| Want to see a gazebo in your yard or garden? Are | | | | common gazebo wood. American redwood is the |
| you considering buying one, but aren't happy with the | | | | hardest, darkest gazebo construction wood. |
| hefty price tag? You can save money on | | | | You can also buy aluminum, wrought iron, or PVC |
| construction labor and bulk shipping costs by | | | | vinyl gazebo kits. On the downside, these materials |
| purchasing any of a large variety of gazebo kits | | | | are heavier and more expensive than lumber, and |
| ranging from $1000 to several thousand dollars, | | | | they don't blend as well with nature. On the upside, |
| depending on your needs. | | | | metal and plastic gazebos are stronger and |
| Gazebo kits come in pre-fabricated parts or in | | | | zero-maintenance, and they can be beautiful in their |
| sections for you to assemble. Usually with just a level | | | | own right. |
| and a screw gun, you can put together a gazebo in | | | | To assemble a gazebo using a kit, follow the |
| an afternoon, a few days, or a few weeks, | | | | directions and use the included hardware. Usually this |
| depending on how big and fancy your gazebo is. In | | | | involves laying the pieces out onsite and erecting the |
| some cases, you can do it all by yourself. | | | | structure one piece at a time. Erect the posts and |
| Gazebo kits are available as traditional gazebos, spa | | | | the lower part of frame first, followed by the walls, |
| gazebos, patio gazebos, and many other styles. Don't | | | | the upper part of the frame, the roof skeleton, and |
| feel like you have to sacrifice taste or quality when | | | | the shingles if applicable. Architectural flourishes such |
| assembling a gazebo yourself. Gazebo kits are | | | | as moldings go up near the end of the assembly |
| available in a wide variety of materials, including | | | | process. Top it off with the optional cupola or |
| different types of woods, metals, and even | | | | weathervane. |
| polymers such as vinyl. Wood gazebos usually come | | | | There are lots of options when it comes to building |
| in pine, cedar, and American redwood. Pine is the | | | | your own gazebo, and you don't have to be a |
| softest and turns yellow with age. Cedar, being very | | | | carpentry star to get really good results and once it's |
| solid and turning gray-brown with age, is the most | | | | done, you'll be ready for some serious lounging. |