So you've decided to build a gazebo, but what kind do you want? The best way to decide the gazebo that will work for you is to begin by looking at the gazebo plans available.
Books containing a collection of different backyard gazebo plans and designs are often sold in various bookstores and online as well. Looking through one of these gazebo plan books is a good starting point for determining the type of gazebo you want. Individual gazebo plans are also available.
Individual gazebo plans contain more specific instructions and detailed information about one gazebo plan. It is best to buy an individual plan after you have determined the gazebo plan you want constructed to get more details about it.
Various gazebo plans are available. Gazebo plans are often categorized according to size, shape and style. Sizes of gazebos range from miniature models that are placed in a garden area just as a decorative structure to medium sized garden gazebos that contain a sitting area to gazebos that are large enough to house a hot tub. The most common shapes of gazebos include hexagonal (six-sided), octagonal (eight-sided), and square or rectangular (four-sided). Common gazebo styles include Amish, Victorian, garden, vinyl, wood, metal, screened, bamboo, canvas, wrought iron, hot tub, and spa.
When choosing a gazebo plan, make sure that the one you select will blend in with and enhance the existing design of your backyard. Also, be sure to consider the size of the gazebo in the plan so that you know exactly how much space it will require.
There are many different kinds of gazebos, and this is not by mistake that so many different kinds of gazebos exists, we are not talking about the different designs of gazebos, which naturally make sense, since every garden and backyard is different and every home owner needs change. The different gazebos are made of different materials, allowing the buyer to choose his new gazebo material according to the conditions in his garden and his other needs.
The most popular and the first popular gazebo is the wood gazebo, it is very suitable for most gardens and parks and you will find that a wood gazebo is also one of the nicest additions to a garden because it naturally blends in with the garden trees. But there are maintenance issues and very important periodic care tasks that must be taken to insure that the wood gazebo stays in perfect shape. The metal gazebo is a heavier construction, that is more for the garden party person, this will guarantee that parties can be held in the gazebo, away from flies and insects, and allow you and your guests to have very elegant dinners outdoors. As with the wood gazebo the metal gazebo will require care and maintenance and is also a very heavy and strong structure.
Vinyl gazebos are the choice of those who do not want to spend too much on a gazebo and still want something that they can use, and then remove from their gardens, something that will take less in maintenance and care and that will provide a nice garden gazebo for certain occasions, this is why the vinyl gazebo is becoming so popular, simply because it is a very light gazebo that you can set up and use all the time or use only when you fell like it, with almost minimal care and maintenance.
The maintenance free vinyl gazebo is made of good and strong materials available on the market, it is sometimes designed to look like a wrought iron gazebo. There are many ready gazebo kits that you can buy and assemble by yourself without any problem, the vinyl gazebo is one of the finest elements that you can place in your garden, providing maintenance free outdoor enjoyment that will last for many years.
The vinyl gazebo is not cheap, as it is very hard to find any kind of cheap gazebos on the market, but it will provide you the gazebo you want, and it is almost care free so you will not need to put in any time taking care for it, it has its advantages over the traditional wood and iron gazebos, but it will lack the look of the wood or the solid structure of the iron gazebo, in the end it is all a question of taste and need, lucky for you there are so many kinds of gazebos to choose from.
So you want to venture on a gazebo project? Building your own gazebo seems easy but if you're planning to just nail some pieces of wood together and pray to end up with an attractive outcome - STOP! You don't want to waste the materials, labor, time and money on a probable gazebo project disaster, do you?
The Typical Gazebo
Gazebos are free standing pavilion structure with octagonal shape. They are mostly built in parks and gardens as an ideal place for rest and relaxation. They are roofed and open on all sides so the cool open air breeze could freely circulate. gazebos also make an excellent house project to add some aesthetic value to your home, particularly if you intend to turn it into a landscape centerpiece.
Advantages of Gazebo
A gazebo will make a great part in your backyard where you can comfortably tuck yourself during hot summer days. It definitely is a nice spot to cool your body temperature down while drinking an icy cold lemonade and chat with some friends or your family. A gazebo will also make a good area to position a cozy hot tub for your ultimate back yard relaxation after a long, tiring day.
Where To Obtain Great Gazebo Plans?
Fortunately, the internet technology makes getting some pertinent information about any topic under the sun a lot faster and easier. In fact, you can already read tons of articles and get exposed to multitude of websites by just typing the keywords "gazebo plan" in your search engine.
Now, if you prefer some periodicals, loads of architectural design magazines offer many gazebo plans that you could refer to. You can also check with your local home improvement store, lumber yard or ask help from a professional.
Gazebo Kit or Build Your Own Gazebo?
Building your own gazebo will provide infinite options in terms of choosing the materials and style and design that you want. Creativity is the limit here! On the other hand, a gazebo kit has limited structures but easier to assemble because you will have a step-by-step procedure along with some illustrations. gazebo kit is a great help for those with limited carpentry skills.
Successful Use of Gazebo Plan
Maximize the use of your gazebo plan. One primary advantage of having an accurate gazebo plan is to save money because gazebo plans will help budget the cost of labor and materials. gazebo plan will also ensure the solid, sturdy foundation where to assemble or build your gazebo for a safe and long-lasting private oasis.
It is never a waste of time to do some comprehensive planning before embarking on any home project. A good gazebo plan will ensure a well-built, beautiful gazebo for you and your family.
Gazebos can be a vital solution for those who love nature and want to see its beauty in the open. Most people would like to sit outside of their home to enjoy nature. A gazebo will also make being outdoors more comfortable. It is just like adding another room to your house, and its structure offers a 360° outlook to the surroundings.
Gazebos come in different sizes, styles and shapes, but most people like the wooden, open-sided, octagonal gazebo, with double roof and cupola. You just need to spend a little time and money, and you can be the proud owner of a beautiful gazebo. The choice will depend on your budget, and on your family's requirements.
Usually gazebos come in the dimensions of six to twenty-two feet in diameter, with fully open and enclosed sides. These gazebos can also be used as a guesthouse. The style can be very simple, but also rugged with all necessary things such as trellis walls, Victorian moldings and other architectural flourishes.
The most important thing is to choose the place where your gazebo will be situated. It is a good idea to take advice from an architect, because there are several questions which are attached to the placement of a gazebo. These are things such as regulations, permits, construction and other configuration details. You will also need to call your municipal authority to find out about all the rules and regulations related to its construction.
The placement of your gazebo also depends on the size of your property, and the layout. Nearby a garden edge or pond can be a great place to situate your gazebo. Remember while making your plan, you should have enough space according to the style and materials which you have chosen.
In order to make an exclusive gazebo, you can go for a low-maintenance model, furniture, spa elements and privacy screens. You can be choosy in selecting attractive materials for your gazebo, because it is just like adding another room to your home.
A garden gazebo can be a more effective solution to arranging a room in your garden. The shade of a gazebo will be comfortable for you. A stylish gazebo situated outside in your garden will develop a unique beauty, along with flowers, a pond, trees, benches and hedges. The architecture of a gazebo will attach a geometric feel to your garden as well.
To create a garden gazebo, you can go with metal, wooden or vinyl. Wooden gazebos are the most preferred. On the other hand, metal gazebos can also be a great selection. These generally come in steel, aluminum and iron. To give an attractive, dark and long lasting effect, you can go for a steel or iron gazebo. A vinyl gazebo, just like wood and metal gazeboss, can be found in different styles and shapes.
It can be concluded that a gazebo can enhance the beauty of your garden, as well as your home. It not only gives a unique look to the area where your gazebo is situated, but also provides an extra room for your home, which you can use as a guest house. A garden gazebo offers an area for relaxation, meditation, gatherings and other activities. In the present era, where noise and air pollution are present all around, a gazebo can be a peaceful place to do meditation, and to rest and enjoy the beauty and various colors of the seasons.
Are you looking for a separate space to have breakfast with your family? Or are you looking for a separate place in the backyard to have some fun with your close friends?
You can think about installing a gazebo in the backyard or in the garden.
Gazebos are great as a special space. You can select from different gazebo designs, styles and shapes depending on home architecture and your personal choice. Even if you want to buy a ready to use gazebo you can customize it to fit your space and choice. For example you can opt for different screens and flooring materials apart from shapes and roof. At the same time you may also go for mix and match to find out the best combination.
However, a lot of people do not know where to install their gazebo and thus the gazebos do not add as much value as they could. Here are a few tips to help you decide the best location to install your gazebo
1. Location to install a gazebo - Normally gazebos are placed in the backyard or at place surrounded with great scenic beauty. However, before buying a gazebo you should make sure that there is enough empty space which would eventually highlight the gazebo as a special attraction. This would also underline your individuality and lifestyle.
2. Shape and Size of gazebo - The shape of your gazebo should depend on the architecture of your house and the shape of the free space where you are thinking to install it. You may also consider the number of people you are thinking of accommodating together in that gazebo (for example a 10' gazebo is comfortable for 4 people and a 12' gazebo is good enough for 6 people). Depending on all these parameters, you can decide the shape and size of your gazebo But make sure that there is enough empty space around the gazebo Do not forget to measure the actual available space before you place an order.
3. Water Source - If you want to install a normal gazebo it is better to keep it away from water sources, or areas that may collect or store water. However, if you are planning to add a hot tub or spa in that gazebo you must have a water source close to it. In that case you may think about buying a complete hot tub gazebo The complete package will not only save some money, they are specially built to endure wet atmosphere.
4. Permission - If you are planning to install a gazebo which is more then 100 sq. ft. in size, you should consult local municipality for proper permission. However, if the size is less than 100 sq. ft. they will not have any problem on zoning.
5. Do it yourself gazebos - If you do not want to employ some professionals to install the gazebo, you may go for 'do it yourself gazebo'. Theses gazebos are just ready to install within a few minutes and they come with step by step instructions.
The growing popularity of the gazebo is not a dramatic change in the history of the world, as we can see these structures have been around us for a very long time.
Throughout time gazebo history has been dramatic. Some historians believe, the word "gazebo" was first used in 1752. gazebos have had several names - pagodas, summerhouses, screen houses pergolas and arbors. Popularity of gazebos has risen and fallen with different times but they still are a grand way to decorate a backyard or patio.
The origin
gazebos have existed since thousand years back. But they were not used as part of garden sight in the beginning. They were built as towers or lanterns on the roofs of houses. The idea was to gain the surrounding view of the household. Alternatively speaking, enjoying the garden view is also a good enough reason to set a gazebo on a house.
In Egypt
gazebos started in Egypt back in 5000 BC. They were the part of the dreams of royals who wished to create heaven on earth. Part of the Egyptian heritage, their belief was that the gazebos will go with them to the life hereafter. gazebo type murals were set on the tombs. The earliest ever tomb for the Egyptians were built back in 1400 BC. gazebos at that time were used as temples too.
In Rome and ancient Greece
Gazebos in these regions were built to resemble small temples. To talk simple, these gazebos were the branch booths of the larger temples. These were marble gazebos in most cases. As the population in Greece grew, there came a trend among the rich and noble building summerhouses along the Mediterranean coasts. Gazebos were mostly seen in these coastal getaways.
In Persia
The Islamic philosophy and culture was the trademark of Persian gazebos. They were often referred to as "kiosks". There were large amounts of variety among these gazebos. They were quite colorful tents sometimes elaborated up to 2-story structures. They had marble columns and golden seats for royals. Summer was intolerable in Persia. So many of the gazebos were built across pools or streams. The idea was to let the cool water to regulate the temperature inside.
In china
China has had special significance with gazebos- especially considering the fact that gazebos in this part of the world were meshed with Chinese culture and heritage. The bottom line of Chinese gazebos or pagodas was large size and metaphorical looks. gazebos were called teahouses and had great significance during the Tea Ceremonies. Just like the modern time, gazebos of that period were considered a place to rest, meditate, and achieve spiritual harmony. They were built to admire the beauty of the garden.
The renaissance
The Italians at this time built belvederes. These were not gazebos but had great similarity to gazebos. They were set as interior part of a house. The usage of Belvederes were also seen in monastery gardens as shrines. They were also regarded well as a place of meditation.
In early America
In early America, gazebos were the entertainment for the colonists'. But the biggest momentum in the popularity of gazebo was found in the mid 1800's. This momentum was carried with the boom of new middle class. As time passed, gazebos seemed to be regarded as out of fashion/style. But gazebos regained their popularity around 1930's. Popular or not, throughout history, gazebo lived with its own pride and prejudice.
The gazebo is a pavilion structure that has been used for many years as a spacious public space, for bands to play or people to meet. Many movies show effectuated couples dancing in a gazebo, and a lot of people remember that gazebo scene in "the sound of music". Today many people choose to place a gazebo in their garden or backyard, some prepare a special gazebo for marriage and others a spa gazebo for the better things in life, a gazebo is slowly turning into an standard house upgrade feature. Gazebos were originally designed to provide shade and basic shelter, but today the gazebo is turning into something much more than the regular gazebo park we used to see. The earlier versions of the gazebo were more solid than they are today, and most of the gazebos were used primarily as pavilions. A garden gazebo is a nice addition to any garden, you can spend sunny mornings in the gazebo reading the paper or listening to music, it is certainly a new feature for a large garden, arranging the space and using the fauna as decoration. A garden gazebo is one of those thing that you cant imagine never having a day after you got it. No matter what the environment of your garden, there is a garden gazebo out there just waiting to be bought. When thinking of a garden gazebo you will also need to think of what material to use in constructing it. Wood is the natural choice for most people, since it is natural and placed in the garden it sort of goes with everything around it. There are a few different kind of wood you can use for this purpose, pine, cedar, and redwood. Pine is the softest wood, ages to a rich yellow, and complements surrounding evergreens. Cedar is higher in overall sturdiness, is less prone to rot, and ages to a gray-brown. A patio gazebo is a gazebo that sits on or is built into your patio and is very easy and affordable to do. The great thing about patio gazebos is that you can design a new patio for it, or even add a gazebo onto your already built patio. There will need to be serious consideration for the materials used, but there is basically no reason not to have a patio gazebo you can spend your evenings at. Placing of a patio gazebo is important, small to mid-size will probably want to use the corner to place the gazebo, this way it will use most of the space efficiently. Large patios give you more flexibility, and you can choose any placing you want, providing you got enough room for the gazebo. You can even place a patio gazebo on top of the patio, this will call for careful examination of the material is use but this is very possible. The strongest gazebos are made of metal. Whatever the gazebo is made of chances are that only the strongest and most particular of hurricanes will disturb it. A hot tub gazebo is truly an upgrade, not only to a garden or backyard... but to your life, imagine a warm soak in freezing January, a nice glass of wine... this is the life. Many spa gazebo manufacturers make the gazebo also as a protection from the elements, so you could also use this as a protected outdoor room. When you choose to add a spa environment to your back yard or deck, you want to make the experience the most private and comforting possible. With hot tub gazebos, you can surround your Jacuzzi with either a redwood type arbor or even add screens to keep flying insects away from your spa experience. You can find hot tub gazebos that come both pre-built, ready to assemble, or find plans for a gazebo if you have carpentry experience. A hot tub gazebo can be turned into the center of attention at its location, you can add many features around it to make the soaking experience better, lights, music and much more can be added to the hot tub environment to fully enjoy this great spa gazebo. Whatever gazebo you choose, enjoy it to the fullest. A gazebo can arrive as a do it yourself kit, and you can make building it a family activity, these kits sometime come with an instructional video you can all watch together. There is almost always an option of calling experts and have them setup the gazebo for you.
