HOW TO CHOOSE A GAZEBO

Gazebos can make that possible for all those people who have looked out a window at the rain and the wind and wanted to be there without suffering nature�s ravages. Many people want to sit outside and be enveloped by nature�s power but still return home dry, unbitten, unburned, and completely safe from harm.

Even if you�re not interested in watching storms sweep in, gazebos can still make the outdoors more comfortable, in fact adding another room to your home. A gazebo is any roofed structure offering a 360 degree view of the surroundings. Gazebos take on many different shapes, sizes, and styles but the most common is the 8�-diameter open-sided octagonal cedar wood gazebo with pagoda-style shingled double roof and cupola.

Choosing is not as daunting as it may sound. Spend some time beforehand determining who will be using your gazebo. Is it primarily for just you, maybe a friend or two, and your family � or will you be throwing big parties and accommodating visiting world leaders for the weekend? Most gazebos range from 6 to 22 feet in diameter, and can have sides that are either fully open to the elements or completely enclosed for use as a guesthouse.

Whether the preferred style is simple and rugged or embellished with all the pretty extras, like trellis walls, Victorian gingerbread moldings, and other architectural flourishes, there is a gazebo style for everyone. Choosing to place a gazebo on your property brings up many questions about placement, regulations and permits and other construction details. Call your municipal authority and to find out what you need to know and remember, rules vary from place to place.

Property size and layout determines where to situate the gazebo. A garden border or pond can be highlighted to great effect with a well-placed gazebo. As you plan, make sure you will have enough room for the gazebo and that the style and materials chosen will complement the landscape and physical environment.

Choosing low-maintenance models, furniture options, and spa elements as well as privacy screens can make each gazebo unique. No matter what the specifications, a gazebo can be tailored to your needs, creating another room for your home. (Alison Cole)

BUILDING A GAZEBO

Are you handy? Think you can build a gazebo from scratch? There are plenty of gazebo plans available free in libraries and online. There are also blueprints available for fees ranging from $8 to $200. The more expensive gazebo plans are architectural blueprints, which are much more specific and best suited to the experienced contractor. But a talented home improvement buff can make good use of the less expensive options available.

A good free gazebo plan is available from the Build Eazy website. There you will find links to complete plans for 5 basic gazebos of varying sizes and styles to suit most tastes and uses. There plans are free.

There are several things to think about before starting to build a gazebo. You will need some basic carpentry tools such as a level and a screw gun. You will also need a compound miter saw or sliding compound miter saw. These machines afford the angular cutting abilities you will need when fashioning the various sections of the gazebo. The sliding version is best for larger pieces of wood.

You can either bolt the gazebo to a concrete slab or pre-existing wood floor, or you can create the gazebo with a built-in floor. In the latter case, you will need to pour one concrete pier for each post. Contact your local building department to find out how deep the concrete piers should be, and whether there are any underground cables you should try to avoid.

Three kinds of woods are commonly used to build outdoor structures: pine, cedar, and redwood. Pine is the softest and easiest to work with, but it decomposes the fastest. Cedar and redwood are harder and more expensive, but age well.

Alternatively, you can build a metal or vinyl gazebo. But unless you have all the heavy machinery for fabricating the parts, you�ll need to buy a gazebo kit. These come in sections for you to assemble using the included hardware. A level and a screw gun are usually all that are needed. You might need help from a buddy, especially for the roof sections.

There are lots of options when it comes to building your own gazebo, and you don�t have to be a carpentry star to get really good results. And just think, when you�re done building your gazebo, you can sit inside it and just enjoy the shade. (Alison Cole)

A LOOK AT GARDEN GAZEBO

A garden gazebo is the perfect way to accent your garden. Imagine being able to walk along the path between the koi pond and the flowers, the hedges and the willow tree, pausing to rest on a bench inside a gazebo. Its shade will comfort you, and its architecture will add that special geometric touch to your garden, striking the balance between nature and humanity. No matter what the environment of your garden, there is a garden gazebo out there just waiting to be bought.

In creating a garden gazebo, first choose your material from wood, metal, or vinyl options. Wood is the most common choice, and for good reason: it goes with any natural environment. Wood is available in 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. American redwood is the darkest, longest-lasting wood. Other woods can be used, but those are the most common.

Metal gazebos come in cast aluminum or steel and wrought iron. Go with steel and wrought iron if you want your garden gazebo to add a lovely dark and long lasting effect. These gazebos are often open-roofed, and so are great for stocking with plants, climbers, and other materials, making for a lush shade that changes with the seasons. Vinyl comes in white or black. Just as with wood and metal gazebos, they come in a variety of shapes and styles. Get trellis walls for a cottage feeling.

For enhanced usability in harsher weather conditions, get an enclosed garden gazebo. These can be partially enclosed, with partitions and movable screens, or totally enclosed, with solid walls and tinted windows.

Whether looking to expand a large corporate garden, or just to complement a small neighborhood plot, a garden gazebo is an inviting structure for rest, meditation, or meeting up with other people to enjoy the weather. (Alison Cole)

I DREAM ABOUT MY OWN GAZEBO

Dear Friends,

This my new blog which will provide you information about Gazebo. I really dream to have my own gazebo. Will my dream come true?