BACKYARD GAZEBO

A backyard gazebo is an improvement that you can do that will yield rewards for years to come. It can be used as the focal point of your yard, or as a little hideaway tucked away in the corner of your yard. The styles and sizes are almost endless; you can go with a traditional backyard gazebo, a style more suited to patios, or as an attachment to your pool or spa. It can be set-up as a changing room for poolside privacy, or as an enclosure for your spa. The possibilities are almost endless.

Backyard gazebos have actually been around for thousands of years. Originally built on top of houses or hills to provide a lookout they evolved from a utilitarian structure to the mini-pavilion we enjoy today. Drawings in Egyptian tombs have been dated going back 4000 years. The French revived the art in the 1700’s and the English were enjoying them by the 1800’s. They really did not catch on in the United States until the 19th century and experienced a revival in the 80’s, with all the different styles and building materials used evolving into the myriad of styles and materials in use today. 

 

While your backyard gazebo can be constructed out of almost anything such as treated lumber, pine, metal or even vinyl or PVC, one of the more popular materials in use today is cedar. It is used for its ability to weather gracefully and its resistance to fungal and insect problems. However, whichever material you use, you can be creative and combine it with other materials to give it the personal touches that make it uniquely yours. So before you start building, stop and think about what you want to use it for and where you would like it to be. If you just want a quiet little nook where you can relax and read a book or just rest awhile, you might want to place it near your herb or flower garden. This type would only need to be big enough for a few people, and just need a ceiling fan and maybe some basic lighting for your comfort and convenience. However, if you want to use it for entertaining, it would need to be big enough for 10 to 20 people. This would need some additional planning, for such things as extra lighting, fans, seating, perhaps an outdoor kitchen nook for that special barbecue. The Olympic swimmers in your family can also use your backyard gazebo as a changing room, and this would require a few more modifications, such as a door and some panels between the support posts. So remember, it is best to think about what you want to use your backyard gazebo for and where you want to place it before you begin to begin to build.

 

Where you build needs special consideration also. If you are going to build near your garden, you will need to prepare the ground first. However, if you are going to build near the house or near your pool, then other preparations will need to be made. So make sure you pay attention to this little detail as well as to the details that go into your retreat.

                                                                                                                                                     

Also when designing your backyard gazebo, remember to plan plenty of planters around the outside and even some hanging planters around the pavilion, these little additions will allow for flowers or herbs that will bring beauty all year around. Not to mention the butterflies or hummingbirds the right foliage will attract. So do not hesitate, let’s get started today spend a few weekends putting it together, and enjoying it for many years to come.