What To Look For When Buying A Gazebo
by Chris Murphy on 2007-09-22
When people decide to purchase a gazebo, they often strive to achieve a certain viewpoint in the yard, either from the inside looking out or the outside looking in. Whether a poolside retreat or a garden centerpiece, a gazebo may also fulfill a longtime desire to revisit childhood memories many people growing up in the south have said they wish to relive.
The three most common materials gazebos are made of include wood, metal, and vinyl. Wood that lasts like metal and vinyl is the most requested. Unlike patio covers that are mostly overhead and exposed to the weather, thus making metal and vinyl the best choice, a gazebo is to be felt all around you, and the feel of wood cannot be duplicated. That is probably why they repaint wood at Disneyland every night after closing instead of using anything other than wood.
While pine or redwood gazebos are less costly than weather resistant woods such as pressure treated and others, they will not last a long time in moisture-laden areas. Whether at the beach, the mountains, near the golf course, or the swimming pool, wood deteriorates over time. If this happens, the entire structure is compromised and soon has to be replaced. When is the last time you saw a telephone pole be replaced because it rotted from moisture? Even though they are put directly in the soil, they last for a very long time. They last because they are pressure treated.
As for the roof of a gazebo, solid composition, wood shingle, or metal will allow the gazebo to stay the cleanest and less likely to need repainting. These are usually decided upon by the need to match the home roof or surrounding yard setting, and the same goes for the color of the roofing. For the open slatted roof, painted wood can be used but will require maintenance, while metal or vinyl have the advantage of longevity in the weather, and can be used without completely losing the feel of wood down below.
The majority of gazebos are painted white to stand out from their surroundings, but can be painted or stained almost any color. Most of the major brands of paint have transitioned from oil to water base over the years and offer 25-year guarantees of endurance. With a good primer it should only be necessary to repaint due to fading or wear in the coming years, and the second coat even lasts longer since a certain amount of the first coat is absorbed into the raw wood.
Now as far as whom to buy your gazebo from, all the tried and true rules apply. References and character go hand in hand. Most thieves don’t care to uphold their name over time. They want your money fast and the consequences they’ll deal with later. The most incredible scenario that is seen time and time again is how customers will settle on the first gazebo merchant that seems reasonable and amicable, and in their haste they settle without comparing between other companies. This will come home to roost in about 4-5 years when it becomes evident the gazebo will not last very much longer, from lack of quality materials. Even the cheapest materials used on a gazebo look great and are hard to detect from the ones that will last, when first installed. And you can bet the builder will not be able to do anything for you when you realize your mistake.
Most gazebo builders have a magnifying glass on their competitors, and while all is not to be believed by one source, you can start seeing a pattern when the same opinion is shared by two or more sources. The lack of customer comparison allows many seemingly reasonable, but actually uncaring companies to continue, no matter how many customers find out the truth too late. As with any product or system, a checks and balance makes it possible for the weeds to be separated from the good, and the customer ends up with the gazebo they imagined they would receive.
The three most common materials gazebos are made of include wood, metal, and vinyl. Wood that lasts like metal and vinyl is the most requested. Unlike patio covers that are mostly overhead and exposed to the weather, thus making metal and vinyl the best choice, a gazebo is to be felt all around you, and the feel of wood cannot be duplicated. That is probably why they repaint wood at Disneyland every night after closing instead of using anything other than wood.
While pine or redwood gazebos are less costly than weather resistant woods such as pressure treated and others, they will not last a long time in moisture-laden areas. Whether at the beach, the mountains, near the golf course, or the swimming pool, wood deteriorates over time. If this happens, the entire structure is compromised and soon has to be replaced. When is the last time you saw a telephone pole be replaced because it rotted from moisture? Even though they are put directly in the soil, they last for a very long time. They last because they are pressure treated.
As for the roof of a gazebo, solid composition, wood shingle, or metal will allow the gazebo to stay the cleanest and less likely to need repainting. These are usually decided upon by the need to match the home roof or surrounding yard setting, and the same goes for the color of the roofing. For the open slatted roof, painted wood can be used but will require maintenance, while metal or vinyl have the advantage of longevity in the weather, and can be used without completely losing the feel of wood down below.
The majority of gazebos are painted white to stand out from their surroundings, but can be painted or stained almost any color. Most of the major brands of paint have transitioned from oil to water base over the years and offer 25-year guarantees of endurance. With a good primer it should only be necessary to repaint due to fading or wear in the coming years, and the second coat even lasts longer since a certain amount of the first coat is absorbed into the raw wood.
Now as far as whom to buy your gazebo from, all the tried and true rules apply. References and character go hand in hand. Most thieves don’t care to uphold their name over time. They want your money fast and the consequences they’ll deal with later. The most incredible scenario that is seen time and time again is how customers will settle on the first gazebo merchant that seems reasonable and amicable, and in their haste they settle without comparing between other companies. This will come home to roost in about 4-5 years when it becomes evident the gazebo will not last very much longer, from lack of quality materials. Even the cheapest materials used on a gazebo look great and are hard to detect from the ones that will last, when first installed. And you can bet the builder will not be able to do anything for you when you realize your mistake.
Most gazebo builders have a magnifying glass on their competitors, and while all is not to be believed by one source, you can start seeing a pattern when the same opinion is shared by two or more sources. The lack of customer comparison allows many seemingly reasonable, but actually uncaring companies to continue, no matter how many customers find out the truth too late. As with any product or system, a checks and balance makes it possible for the weeds to be separated from the good, and the customer ends up with the gazebo they imagined they would receive.
About The Author: Chris Murphy is an independent, freelance writer who enjoys writing about informative topics of interest to readers. For more information on this article, please visit www.gazebosnow.com