Building a Gazebo: Best Materials to Use and Things to Consider Before You Build

When you decide to build a gazebo, you will be faced with many options, choices, and decisions. These decisions should not be considered lightly, as it takes multiple commitments of time, money, and space to build a great gazebo. Gazebos are built to serve a variety of purposes, are made from a variety of materials, and come in numerous shapes, sizes, and styles. Some people build gazebos for a specific function, such as creating a focal point for a wedding ceremony, housing a hot tub, or entertaining house guests. Others build gazebos because they enjoy the process of building with their own hands and enjoy the satisfaction that comes with creating something beautiful and functional at home. There are many resources available to help you build your gazebo. In fact, there are several sites that offer gazebo building kits complete with blueprints, designs, specifications, materials, and instructions. And gazebos are not the only option. You can also build an arch, arbor, or trellis. Before you build anything, though, consider some of the important elements discussed below.

Usage

If your plan is to use the gazebo just once for a special occasion (e.g., wedding ceremony), you may want to do a simple cost-benefit analysis to see if it is worth it. Are you ok with building something that will only be used once? Can you come up with multiples uses for it?

Zoning

Before you build or even purchase a gazebo, you need to consider the zoning requirements on your property. Are you even allowed to place a gazebo in that location?

Weather

When you start to consider the multitude of available materials you can use to build a gazebo, you'll need to consider many elements, including the weather. Will the materials you've chosen for your gazebo structure hold up in cold climates or heavy winds?

Time

By the time you have purchased and gathered your materials, found or created a blueprint, and secured each piece of the gazebo, you will have spent roughly six hours to an entire weekend working on it. If you have the time, great! If not, or you are not patient enough to spend that much time working on one project, look in to other options.

Space

A gazebo can be as big or as small as you want, but before you determine a size, you should measure out the available space in your lawn. It would be most frustrating to build a beautiful 10'x 10' gazebo and then find out you only have room for a 6'x 6'.

Shape

The most common shapes for gazebos are octagons, rectangles, squares, ovals and dodecagons. You may prefer one shape over another or find one to be the most practical/functional. Again, consider the space you have available to help you determine the best shape for your gazebo.

Size

Common sizes for gazebos will depend on the shape you've chosen. For example, sizes range from 6'x 6' to 30'x 30' for octagon-shaped gazebos.

Styles

From the basic gazebo to the garden gazebo, the open hot tub gazebo to the Victorian gazebo, the possibilities are virtually endless. Choose a style that you like, fits your space requirements, and goes along with the other design elements in your house and yard.

If you have made the decision to go ahead and build your gazebo, what materials will you use? Some of the most recommended materials are discussed in the remainder of the article.

Wood: Cedar

For the structure of your gazebo, cedar is an excellent choice. Cedar is a sturdy material that works well in an outdoor environment. According to the Online Cedar Store, cedar has natural oils that help preserve the gazebo by keeping it from rotting out. These oils also deter insects from attacking the structure. An added bonus with cedar is the fragrant smell that so many people love.

Wood: Redwood

Redwood is known for being sturdy, strong, and able to withstand environmental changes, which makes it a great candidate for building an outdoor gazebo. According to the California Redwood Association, redwood resists the bending and warping, and it has its own built-in defense system against decay and insect damage. The Association also lists redwood as being a more cost-effective option for building a gazebo with wood.

Wood: Pine

Pine is a softer wood, so it is easier to cut and shape it. However, because it is soft, it also decays faster. You can avoid the rapid decaying process by using treated yellow pine - it will last for a long time without insect damage or decay.

If you are going to build a gazebo with any kind of wood, you'll need a few things: a level, saw, hammer, screw gun. If you buy a gazebo building kit, however, the pieces should be cut into panels already and you should not have to do any sawing.

Vinyl

Vinyl is not as strong or structurally sound as some of the other materials on its own, but it is easy to maintain. It naturally will not attract insects or incur rotting damage. The most common use is to coat wood, such as pine, with the vinyl to create the structure. This option is good for cold weather climates as it will not stain or have any water damage.

Wrought Iron

At the Gazebos Galore site, it lists metal as growing in popularity as a material for building gazebos. When using metal, you can still have similar shapes to the traditional wood gazebos, but the metal gazebo will look more modern, unique, and stylized. Wrought iron is one of the most popular metal materials. It is sturdy, can withstand strong winds and other weather elements, and will avoid having problems with insects and rotting.

Aluminum

Aluminum will keep you cool in the hot summer heat, but it can be expensive. It is durable and will not rust. If you want to move the gazebo around, aluminum is a good choice of material because it is lightweight. The lightweight structure can be a problem, though, for withstanding environmental elements like snow or strong winds.

With the vinyl, wrought iron, and aluminum, you will need different tools than you would need for building with wood. It may be easiest to buy a kit for these to avoid having to find, cut, or shape the materials yourself.

Pop-up

The Gazebos Galore site also lists another option you may not have thought about. It is easy, simple, and portable. How about using a pop-up, screened-in gazebo for camping, tailgating, or entertaining guests? This option creates the fun and functionality of a gazebo without you having to spend much money or time. The screened-in aspect will keep the bugs away from your guests nicely.

Building a gazebo is a fun and fulfilling activity. Whether you are building it to serve a one-time, specific purpose or to entertain your guests for years to come, your gazebo will be a functional and aesthetic masterpiece. Before you start to build, you need to determine the material, shape, size, and location that will suit your needs and your available space. For more information about any of the recommended materials or gazebo building in general, refer to the provided links or search the Internet.

Sources Consulted

"About Redwood: The Natural Choice." California Redwood Association (2005)

http://www.calredwood.org/about/about.htm.

"Gazebos Galore." Gazebos Galore (2008) .

"Gazebo FAQ." Backyard America (2008) .

"Red Cedar." Cedar Store.com Outdoor Furniture and Patio Furniture (2008) http://www.cedarstore.com/structurepath/22/gazebo>.

Ronson, Arturo."Metal Gazebo - The Best Gazebo For Your Yard" (2008). http://ezinearticles.com/?Metal-Gazebo---The-Best-Gazebo-For-Your-Yard&id=534621>.