What's Involved?

Building your gazebo can be a fun and enjoyable project as long as you know what you’re getting yourself into before beginning the build process. There are some issues you need to consider and prepare before your kit arrives. These issues include the site location, foundation, electrical (if required), and sorting out the permitting process for gazebos over 110 sq. feet.

Unless you’re especially handy, some of the issues such as the foundation, you might want to leave to a contractor. If you’re pouring concrete sono-tubes or laying a concrete slab – it’s easier to pay someone to come in and do it for you, plus you’ll be sure it’s done right the first time.

If you’ve selected a precut kit you’ve got a little more work ahead of you then those that have selected the preassembled format. For precut kits all your walls, floors and other sections will need to be built. The great thing about precut kits is that all these sections will come bundled together and everything is all ready cut and ready to build. No measuring, no cutting, which makes things a whole lot easier. If you’ve selected an enclosed gazebo – then you’ll notice as you build the walls that the door and window openings aren’t precut. This will require a little thinking and measuring to determine placement.
Aside from that, everything will go together pretty easily. Build time will vary from one day to as many as three or four, depending on your skill level and how many “helpers” you have.

Preassembled gazebo kits are a little easier to build thanks to all the preassembly that’s occurred in the manufacturing process. Rail sections and walls will come in pre-built sections, making for a blazing fast build time. Pre-assembled kits will also require that door and window openings be cut out onsite, so you’ll need some measuring and cutting for this task.

For more information, photos and ideas on Gazebos, visit Summerwood.com.

If your gazebo is over 110 square feet, the biggest issue will be permit drawings. Most jurisdictions require that buildings over this size be subject to the normal building permit process. This means getting special permit drawings done and stamped by a local engineering firm to ensure that the building meets or exceeds local building codes. Depending on where you buy your plans from, they may be able to help with permit drawings – then you just need a local engineering firm to review and sign off on them. Either way you can anticipate spending a little extra for this process, and don’t leave it till the last minute. As soon as you buy the plans get moving on this as it can take time to get things approved.

Other more obvious items that aren’t included is live technical support, unless you’ve had a firm create custom plans from scratch (much more expensive), you’re not going to have access to live technical support for $100 plans. You should expect email support though – so make sure you check this out before you buy anything. Materials, landscaping and foundations are obviously not included either – keep these costs in mind when considering gazebo plans.

Preassembled gazebo kits are a little easier to build thanks to all the preassembly that’s occurred in the manufacturing process. Rail sections and walls will come in pre-built sections, making for a blazing fast build time. Pre-assembled kits will also require that door and window openings be cut out onsite, so you’ll need some measuring and cutting for this task.

Tool List

Here is a short list of the necessary tools required to build a gazebo kit.

Landscaping

Landscaping will play a huge role in the final look of your gazebo project, so it’s important to give this aspect of the project the attention it deserves. Some important areas for consideration of landscaping will be the site location and the desired use of the gazebo. If your gazebo is going to be the centerpiece of your garden then you’ll want to create a plan for what and where plants, flowers, and shrubs will be placed.

If you’re running electrical for lighting or for heating enclosed gazebos now is also the time to think about the underground conduits and where you might want lighting to go. Path ways are also important to consider, both there location as well as the material choices. You want to create something that matches well with your gazebo style and finish so this shouldn’t happen until you’ve already selected your gazebo.

Many customers contact a landscape designer for help with all this – even if they are an accomplished gardener. Let us know if this is something you’d be interested in and we can recommend a good landscape designer to help.

Hiring a Professional

Some of us may not have the time, or the desire to tackle the build ourselves option. For these situations we turn to a professional contractor to build our gazebo.

The advantages are that you can be sure that it’ll get built right and that it will be built quickly. So if you’ve got a summer party you’re preparing for and you don’t mind spending a little to get it built, we can help sort out a contractor for you. Unless you already have a contractor that you’ve used for other projects in the past, don’t go it alone on finding a new one. There are many dodgy contractors out there that will promise the world only to fall short on the work and time lines.

We can help you find someone that has experience building gazebo kits and one that is completely trustworthy. So let us know if this is something you’re interested in.

For more information, photos and ideas on Gazebos, visit Summerwood.com.