Landscape Architect Articles

Gazebos Add Beauty and Functionality to Any Landscape01-01-05 | News

Gazebos
Add Beauty and Functionality to Any Landscape

By Steve Day, Director of Design for The Cedar Store

Gazebo 1?EUR??,,????'??+Vinyl is a popular material used to protect gazebos that must withstand harsh climates. This 12-foot vinyl double roof octagon gazebo is made with treated pine and then covered with a vinyl finish that offers more protection than a basic sealant. Generally, gazebos can be customized with decorative posts, spindles and braces as well as architectural shingles and vinyl cupola. A double roof and the octagon shape can give the appearance of a larger structure, without taking up more ground space.

Gazebos have phenomenal appeal. Once considered the domain of European royalty, these quaint little structures crossed the Atlantic around the time of the revolution. Though their popularity actually surged around the mid-1800s, they were still found mainly in town parks and on sprawling estates. Today, their irresistible allure has landed them squarely in the realm of the middle class.

Since the early 20th century, when the secret got out that you didn?EUR??,,????'???t have to be a member of the aristocracy to own one, gazebos have sprung up by the hundreds in backyards across the country.

Originally designed as structures on top of buildings, used specifically for observation purposes, gazebos have literally been brought down to earth. Their evolution continues in an endless parade of new styles and uses.

Gazebo 2?EUR??,,????'??+This 8-foot, pressure treated Octagon Gazebo from the Cedar Store comes with standard post rails and braces, cedar shake shingles and treated cupola. The Arsenic free, treated yellow pine can be stained or painted.

Some people fancy their gazebos as extensions of their houses, even designing them to reflect the d????(C)cor, including matching shingles. The ultimate retreat, the gazebo also makes a spectacular place for a wedding and reception. People also use them to host brunches, luncheons, showers, teas, cocktails, dinner parties, and other affairs, ranging from barbecues to black tie. Gazebos have also become favorite locations for hot tubs and are simple to obtain and just as easy to maintain. Companies such as The Cedar Store allow you to select a pre-designed gazebo, or customize one for yourself.

Gazebo 3?EUR??,,????'??+Larger rectangular gazebos can be used to hold events such as fundraisers, or company Christmas parties. Many gazebos can be customized to include decorative spindle railings, floor decking, and rubber slate shingles. Gazebos have also become a popular choice for housing a hot tub.

Building materials include Western Red Cedar, treated Southern Yellow Pine, Vinyl, and Highwood. To choose an appropriate material, you should consider the weather in your area, since high winds, and heavy snow or rain will be important factors. Cedar is extraordinarily durable, with natural oils that preserve its radiance and help it to resist insects and decay. It is also dimensionally stable which prevents it from warping. Those properties also make it a superb material for floors and roofs; cedar shake shingles will last for decades. An annual coating of a quality sealer will keep it looking new.

Gazebos made from treated Southern Yellow Pine are also quite sturdy. Kiln drying before and after pressure treating prevents decay and minimizes warping, checking, and twisting. When used for a gazebo, pine should also be treated annually with a stain/sealer that you can purchase at any hardware store.

Gazebo 4?EUR??,,????'??+Cedar is often used to build gazebos because of its sturdiness. Its strength makes it a popular choice and its natural oils preserve its radiance and help it to resist insects and decay. It is also dimensionally stable, which prevents it from warping.

Vinyl gazebos are made with treated pine that has been covered with an attractive vinyl coating, to obtain a lustrous, exceptionally durable, maintenance-free finish. This is the ultimate choice for those whose gazebos are going to be subjected to heavy use and harsh winters. Also, Highwood a new, highly durable, synthetic wood is on the horizon.

You can also renew the beauty of your gazebo every season, by decorating it with flowers and pastels in the spring, and russets, Indian corn, and pumpkins in the fall. And nothing compares to the breath-taking splendor of a gazebo decked out for Christmas.

So, go ahead - use your imagination. The possibilities are endless. Your gazebo will become a true perennial favorite!