Gazebos

Gazebos are wonderful outdoor buildings that almost create a fantasy escape all on their own. While the traditional style is the octagon or decagon shape, there are other options available and they are now so varied you can really get just about anything you can dream of.

For the middle class American, having a gazebo can often mean you've "made it." You're on your way to joining the elite, the upper class, the rich. Thanks to do it yourself home projects and gazebo kits this fantasy isn't so much of a benchmark anymore, but it is still something that many consider to complete the look of a finished yard. Whether or not you're truly part of the upper class you can still feel that way if you're able to relax peacefully inside an open air gazebo.

Building and outdoor gazebo yourself from scratch is difficult unless you're working with a predone kit. In that case you can do it with just a couple of people and usually in a single weekend. There are several factors to consider before ordering yours.

Location - Because you're putting down a solid foundation, either cement (for a hot tub) or crushed stone, they are pretty permanent. Pick your location carefully!

The Foundation - Don't just put up the walls and roof before considering what will be underneath it. Do you want a cement floor, wood, or all vinyl? Even if you don't pick cement you still need a very solid base on which to mount everything. If you're putting in a hot tub or spa you'll want cement, but otherwise you can do a crushed rock several inches thick.

Roof and Shingles - yes, gazebos have a beautiful roof line and many options including cupolas (don't forget to hang your weathervane) and double or single stacks. You can pick any shingle style you want, some would get it to match perfectly the shingles on their house, others would choose a complementary color.

Seating - This is where the fun begins. You can have built in seating, loose patio furniture, grills, bar sets, fire pits, or just cushions on the floor. Make it unique, whatever you want. Just provide something!

Material of Construction - The two most popular are wood and vinyl gazebos. They're both great choices, although those who are going to use theirs heavily or feel it may be abused often go with vinyl due to its low maintenance features. The vinyl ones do not look cheap are still an excellent option.

Whichever you choose we recommend putting some careful thought into the design, location and features of your perfect one. Do a lot of looking both online and in various home improvement stores before settling. They're a modest financial committment and while some of the features can be changed overtime, the basic structure is a fixed building and can't easily be changed from having 8 to 10 sides. Choose wisely!