| When people decide to purchase a gazebo, they | | | | The majority of gazebos are painted white to stand |
| often strive to achieve a certain viewpoint in the | | | | out from their surroundings, but can be painted or |
| yard, either from the inside looking out or the outside | | | | stained almost any color. Most of the major brands |
| looking in. Whether a poolside retreat or a garden | | | | of paint have transitioned from oil to water base |
| centerpiece, a gazebo may also fulfill a longtime | | | | over the years and offer 25-year guarantees of |
| desire to revisit childhood memories many people | | | | endurance. With a good primer it should only be |
| growing up in the south have said they wish to relive. | | | | necessary to repaint due to fading or wear in the |
| The three most common materials gazebos are | | | | coming years, and the second coat even lasts longer |
| made of include wood, metal, and vinyl. Wood that | | | | since a certain amount of the first coat is absorbed |
| lasts like metal and vinyl is the most requested. Unlike | | | | into the raw wood. |
| patio covers that are mostly overhead and exposed | | | | Now as far as whom to buy your gazebo from, all |
| to the weather, thus making metal and vinyl the best | | | | the tried and true rules apply. References and |
| choice, a gazebo is to be felt all around you, and the | | | | character go hand in hand. Most thieves don't care to |
| feel of wood cannot be duplicated. That is probably | | | | uphold their name over time. They want your money |
| why they repaint wood at Disneyland every night | | | | fast and the consequences they'll deal with later. The |
| after closing instead of using anything other than | | | | most incredible scenario that is seen time and time |
| wood. | | | | again is how customers will settle on the first gazebo |
| While pine or redwood gazebos are less costly than | | | | merchant that seems reasonable and amicable, and in |
| weather resistant woods such as pressure treated | | | | their haste they settle without comparing between |
| and others, they will not last a long time in | | | | other companies. This will come home to roost in |
| moisture-laden areas. Whether at the beach, the | | | | about 4-5 years when it becomes evident the |
| mountains, near the golf course, or the swimming | | | | gazebo will not last very much longer, from lack of |
| pool, wood deteriorates over time. If this happens, | | | | quality materials. Even the cheapest materials used on |
| the entire structure is compromised and soon has to | | | | a gazebo look great and are hard to detect from the |
| be replaced. When is the last time you saw a | | | | ones that will last, when first installed. And you can |
| telephone pole be replaced because it rotted from | | | | bet the builder will not be able to do anything for you |
| moisture? Even though they are put directly in the | | | | when you realize your mistake. |
| soil, they last for a very long time. They last because | | | | Most gazebo builders have a magnifying glass on their |
| they are pressure treated. | | | | competitors, and while all is not to be believed by |
| As for the roof of a gazebo, solid composition, wood | | | | one source, you can start seeing a pattern when the |
| shingle, or metal will allow the gazebo to stay the | | | | same opinion is shared by two or more sources. The |
| cleanest and less likely to need repainting. These are | | | | lack of customer comparison allows many seemingly |
| usually decided upon by the need to match the home | | | | reasonable, but actually uncaring companies to |
| roof or surrounding yard setting, and the same goes | | | | continue, no matter how many customers find out |
| for the color of the roofing. For the open slatted | | | | the truth too late. As with any product or system, a |
| roof, painted wood can be used but will require | | | | checks and balance makes it possible for the weeds |
| maintenance, while metal or vinyl have the advantage | | | | to be separated from the good, and the customer |
| of longevity in the weather, and can be used without | | | | ends up with the gazebo they imagined they would |
| completely losing the feel of wood down below. | | | | receive. |