As summer approaches, the desire to spend many hours in the open air grows and the best way to do this is under a beautiful patio gazebo. An element of fundamental importance to make the outdoor space unique, enhancing it with style and winking at comfort.
Let’s find out. What are the main types of gazebos for the patio, their characteristics, prices and how to mount them?
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Guide to choosing the best patio gazebos
What is the patio gazebo and what is it for? Let’s start with this, which may seem like a trivial question, but which can help us better understand if the gazebo is really what it takes to best meet its needs.
The best gazebos for the patio can be defined as elegant structures that delimit a precise area, creating a small oasis where you can spend pleasant hours relaxing. It is the perfect element of outdoor furniture that allows you to create a romantic atmosphere and transform any outdoor space into a little corner of paradise.
Like umbrellas, all types of patio gazebos ensure optimal protection from the strongest rays of the summer sun, but that’s not all. Regardless of the shape, size and type of material used for the structure, the gazebos also provide protection from prying eyes, can be used for outdoor parties (excellent shelter even in case of rain) and, without too many spins, they are able to embellish the patio unparalleled.
The gazebo is a versatile style solution to embellish the outdoors and welcome guests in an elegant way, which is perfect for enjoying the summer heat in the company of your family, eliminating the problem of exposure to harmful UV rays. Fresh, airy and elegant: the patio gazebo is a useful and intelligent choice to enjoy outdoor spaces in maximum comfort.
Which one to choose? In wood, with an antique and rustic flavor, in aluminum, with a modern design, in wrought iron, for a shabby style and so on. The types of patio gazebos are varied: it’s up to you to decide which model to choose based on specific needs and personal taste.
The main types of patio gazebos
Before turning to useful tips for choosing an excellent gazebo, it is necessary to clarify the structure of these valid elements of outdoor furniture. Patio gazebos are not all the same and can be grouped, regardless of shape and material, in two broad categories:
- Fixed patio gazebos : they can be built in wood, metal or wrought iron and have a permanent structure. They can embrace different styles, from the most classic shapes to the more decisive lines that are reflected in a modern design, but they certainly cannot be easily disassembled. In fact, after choosing the precise point of the patio where to place it, the fixed gazebo will remain there, ready to show itself in all its beauty and to offer so much comfort. The fixed structure of the gazebo for the patio is certainly more resistant and secure: once fixed to the ground or to the pavement, not even the strongest whiffs of Eolo will threaten its stability. In addition, many fixed gazebos are also complemented by a comfortable platform or a floor to increase comfort and keep humidity out even during rainy days.
- Detachable patio gazebo : even these models have a solid structure, but certainly cannot be compared, in terms of stability, to the strongest permanent gazebos. Versatility is their strong point: the folding structure allows them to be easily assembled and disassembled, moving them to different points in the patio and exploiting them for multiple purposes. They are equipped with practical ground fixing systems, but for greater safety, it is always recommended to secure them with additional pegs and tie rods. Compared to the models described above, they are less expensive.
Some useful advice for choosing the best patio gazebos
There are many things to consider carefully so as not to regret the purchase: type of structure, materials, roofing sheet, dimensions of the gazebo and so on. However, before focusing on these technical aspects it is always good to give great importance to the reference environment.
The gazebo will have to be chosen to enhance the patio, with the aim of creating the perfect harmony between the natural environment and its very structure. Furthermore, the style of this larger element of outdoor furniture must blend perfectly with that of the garden: for instance, an aluminum gazebo placed in the middle of an outdoor area decorated in a rustic or shabby chic style will be a real punch in the eye.
Ideal size of the patio gazebo
How much space do I have been available?
A mandatory question to always ask yourself when you intend to buy one of the best patio gazebos. Also in this case we return to what we said earlier: the size of the gazebo must always be considered based on the size of the garden, so as to avoid installing a structure too large for small spaces and vice versa.
Harmony of shapes and dimensions!
Fortunately, there are many models from which you can choose: 10″x10″, 12″x12″, 10″x13″, 13″x13″ and so on. It is also important to understand where to install a patio gazebo to obtain a marvelous visual impact and to enjoy the maximum comfort: for example: in large lawns it is possible to place large square gazebos, for the narrowest spaces, it is possible, instead, to opt for models that they offer the same shaded area as an umbrella or that attach to the wall. So, flexometer always in hand!
Patio gazebo materials
The structure of the gazebo, large or small, can be made using different materials. The choice can fall on:
- Steel : patio gazebos in epoxy steel are relatively cheap and are protected with anti-corrosion treatments.
- Wrought iron : it is the heaviest material and allows not only to be able to count on the maximum stability of the structure, but also to enjoy a real jewel of impeccable style and refined design. They can have a darker color or be painted white and other clear colors to create a beautiful vintage atmosphere in a shabby style.
- Aluminum : it is the lightest of the materials we are describing, used to create versatile, but also stable structures. Aluminum is mostly used for demountable and folding gazebos.
- Wood : the wooden gazebos are the most elegant! Beautiful and usually with a large structure, which requires special care. Wood is more susceptible to atmospheric agents and must not only be already treated at high temperatures and in an autoclave, but also must undergo continuous maintenance. The wooden patio gazebos are incredibly stable and useful to create a sophisticated atmosphere.
The cover of the patio gazebo
Another element to be analyzed carefully, before choosing the gazebo, is coverage. The fabric used to make the fabric can be:
- Polyethylene
- Polyester
In both cases, it is good to evaluate its specific weight, calculated in grams/square meter, which determines its quality. The higher the number indicating the weight in grams per square meter, the more resistant the cloth will be, which will also offer greater protection from sunlight.
The most sophisticated patio gazebos can also present a more refined cotton covering, which needs more care and special attention. The cotton used for the protective cover, even if treated to be more resistant, is not water repellent and is more prone to tearing in the event of strong winds.
The cotton cover may be fine for small structures, located in sheltered areas. For a larger gazebo, it is better to opt for a stronger cover in polyester or polyethylene.
Choose the patio gazebo based on style
We have described the gazebo as one of the most important elements of outdoor furniture and, for this reason, we can give you some ideas of style to choose the perfect one. What is your style?
- Rustic? The choice can only fall on the beautiful models with wooden structure, which will best blend with the surrounding environment. The best wooden patio gazebos are treated with paints that give the structure an antique look, just what you need for a rustic setting and for a romantic atmosphere.
- Minimal and modern? If the interiors of the house have been furnished following the most angular lines of a modern design and, consequently, also the patio reflects this minimal style, the choice cannot deviate too much from the gazebos in aluminum or painted iron with a structure made of thin elements that give life to strong shapes. Linearity and functionality: these are the keywords to be used to open the doors of the department store where the best modern gazebos are kept.
- Shabby? You’re hopeless romantic, aren’t you? The advice, to create an outdoor in shabby chic style, is to choose a gazebo in wrought iron painted white, or a small wooden model. Curtains that come down from the roof and other small decorations, such as floor lamps to be placed in the corners, can help you achieve a refined result.
How to fit a patio gazebo?
To prevent the gazebo from flying away (we like to exaggerate to better understand the importance of the safety factor) it is a good idea to carefully check the various fixing systems and supports of the chosen model.
To assemble a patio gazebo in complete safety it is important to take into account the exact point where it will be installed and if the area is particularly exposed to strong winds:
- If the ground is sandy or slightly bumpy, solid cement bases, on which to fix the load-bearing parts of the structure, can be a very valid solution for not having unpleasant surprises. Thus, even in heavy rain, there will be no problems.
- If you live in a fairly windy area, you can proceed as indicated above, but ensuring the structure also with sturdy tie rods and small weights to be placed at the fixing bases. There are also special cement plates in which to insert the legs of the gazebo, to then be secured with precise screw fixing systems.