The Enduring, Alluring Gazebo

By Kathy Moran for The Cedar Store

 

A 10???16-foot gazebo made of weather-resistant treated pine. Gazebos are outdoor structures that sit exposed to the elements in all sorts of weather. By definition, a gazebo is a structure built to let people enjoy a view. This model includes screens to protect visitors from insects.

From their origins as rooftop structures, used mainly for observation, to their present status, gazebos have taken many forms. Throughout their colorful history, they have been known as summerhouses, screen houses, kiosks, pavilions, pergolas, arbors, grottos and pagodas.

From their origins as rooftop structures, used mainly for observation, to their present status, gazebos have taken many forms. Throughout their colorful history, they have been known as summerhouses, screen houses, kiosks, pavilions, pergolas, arbors, grottos and pagodas.

This 16-foot-wide gazebo utilizes vinyl siding for weather-resistant longevity. The model shown here resembles the classic, 19th-century American lawn gazebo typically associated with the term.

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Prized by members of Egyptian royalty, gazebos were essential parts of their gardens, and have been found, depicted in murals, in tombs dating to 1,400 BC. They were also popular with the aristocracy of ancient Rome and Pompeii, and were built as summerhouses along the Mediterranean.

Today, gazebos have grown so popular in this country, that they are almost as common as garages. Although some are still used as quiet places to enjoy the beauty of a garden, others have been elevated to loftier positions, as summerhouses, or lavish entertainment centers, with doors, windows, screens, decks, electricity, and plumbing. Many have special lighting, hot tubs, fire pits, and brick barbecues. Arbors, ornamental fountains, bird feeders, birdbaths, wishing wells, koi ponds, and bridges are also popular landscaping accessories for gazebos.

A 10???16 treated pine double roof oval gazebo. Standard features include straight posts and cedar shake shingles. Optional features: turned spindle railings, decorative braces, cupola and paint.

From wood to synthetics, there are several types of material from which gazebos may be constructed. Radiant, durable western red cedar, for example, has natural oils that protect it from decay, while its dimensional stability helps to keep it from warping. Cedar may be sealed and stained to maintain its reddish hue, or allowed to weather to a rich gray.

More information is available at www.GazeboCreations.com