... Solidarity during tough times - Horticulture Week

Seabrook on ... Solidarity during tough times
Horticulture Week, UK -11 hours ago
By combining, the hosts get the chance to speak to a larger audience (it promises to be over 200 gardening communicators), both save money on the provision ...

Gardening Calendar, updated Nov 19 - TCPalm

Gardening Calendar, updated Nov 19
TCPalm, FL -Nov 19, 2008
"Florida Native Landscaping": University of Florida/IFAS Indian River Research and Education Center; 2199 South Rock Road, Fort Pierce; 4-7 pm, ...

Master Gardeners program growing in area - Branson Daily News

Master Gardeners program growing in area
Branson Daily News,  United States -Nov 20, 2008
By attending 30 hours of classes that deal with subjects on ornamentals, landscaping, turf management and vegetable production, these gardeners will join a ...

Learning from the ground up - The Nelson Mail

The Nelson Mail

Learning from the ground up
The Nelson Mail, New Zealand -20 hours ago
Golden Bay's Sol Morgan credits his mother for his love of gardening, and now he's inspiring a new generation to unearth the benefits of growing their own ...

BEHIND OUR STONE WALLS: Ready to face the world - Harvard Post

BEHIND OUR STONE WALLS: Ready to face the world
Harvard Post, MA -Nov 19, 2008
A critical and one of the most difficult skill to acquire in landscaping, and in gardening in general, is pruning. Pruning is not the same as hedging or ...