How to Make PVC Gazebos
Gazebos added to gardens and lawns provide a place to enjoy your property in the shade. Although gazebos are often octagonal, Merriam-Webster defines a gazebo as a self-supporting assembly that has open-air sides and a roof covering. Instead of spending a fortune on a store-bought or custom-made gazebo from a contractor, make your own using PVC. PVC is lightweight, making it easy to work with and inexpensive, saving you money. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- 48-by-2-inch PVC pipes, 12
- 72-by-2-inch PVC pipes, 6
- 4-way Tee PVC corner joints, 8
- Post hole digger
- 27-by-2-inch PVC pipes, 4
- 4-by-2-inch PVC pipes, 4
- 55-by-79-inch fabric
- Fabric scissors
- Straight pins
- Sewing machine
- Thread
Instructions
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1
Place two 48-by-2-inch PVC pipes on the ground running parallel to one another. Space them 72 inches apart. Place two 72-inch PVC pipes perpendicular to the first two pipes. The 72-inch pipes will be the height of the gazebo and the 48-inch pipes will be the width. Connect the four pipes using 4-way Tee PVC corner joints. Place the joints so the straight connectors point up and down connecting the 72-inch pipes and the 90-degree connectors point left and right attaching to the 48-inch pipes.
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2
Repeat Step 1 with two more 48-inch pipes, two more 72-inch pipes and additional 4-way Tee joints to create a second rectangle.
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3
Prop the first rectangle from Step 1 up against a tree or fence. Position it so the 72-inch pipes are perpendicular to the ground and the open ends of the 4-way joints face you. Insert a 48-inch pipe into the four joint openings facing you. Insert the other ends of the four pipes into the open joints on the second rectangle from Step 2, creating a three-dimensional rectangular box.
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4
Dig four holes in the ground, using a post hole digger, where you want to set up the gazebo. Make the holes 24 inches deep. Space the holes in a rectangle with two spaced 72 inches apart and two spaced 48 inches apart. Insert a 27-inch pipe into each of the four holes. Stand the pipes upright and fill the holes with dirt so that three inches of the pipe stick out of the ground. Place the rectangular box onto the four pipes using the four open joints.
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5
Place a 4-by-2-inch PVC pipe into each of the open joints on top of the structure.
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6
Cut a piece of 55-by-79-inch fabric. You can use cotton to block more sun or a sheer fabric to allow sun to shine through. Cut a 3-inch square out of each corner of the fabric. Roll all four edges of fabric around a 2-inch-wide PVC pipe and pin the fabric to itself using straight pins. Remove the pipes.
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7
Sew along the straight pins using a sewing machine with a straight stitch to create four pockets. Remove the pins. Insert a 48-by-2-inch PVC pipe into each pocket of the 48-inch sides. Insert a 72-by-2-inch pole into each pocket of the 72-inch sides.
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8
Lift the fabric-covered rectangle to the top of the rectangular PVC structure. Insert the pipes into the open 3-way joints.
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Tips & Warnings
Adjust the size as desired.
To provide more detail to the gazebo, add garden lattice to three sides of the rectangular structure to create walls.
For a permanent structure, use PVC glue on the end of each pole.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Goodshoot/Getty Images
