The Garden Gazebo - Its Origins And History

Although gazebos are extremely ancient in their origins they persist today and are quite common. They are found just about all over the place. Their uses go beyond being just a relaxing place to go to in the garden.

They're around in all kinds of places such as city parks, backyards, and town squares. They can be utilized for outdoor parties, outdoor bands, resting places, or as a shade for swimming pools. Precisely how did this well known structure get its start?

The gazebo might very well be just as old and ancient as the garden. Over 5000 years ago, the Egyptians were said to have installed gazebos within their gardens. In Egypt's arid lands, a garden filled with beautiful plant life was a kind of paradise on earth.

It seems natural to make a structure with a top for shade and open sides that permit the occupant a view of the garden. The garden and gazebo together, was intended to be an oasis. It was designed for relaxation and tranquil reflection.

The Romans likewise adopted the gazebo and used marble as the construction material. Their gazebos looked like scaled down versions of the larger marble temples of the period. The gazebo was also favored by the Japanese and Chinese who made them with incredibly sophisticated designs.

During the renaissance period, gazebos could be found in monasteries and were used for meditation and prayer. With the arrival of the 15th century, they could be found all across Europe. gazebo ownership wasn't just the province of the very rich.

Midway through the 19th century, they started to get popular in the US. At around 1945, the patio took the place of the gazebo for appreciating the outdoors. These days, the gazebo is popular once again and is extremely flexible with its wide range of uses.

In past ages, the gazebo and garden were meant to be a place of quiet reflection, meditation, rest, and prayer. With the busy pace demanded by today's society, the need for a quiet place to rest and think has never been greater. It should be no surprise to anyone that the gazebo has survived the test of time.

Plan The Perfect Gazebo With a Gazebo Plan

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.

5 Tips To Install A Gazebo - Do It Yourself

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.