What Is a Gazebo?
A gazebo is a freestanding outdoor shade structure on a platform, usually 6- or 8-sided, with low walls around the base, large, open sides and a pointed, conical roof. Gazebos provide shade and shelter from rain. Gazebos in many municipal parks are popular as outdoor wedding venues. They are usually open on all sides, but can be fully enclosed to provide better protection from the weather. Does this Spark an idea?
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Gazebo Designs
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Gazebos are usually built on a raised platform over a slight rise in elevation. This prevents rotting of the floor boards and lower walls. Gazebos are intended to be observation points, so the space between supports is usually open or given a short wall. A lattice is often used for any walls, which are rarely more than three feet tall. The remaining height of the wall can be screened to keep insects away. Gazebos can be oblong with rounded corners, rectangular, hexagonal or octagonal. They are usually wider at the base, narrowing to a multi-sided roof, although a gazebo in the Mobile, Alabama, area is an exception. Built like a flat-bottomed ice cream cone turned upside down, George Brown's Gazebo, a historical landmark, has withstood several hurricanes, while most other historic gazebos on the Gulf Coast have not.
Materials
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Gazebos can be made from wood, brick, stone, metal pipe, PVC or cloth. They range from ornate Victorian follies to modern minimalist metal frames covered with shade cloth or vine plants. Your gazebo style and materials should blend with the style and materials of your existing home and other outbuildings. Use brick, stone, metal or PVC in a humid environment, and reserve open metalwork and cloth for dryer climates.
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Placement
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Your gazebo should be a major focal point in your garden. Build paths leading up to, around and through your gazebo to encourage maximum use. If you have a large yard with multiple vistas, place the gazebo in the center, where you will be able to enjoy them. Orient the gazebo so that sun passes over from north to south. This provides the maximum protection from the sun and will allow you to grow container plants and plant-raised flower beds along each side. If your yard is short, place the gazebo at the far end, around a slight bend. This creates a second outdoor room and gives your yard a "Secret Garden," effect.
Safety
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According to Gazeboresource.com, it is important to remember that thatched or low-pitch roofs are not designed for heavy snow loads. Choose a steel frame roof or use stronger, thicker roofing materials and a steeper pitch if you live in a snow-prone area. You may also wish to install heat tape or some other means of speeding snowmelt. Some gazebos are not designed for full-time human occupancy, even if they have full walls and windows. Gazebos can be overturned in high winds unless the posts are set in at least two feet of concrete.
Landscaping
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Gazebos can be landscaped to produce a private grotto. Climbing plants such as ivy, clematis, certain roses and morning glories can eventually cover the entire structure. You can use window boxes or raised flower beds along the sides of your gazebo. Plant impatiens, Lobelia, strawberries, carnation, Gerbera daisies, tiger lilies and irises nearby. Create a path up to each entry of your gazebo. Lay pavers, flagstones or stepping stones in a pleasing pattern and brush with sand to fill any cracks. Use clear acrylic wood treatment or rust-inhibiting spray paint to seal wood or metal frames and protect your gazebo from weather damage.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit gazebo image by Bryan Crisp from Fotolia.com
